Will my cam go flat???? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Bilgewiper · 11-12-2003, 08:33 PM

I wish this was about my 71 C-10 350 but, it's about my 98 Chevy fullsize van motor 350, 85k miles. I am the orgianal owner, and have used Mobile 1 almost exclusivly in it except for breakin. Just recently 1 lifter goes completly dry if the motor stops with pressure on the pushrod. Whats my chances of just replacing the lifter/lifters and not the cam and NOT having my cam go flat from a new wear pattern? In the past on the few motors that I have built i always replaced the cam with the lifters. The rest of the motor and van is in excellent shape and I want to keep it. I am not looking fwd to this job as the motor is right under the dashboard and I don't want to do all that work and have the cam go flat next. So whats my odds ? Thanks.

Class of 69 · 11-12-2003, 08:40 PM

I suspect the problem is a faulty check valve in the lifter. The sooner you replace it, the less chance it has to damage the cam lobe. I wouldn't be afraid to put a new lifter on an used cam. The new lifter has a slight raised surface on the bottom, and will not cause a wear problem on the lobe. Never put a used lifter on a new cam. You will be fine.

lukecp · 11-12-2003, 09:08 PM

If it is a '98 Vortec motor it should have a roller cam. I *think* roller cam's are easy to deal with and let you use different lifters on different cams and don't need to be broken in like a hydrualic flat tappet cam. Someone else should know for sure

Bilgewiper · 11-12-2003, 10:27 PM

Hope it's easy to deal with......never delt with roller cams. So If I don't replace it soon and let it rattle a little it will damage my cam?

Class of 69 · 11-13-2003, 12:48 AM

If it only clatters a little on startup, it shouldn't hurt to let it go a short time......but then the cam isn't designed for impact, just pressure, and I wouldn't feel comfortable saying it won't get hurt.

Bilgewiper · 11-13-2003, 12:55 AM

That does make alot of sense. Guess I better go for it sooner than later. Usually the clatter goes away within 10-30 sec. Except once it went for about 3 min.........which I really didn't like and could see how that would wear it out fast.

Tx Firefighter · 11-13-2003, 02:01 AM

Roller cams are a whole different ball game. They don't wear in like flat tappet cams do. Just pull the intake and replace the lifters.

All of us 5.0L Mustang guys change cams like clockwork and reuse the old original lifters.

No worries man.

Bilgewiper · 11-13-2003, 02:20 AM

ok, you all have me convinced. I think I have had the motor box off this van once in the last 85k miles (to get it smogged) I know there is a 350 under that dash board somewhere just can't remember what it looks like. LOL! On my 71' this would be a cake walk in comparison I am sure

Bilgewiper · 11-13-2003, 08:36 PM

&$%&@#............started the job today. Makes me appreciate my 71' a whole lot more. could have had the intake off the 71 in the amount of time it took to just unbury this thing from all the plastic, hoses, wiring, fuel and A/C stuff . Still havent gotten the intake off the 98' yet......need to go buy a manual for it to see what the heck the huge sensor thingy is that comes out of the front of the intake at angle like it might need to be pulled before the intake comes off. At this rate what would be 4 hrs on the 71 will be 4 days on the 98. Oh did I mention that I really like my 71'?

Class of 69 · 11-13-2003, 08:47 PM

I used to turn wrenches for a living. There's a reason I don't own vans!!! LOL Hang in there, and draw pictures, by the time you go to reassemble it, you won't remember it all. Oh...maybe you aren't as old as me with ALZ!

Bilgewiper · 11-13-2003, 09:29 PM

I definitely wouldn't own a van either except for the fact that I ocassionaly haul kids in wheelchairs and need the extra floor to roof distance. And I found the best use of a digital camera yet.....I must of taken 40 pictures at all different angles before I started takin' it apart cause I can't remember stuff like I could back when. Maybe it's just because there is "more" stuff now....LOL! Sounds like a excuse for getting old huh?

11-12-2003, 08:33 PM	#1
Bilgewiper Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Citrus Heights Ca. Posts: 186	Will my cam go flat???? I wish this was about my 71 C-10 350 but, it's about my 98 Chevy fullsize van motor 350, 85k miles. I am the orgianal owner, and have used Mobile 1 almost exclusivly in it except for breakin. Just recently 1 lifter goes completly dry if the motor stops with pressure on the pushrod. Whats my chances of just replacing the lifter/lifters and not the cam and NOT having my cam go flat from a new wear pattern? In the past on the few motors that I have built i always replaced the cam with the lifters. The rest of the motor and van is in excellent shape and I want to keep it. I am not looking fwd to this job as the motor is right under the dashboard and I don't want to do all that work and have the cam go flat next. So whats my odds ? Thanks. __________________ Ethan '71 C-10 LWB Cheyenne 85K miles. "Time spent Boating is NOT deducted from ones lifespan".

