What does adding a camshaft do?

The camshaft activates a cylinder’s intake and exhaust valves. One lobe will activate the intake valve, followed by a second lobe that activates the exhaust valve. For example, allowing more fuel into the cylinder is wasteful at low RPMs, but provides more power at higher RPMs.

What can cause camshaft failure?

Mailbag: 8 Causes of Camshaft Failure and How To Prevent Them

Lobe wear. Lobe wear is often caused by improper lubrication during installation.
Improper Break-In.
Old Lifters with a New Cam.
Incorrect Valve Spring Pressure.
Mechanical Interference.
Excessive End Play.
Broken Dowel Pins or Keys.
Broken Cam.

What should I do if I have a camshaft failure?

For extra protection, an anti-wear additive should be added, such as Crane Super Lube. Do not use synthetic oil during the break-in period. It is not recommended to use any type of oil restrictors to the lifter galley, or use windage trays, baffles,or plug any oil return holes in the valley.

When to use a tight-Lash camshaft in an engine?

“A tight-lash camshaft may permit the valve to initially accelerate and decelerate more quickly without being overly harsh, but may not be of practical use in situations where engine growth from cold to hot will require resetting the lash frequently,” says Knight, noting that engine materials play a critical role in such camshaft decisions.

What makes a good Cam for a small block engine?

Understanding how each is affected by engine spec is the key to getting the best cam for the job. Some engine configurations respond better to added lift than to increased duration, and some the reverse. Some engines need a tighter LCA than others, and so on.

What causes the lifter on a camshaft to rotate?

Lifter rotation is created by a taper ground on the cam lobe and the convex shape of the face of the flat tappet lifter. Also in some cases, the lobe is slightly offset from the center of the lifter bore in the block.

What happens when you increase the lift on a camshaft?

Lift is another matter entirely (are you getting tired of reading yet?). Increasing lift has exactly the same effect as increasing the cam’s duration, except that you are not actually altering the opening and closing points of the cam lobes.

What happens when a cam is installed straight up?

When a cam is installed “straight-up,” the imaginary centerlines of the two shafts line up exactly. Advancing or retarding the cam pushes the centerline of the camshaft to one side or the other of the crankshaft centerline. This changes the Timing of the valve opening and closing events, in relation to the position of the piston in the cylinder.

What’s the proper way to install a camshaft?

Assemble the timing chain and cam sprocket while aligning the timing marks properly, and torque the cam sprocket bolt or bolts to the proper specifications. Next, lubricate and install the lifters, always using a new set of lifters, for proper tappet-to-cam-lobe contact (Fig. 2).