fill pits in camshaft

I believe there are places that weld fill and can regrind it. I wouldn't put that back in it will destroy the bearings if they aren't already

 

Are you sure it's pits or the parkerizing wore off? Can't see from pics on my phone.

 

For industrial apps people use Belzona 1131. I'm sure experts will chime in re automotive app.

 

You might want to ask about getting it metal sprayed and machined back to standard. Problem with welding it , is the heat and the distorsion etc. With metal spraying it does not get too hot.

I have used Eutectic metal spraying on electric motor bearing surfaces with great sucess. One we did was over 90 mm diameter.

Depending on the material you spray on, you either machine it back to size or grind it .

Not sure about the belzona route as you just need a little break off and you have a problem- what ever you do, you will have to reduce shaft diameter to get to a clean surface then build it up oversize and machine to suit.

 

If the lobes are OK polish it and use it. I have seen lots of rust pitted cams in these cars. The rust will raise a little material so it needs polishing but if it is confined to the bearing surface and not the lobes it will be OK. If the lobes got rusty you're screwed.

 

Sounds best to me

 

Use a thin layer of JB weld. let it dry and then sand it smooth with 800 grit sandpaper.

 

That's a sure bet to do a lot of damage.

 

Why not replace it? Sets are available, new, not NOS, from one or more of the dino parts guys out there. Probably $2K +-.

I think Dinoparts.de has them, and also refurbishes what you have.

Superformance.co.uk might do it as well.

It's an internal engine part, not like it's gonna cost you a point at a concours.

Oh, and there are a half dozen regular posters on the Dino section here who have done what you're trying to do.

D

 

Please do not ever do this.


If you think you're in in real trouble, Elgin cams can fix a lot of things lobe and journal related.

 

Jb weld? In a motor? On a wear surface? In a motor?

I can't get the stuff to stick to the outside of a case... Putting it inside... That's brave... Probably foolish... But really brave

 

I was just kidding, should have put a smiley face I guess .... I agree however I cant seem to get it to stick to anything as well..

 

Your brave !

 

Send it to Web Camshafts in Riverside CA. They will weld and re-grind the whole cam as good as new. Web has been around a long time and their cams are outstanding.

 

Just a quick question Chaps. If you were to grind the cams to 'undersize' how would you make up the difference in the head journals? Would you for example shell them? Regards Bell

 

I have seen that done but that just creates another set of operations to find a shell of the correct size then machine the heads to take them. Operation snowball. If someone is really laying awake at night over the imperfect appearance of their cam journals they need to be ground, welded and reground to the correct size or just replace them.

I have doubts that the journals got that rusty without damage to the lobes, in that case repairs are required. If though the only damage is to the journals there are a great many of them running around with cams that just got polished and put back on the road. Over the years many of them blew head gaskets, had water in the oil and were left to sit, sometimes for years and this happened.

 

Hi Rifledriver, my question about shelling the heads relates to a problem with a friends car that has had oil starvation to the cams. The bearing areas in the heads and cam caps are scored as are the cams. The cams can be replaced but I was wondering what you guys would do Stateside regarding the heads. Regards Bell

 

If the pitting is shallow, intruding and a polish may work, if deeper hard chroming, but only worth it if lobes are good

 

Depends on how bad it is, how many bearings are effected and what kind of heads they are.

Putting in bearing shells where none existed can get to be an expensive job. Welding and remachining can be easier but there are a lot of variables. Take it to a machine shop experienced in non traditional repairs and see what they say. Guys with a lot of experience with exotics are generally far more experienced at saving things that are really f**ked up than most because of the value and scarcity of the parts.

 

sorry, I think that was autocorrected. ... nitriding and a polish. The nitriding will add 1-2 thou and then polishing it backwill help fill the pits.

 

Cheers Rifledriver, my thoughts too.
I know that this is not the problem here but it is a related issue.
Re, damaged or scored head journals, the way I was thinking is that if the head journals were scored then shells could be made to fit the heads. Or could the heads be heated and welded and then line bored? Not sure if the welded properties of the metal would match that of the original head...
I mean what would you do with your heads if they suffered a catastrophic oil starvation and had this issue? This must have happened to someone in the past.
Regards Bell

 

Many have been welded and remachined. Not a big problem for the right guy.

 

Many thanks Rifledriver, just the answer I was looking for.
All the best Bell