11-12-2003, 08:40 PM	#2
Class of 69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stillwater MN Posts: 1,166	I suspect the problem is a faulty check valve in the lifter. The sooner you replace it, the less chance it has to damage the cam lobe. I wouldn't be afraid to put a new lifter on an used cam. The new lifter has a slight raised surface on the bottom, and will not cause a wear problem on the lobe. Never put a used lifter on a new cam. You will be fine. __________________ 69 GMC K10 ..some restoration required....still..

11-12-2003, 09:08 PM	#3
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	If it is a '98 Vortec motor it should have a roller cam. I think roller cam's are easy to deal with and let you use different lifters on different cams and don't need to be broken in like a hydrualic flat tappet cam. Someone else should know for sure __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

11-12-2003, 10:27 PM	#4
Bilgewiper Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Citrus Heights Ca. Posts: 186	Hope it's easy to deal with......never delt with roller cams. So If I don't replace it soon and let it rattle a little it will damage my cam? __________________ Ethan '71 C-10 LWB Cheyenne 85K miles. "Time spent Boating is NOT deducted from ones lifespan".

11-13-2003, 12:48 AM	#5
Class of 69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stillwater MN Posts: 1,166	If it only clatters a little on startup, it shouldn't hurt to let it go a short time......but then the cam isn't designed for impact, just pressure, and I wouldn't feel comfortable saying it won't get hurt. __________________ 69 GMC K10 ..some restoration required....still..

11-13-2003, 12:55 AM	#6
Bilgewiper Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Citrus Heights Ca. Posts: 186	That does make alot of sense. Guess I better go for it sooner than later. Usually the clatter goes away within 10-30 sec. Except once it went for about 3 min.........which I really didn't like and could see how that would wear it out fast. __________________ Ethan '71 C-10 LWB Cheyenne 85K miles. "Time spent Boating is NOT deducted from ones lifespan".

11-13-2003, 02:01 AM	#7
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Roller cams are a whole different ball game. They don't wear in like flat tappet cams do. Just pull the intake and replace the lifters. All of us 5.0L Mustang guys change cams like clockwork and reuse the old original lifters. No worries man. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

11-13-2003, 02:20 AM	#8
Bilgewiper Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Citrus Heights Ca. Posts: 186	ok, you all have me convinced. I think I have had the motor box off this van once in the last 85k miles (to get it smogged) I know there is a 350 under that dash board somewhere just can't remember what it looks like. LOL! On my 71' this would be a cake walk in comparison I am sure __________________ Ethan '71 C-10 LWB Cheyenne 85K miles. "Time spent Boating is NOT deducted from ones lifespan".

11-13-2003, 08:36 PM	#9
Bilgewiper Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Citrus Heights Ca. Posts: 186	&$%&@#............started the job today. Makes me appreciate my 71' a whole lot more. could have had the intake off the 71 in the amount of time it took to just unbury this thing from all the plastic, hoses, wiring, fuel and A/C stuff . Still havent gotten the intake off the 98' yet......need to go buy a manual for it to see what the heck the huge sensor thingy is that comes out of the front of the intake at angle like it might need to be pulled before the intake comes off. At this rate what would be 4 hrs on the 71 will be 4 days on the 98. Oh did I mention that I really like my 71'? __________________ Ethan '71 C-10 LWB Cheyenne 85K miles. "Time spent Boating is NOT deducted from ones lifespan".

11-13-2003, 08:47 PM	#10
Class of 69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stillwater MN Posts: 1,166	I used to turn wrenches for a living. There's a reason I don't own vans!!! LOL Hang in there, and draw pictures, by the time you go to reassemble it, you won't remember it all. Oh...maybe you aren't as old as me with ALZ! __________________ 69 GMC K10 ..some restoration required....still..

11-13-2003, 09:29 PM	#11
Bilgewiper Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Citrus Heights Ca. Posts: 186	I definitely wouldn't own a van either except for the fact that I ocassionaly haul kids in wheelchairs and need the extra floor to roof distance. And I found the best use of a digital camera yet.....I must of taken 40 pictures at all different angles before I started takin' it apart cause I can't remember stuff like I could back when. Maybe it's just because there is "more" stuff now....LOL! Sounds like a excuse for getting old huh? __________________ Ethan '71 C-10 LWB Cheyenne 85K miles. "Time spent Boating is NOT deducted from ones lifespan".



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