What causes a camshaft to go flat?

Flat tappet cams are susceptible to damage due to a lack of zinc in modern engine oil, causing drivability problems as the lobe wears down. Flat tappet cams can be damaged by using modern engine oils that lack zinc and associated anti-scuff additives.

What happens when a camshaft goes flat?

A flattened cam lobe will often manifest first at low rpm, especially for engines with hydraulic lifters. At idle and low rpm, the valve is barely open even when the cam is brand new; when the lobe flattens out, the valve may not open at all until the lifter pumps up at higher rpm.

How do I know if my webcam is being wiped?

Here are some symptoms of a bad cam lobe:

glitter in the oil.
a rocker arm(s) that don’t move up and down as much as the rest.
valve train noise, sounds like a rocker out of adjustment that you just can’t seem to get set right.
engine pops back through the carb or exhaust when under load.

How long does it take to break-in a flat tappet cam?

The most critical time in the life of a flat tappet camshaft is the first 20 minutes of break in, during which time the bottoms of the tappets mate-in with the cam lobes. This is true for both hydraulic and mechanical flat tappet camshafts.

Which is the best camshaft for a Chevy?

With its high RPM operating range and its good mid-range power, this powerful camshaft option is a great choice for those with small block Chevrolets with V8 engines. A camshaft’s operating range it essentially its sweet spot, where it gets the most horsepower possible.

What should the end play be on a camshaft?

Some engines use a thrust plate to control the forward and backward movement of the camshaft in the block. The recommended amount of end play on these types of engines is between .003- to .008-inches. Many factors can cause end play to change.

What’s the proper break in for a flat tappet Cam?

This Quick Tech Video from COMP Cams® is a how-to video for proper flat tappet camshaft set-up and break-in. As any engine builder knows, proper break-in is key to how long a camshaft will last and how it will perform. Loading…

What kind of camshafts do you use for bumpsticks?

We’ve got cams for street, street/strip, race, and truck applications—and many others. Choose hydraulic flat tappet, hydraulic roller, and mechanical camshafts from the best in the bumpstick business: COMP Cams, Crane Cams, Isky, Trick Flow, Howards Cams, Lunati, and more. You won’t find a bigger selection of camshafts anywhere else!

Can you change the lifters on a flat tappet Cam?

Always use new lifters on a new flat tappet cam. If you are removing a good used flat tappet cam and lifters and are planning to use them again in the same (or another) engine, you must keep the lifters in order as to what lobe of the cam they were on. The lifter breaks-in to the specific lobe it is mated with and it can’t be changed.

When does a miss on a camshaft go away?

So a miss from a single, slightly flattened cam lobe will often start to go away as engine rpm rises and the lifter pumps up, but will probably reappear at very high rpm as the cylinder begins to once again starve for airflow.

Why are flat tappet cams used in street engines?

Flat tappet cams, with either solid or hydraulic lifters, are commonly used in many street and performance engines. It’s a simple design that works well, provided there’s adequate lubrication between the lifters and cam lobes to prevent wear that can wipe out a cam and/or lifters.