what cam to use??

[Rex Caron]

ok well i know this has been talked about alot im sure but im here asking for help!! my cam went flat in my k30 day before yesterday and now i need a new one. ill try to provide as much as i know. so first off im running an erson 111011 cam now. this is the second time that exact cam has went flat in 4000 miles... now for the truck and motor. its an 83 k30, reg cab 4;11's th400 trans. all stock. the engine is a 355 sbc. eagle balanced low end,flat top pistons with 4361 world product heads. edelbrok spreadbore intake. stock HEI ignition. i dont run headers..good old non leaking manifolds. that erson cam was supposed to be for torque and maybe it was but i will not be getting another one. im hopeing someone has a sugestion because idk what cam to go with. dont care if it lopes dont care if its whisper quiet. i just want it to pull as i work this truck. oh and its got 235/85/16 swampers on it. theres just so many cams and i promise you before i made my mind up id have 3 ordered and i just can not afford to do that this time!! thank you for any help in advance!!

 

[Rusty Nail]

Comp 268H in my 400 with World SR heads
Ive also got an Erson AH-8 in a 350 though...

Valvoline?

 

[Rex Caron]

i always run VR1 high zinc oil in all my old engines and never had a problem.until now....

 

[Ricko1966]

Check the lifter bores if the are burred sloppy or tight they will cause flat cams . the lifter is supposed to turn as it moves if it doesn't turn it wipes on the cam lobes.

What gears, transmission, and tires on this truck.Its always been a suspicion of mine that the guys with flat cams aren't turning enough RPMs at road speed to keep the cam oiled. Maybe we should start a survey. Just reread your I don't think rpm was the issue this time.

 

[Rex Caron]

well when i get the cam out im going to mic the bores

 

[Ricko1966]

You can feel when they aren't right if they don't slide smooth, when they don't slide in easily or if they wobble in their bores. That's all the checking I do to them.

 

[Rex Caron]

prolly a dumb question but what if they are sloppy? i have a lifter bore hone if they are tight.

 

[Ricko1966]

prolly a dumb question but what if they are sloppy? i have a lifter bore hone if they are tight.

If they are sloppy I grab another block, but there maybe other options I've never checked into it. Theoretically the bores could be bushed.

 

[idahovette]

Seen quite a few blocks with a lot of machine work done that ended up with bushed lifter bores.

 

[shiftpro]

It can be difficult to find an engine builder who can bush the lifter bores... at least up here Canadastan.

 

[Michael Benardo]

ok well i know this has been talked about alot im sure but im here asking for help!! my cam went flat in my k30 day before yesterday and now i need a new one. ill try to provide as much as i know. so first off im running an erson 111011 cam now. this is the second time that exact cam has went flat in 4000 miles... now for the truck and motor. its an 83 k30, reg cab 4;11's th400 trans. all stock. the engine is a 355 sbc. eagle balanced low end,flat top pistons with 4361 world product heads. edelbrok spreadbore intake. stock HEI ignition. i dont run headers..good old non leaking manifolds. that erson cam was supposed to be for torque and maybe it was but i will not be getting another one. im hopeing someone has a sugestion because idk what cam to go with. dont care if it lopes dont care if its whisper quiet. i just want it to pull as i work this truck. oh and its got 235/85/16 swampers on it. theres just so many cams and i promise you before i made my mind up id have 3 ordered and i just can not afford to do that this time!! thank you for any help in advance!!

Not very knowledgeable about cam grinds, but a
torque cam is what you need, but with two of those going flat on you, are you sure you are using the right kind of lifter? I know from experience that if you have a steel cam, you can not use iron lifters and vice versa. The lobes will soon go flat if you do. Do not get a cam that makes it lope, as those cams are for high-revving horsepower, not torque.

 

[Michael Benardo]

Not very knowledgeable about cam grinds, but a
torque cam is what you need, but with two of those going flat on you, are you sure you are using the right kind of lifter? I know from experience that if you have a steel cam, you can not use iron lifters and vice versa. The lobes will soon go flat if you do. Do not get a cam that makes it lope, as those cams are for high-revving horsepower, not torque.

Also, you must replace your lifters and cam together, or have your old lifters resurfaced on the bottom, or else they will often ruin the new cam.

 

[Rex Caron]

the first time it went flat after id guess 100 miles and yes cam and lifters were brand new from erson. Also the cam and lifters that are in it currently are what erson cams sent me to replce the first one. when i called erson i talked to john and he asked a few questions about valve springs and rocker lash if i remember right. i had a new cam 4 days later free of charge. this time they want the cam and lifters to inspect before they warranty it. which i understand but at this point i dont feel good about putting another in this engine.

 

[82sbshortbed]

Or this one

https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/sbc-cam-fir-sale.31831/unread

 

[Michael Benardo]

the first time it went flat after id guess 100 miles and yes cam and lifters were brand new from erson. Also the cam and lifters that are in it currently are what erson cams sent me to replce the first one. when i called erson i talked to john and he asked a few questions about valve springs and rocker lash if i remember right. i had a new cam 4 days later free of charge. this time they want the cam and lifters to inspect before they warranty it. which i understand but at this point i dont feel good about putting another in this engine.

You did it correctly then. I wouldn't deal with them again either. You need to select a cam with short duration and wide lobe separation.