School me on re-using a new(ish) camshaft

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DartGTDan

DartGTDan

'71 Dart GT Fan
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A friend put a camshaft in a 273 for a customer. After an unknown run time (I was told break-in and approximately 20 miles), it was decided the camshaft would not allow the power brakes to function properly. The customer decided to have my friend replace that camshaft with one that would allow the power brakes to work correctly.

Now my friend has this camshaft and wants to know if he can use it in a car without power brakes.

I'm camshaft dumb, but I think I've heard that to re-use that camshaft, he would also have to re-use the lifters (in the same lobe location) that the camshaft was broken in with.

Thoughts?
 
Yes, it would be wise to reuse the same lifters the cam was broken in with as well as them being kept in the same order also. Keep in mind, a cam that might have been too big to produce enough vacuum in a small 273, might be fine for a larger 340 or 360.
 
I think it will boil down to the individual.....and it reminds me of a Dirty Harry quote:
Do You Feel Lucky, Punk? - YouTube

Personally, I would get new lifters and take EVERY precaution to break it in properly. Break-in lube & oil and even softer valve springs.

You can get rid of the power brake booster, but it may require changing the master cylinder and proportioning block too.
 
If the lifters were not numbered to their corresponding lobes they were run on, buy a new set as mentioned, then break the lifters and cam in just like you would a new set.
 
DartGTDan said:
A friend put a camshaft in a 273 for a customer. After an unknown run time (I was told break-in and approximately 20 miles), it was decided the camshaft would not allow the power brakes to function properly. The customer decided to have my friend replace that camshaft with one that would allow the power brakes to work correctly.

Now my friend has this camshaft and wants to know if he can use it in a car without power brakes.

I'm camshaft dumb, but I think I've heard that to re-use that camshaft, he would also have to re-use the lifters (in the same lobe location) that the camshaft was broken in with.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
As everyone said ...buy new lifters lube it up make sure the lifter spin before running it and it will be fine.
 
RustyRatRod said:
If the lifters were not numbered to their corresponding lobes they were run on, buy a new set as mentioned, then break the lifters and cam in just like you would a new set.
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Why the change in attitude for this thread? Awhile ago u said there is nothing wrong with using used lifters over even if they were not going on the same lobes. Care to clarify your responses? Just curious as this is totally 180 degree’s from the other thread. Kim
 
oldkimmer said:
Why the change in attitude for this thread? Awhile ago u said there is nothing wrong with using used lifters over even if they were not going on the same lobes. Care to clarify your responses? Just curious as this is totally 180 degree’s from the other thread. Kim
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As long as the lifter has a crown, I reused them all the time. No problems here. But I don't use light oil.
 
3forty said:
In or out of order?
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Even out of order. As long as the lifter face is convex, center is higher than the edges, I have had no problem reusing them. The best is putting them on the matching lobe. Just be smart and look carefully at the lifter face and cam lobes. There must be taper on the cam lobes. I have even used them with new cams. It is still a gamble, don't come crying to me if it does not work for you. Use good oil, 30 wt or 20w50 oil with plenty of zinc. I have only done this with MOPAR cams and lifters, don't bother trying this on a Chevy. You will never find a good lifter or cam in a Chevy.
 
66fs said:
Even out of order. As long as the lifter face is convex, center is higher than the edges, I have had no problem reusing them. The best is putting them on the matching lobe. Just be smart and look carefully at the lifter face and cam lobes. There must be taper on the cam lobes. I have even used them with new cams. It is still a gamble, don't come crying to me if it does not work for you. Use good oil, 30 wt or 20w50 oil with plenty of zinc. I have only done this with MOPAR cams and lifters, don't bother trying this on a Chevy. You will never find a good lifter or cam in a Chevy.
Click to expand...
No crying here if I was going to try it,just curious on opinions.
 
3forty said:
No crying here if I was going to try it,just curious on opinions.
Click to expand...
I used to build engines in the 70's and 80's. Some people could not afford much, so I did a few creative things, but not something that would not live. Not to race car standards, but would run good and last a long time in everyday driving.
 
oldkimmer said:
Why the change in attitude for this thread? Awhile ago u said there is nothing wrong with using used lifters over even if they were not going on the same lobes. Care to clarify your responses? Just curious as this is totally 180 degree’s from the other thread. Kim
Click to expand...
Hey oldkimmer,no response from the Post King yet?!
 
I have also re-used used lifters that still had crown left them, on a different cam, & no problems. There is also quite a variation on lifter radiuses [ crown ].
Even Mother did it. The original 440 Magnum lifters had a smaller radius than the 440 6 pack lifters, even though the cam duration & lift was for each was the same. The 6 pack cam lobes were also different, 'low taper', to match the larger radius of the matching lifters. This was done to reduce wear because it provided more lobe/lifter contact area for use with the heavier 6 pack v/springs. It seems to be an idea that has fallen away from favour....
 
Question, posts3,4,5,7 all mention tossing the used lifters and buying new.
Anything wrong with having lifters re ground? I know that Oregon Cam offers that service.
 
Having original lifters re-ground is the BEST way of ensuring your new cam does not get wiped out during break in & subsequent use.

By original, I mean any lifters that are 25 yrs or older, factory or aftermarket.
 
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