Well i bought a used hotcam that was supposed be low mileage and be in good shape but when i opened up the box the cam looked pretty beat up. It has small scratches that run along the cam bearing surface on the camshaft itself. Also the nose of the came where the timing chain bolts onto was pretty beat up. By the distributor gear there was a nick in the cam but it wasn't on a lobe or any other part where the cam contacts other metal. I just want to know if this cam is any good or did i get ripped off? I'm not saying any names until I find out if this cam is good or not. Also on the back was stamped
586 FM76 and 267 99R.
Are these the right numbers for a hotcam? I attached the only picture that i could get to come out halfway decent and you can see one of the scratches on the surface if you look real close.
Thanks for the help.
-Scott
To check out the pic look at this thread.
http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/show...hreadid=223888

 

The 586 denotes a hotcam.. [last 3 #'s of the GM p/n] the rest of those #'s are production run #'s etc

 

Thanks it's good to know it's a hotcam. I just talked to my neighbor that wored for harley and kohler engines he said that if I just make sure that i polish the surfaces good I should be able to get away with using the cam. But he just saw a picture of it since my dad took the cam home today to take it to my engine builder sometime this week and have him look at it.

 

was it from ebay? ... how was it described when you bought it.. i myself wont use any cam that isnt new or at least look brand new...


Im sure if the lobes and everything seem to be in good shape, and like he said as long as u polish it up a bit it should be fine, but i would be very pissed off if someone sold me a cam as you describe if it wasnt told to be in that condition before u paid him..


Double check with the engine builder guy and see what he thinks, id have to see it up close, the pic is kind hard to see detail, but gl!

 

I bought it from somebody on the board. It was only supposed to have 5k miles on it. I'm pretty pissed right now though. I hope my engine builder says I can use the cam or else the $h!t is going to hit the fan. I don't have enough money lying around to deal with getting bad parts.
-Scott

 

yea i know exactly what you mean, and it's scarey, because if i is messed up at all on the lobes, theres always a possibility of it messing something else up.. like some parts in your heads..

5k miles and a drop from a air plane?




(i cant see much from the picture, just seeing your side of the story )

 

"I looked and all I can say is, you should buy another cam - marks like those will spin a cam bearing on you.."
This is a reply from another board that I frequent. I really hope that my engine builder says he can use the cam.

 

ugh, im sorry man, but i wouldnt use that cam , i doubt the engine builder is going to say yes, because that cam will be responsible for spun bearing, definately if it is not in good condition. Too many things can go wrong.. i wouldn't use it. Got any better pics?

 

No i don't have anymore pics my dad took the cam home with him today to have it checked out. I took a bunch of pics but I used my canon S50 great camera but it has very crappy macro capabilites I think i'm going to buy a add on lens for it to improve that aspect of the camera. Hopefully I'll know the verdict on the cam tomorrow. I can't really afford to buy a new one right now so hopefully if my engine builder says the cam is bad the guy i bought it from will give me back my money or else I'll have to take it up with paypal and go that route. Like you said I really don't want to take a chance with the cam but my budget doesn't really allow me to buy a new one.
-Scott

 

yea but ur budget cant afford new cam bearings either , especially what it costs to install them, and then the trouble of pulling the motor and all the other stuff if you are gunna do it yourself... and u can ruin more than just bearings, but yea the engine builder will know what hes doing hopefully and you'll know what to do from there > good luck man. lemme know what happens... is that your only cam right now ? if so i have a new 'low mile' stock cam that i pulled out of my lt1 that i bought that has only test miles on it.. just if ya need one

 

Yeah i see what your saying. If i get my money back for this cam I'm sure i can find one that isn't a piece or else I'll try to get my buddy to get me a new one through the dealership. I just though I could save 80 bucks by doing it this way. I guess I'll have to be a little more cautious when purchasing stuff online.
-Scott

 

Well i contacted the guy I got the cam from and he seems really cool about it I almost feel bad for being so mad at first. I'll let you know what happens with the cam.
-Scott

 

Hey Oldschool, what part of WI are you from? Ever make it to WIR in Kaukauna?

Aaron

 

I live by fondy in the summer but I go to school at UW Madison. I've been up to Kaukauna a couple of times while I was younger. I thought about taking my v-8 S-10 up there but I knew I would get hooked on racing. My friend goes up to kaukauna a lot he has a black/dark blue 98 SS running spray his name is David. Once I get my car done I'll be sure to bring it up. It's not a 4thgen though it's a 86 Monte Carlo SS. Running a hybrid 355 tpi/lt1 with a t56. I'm looking for low 12's. I was just up your way not to long ago. My friend has a band called Start From Scratch that plays alot of shows at Ryans Ballroom
-Scott

 

Excuse me but, that cam belongs in a dumpster.