The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 Camshaft - Grind Or Replace 1950 3600

Hi Guys,
Well, the machining is done on the block and crankshaft so I'm working on ordering the engine parts for the rebuild. The shop is part of the local parts store and they can get most of the parts I need. However, I just found out they don't have a source for a new camshaft but they can send the old cam and lifters in to be reground. Is this a good idea or are there other sources out there for a new cam and lifters?

I've heard of having cams re-worked but one of my concerns is the gear on the shaft that drives the distributor. I bought a NOS drive gear for the distributor shaft becuase I didn't want to run the old gear on a new camshaft. Now if they rework the camshaft, I'll be running a new gear against the old "run-in" gear on the camshaft. If I go with the re-worked shaft, am I better off running the original gear on the distributor?

Thanks,
Shawn

You will be ok using a new distributor gear on the used camshaft. Make sure that the new gear is made of the same material as the old gear.

Re-grinds on camshafts are fine and return the shaft to original lift and duration. The lost material is taken up in the valve lash adjustment. Be sure to ask them if they heat treat (or nitride?) the camshaft after the re-grind. I have seem to remember reading that that the re-grinding process can cut through the thin layer of heat treatment on original camshaft.

I agree old gear meshed to new gear is not an issue.

Thanks for your insight guys. I apprecitate it.

Shawn

In the FWIW file, I've read a number of posts in different forums about the quality (read lack of) of new camshafts. It appears most, if not all, are imported and have an alarming propensity for failing. If possible I'd recommend reusing the original or look for an NOS part.