Question for the experts on cam lobe wear:

[speeder]

This is wrt a Ford/International 7.3 Powerstroke diesel w roller cam and lifters that I am rebuilding. I need to replace the cam due to moisture getting to one set of lobes somehow in storage and causing pitting.

I'm going to price a new one Monday but in the mean time, I was browsing used ones online. The new one is probably very expensive so a nearly perfect used on w minimal wear would work great.

This one is local and very close, I could go grab it in 30 min. round trip. My question is this; every one of these I've looked at photos of has the same type of discoloring(?) on lobes, some lobes worse that others. You can clearly see it in this photo:



All lobes have at least a small stripe in the middle but some have a much wider mark. Is this a big nothing as long as the lobe still feels shine-y or does it mean that it's losing its hardened finish?

Here is the listing w more photos but every one I've seen looks similar or worse. TIA.

1995 7.3 7.3L POWERSTROKE CAMSHAFT AND GEAR A215 112942 1812062-C3 1818164C1 | eBay

[speeder]

EDIT: OK, the only way I could capture the photo was by screenshot on my iPad and it will not post here. (PNG image). Shows as script but doesn't show up in post. It's the last of 4 photos in listing I linked. Thanks.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by speeder

it will not post here. (PNG image).

You first have to convert .png to .jpg with Irfanview to post on Pelican Parts.

(Seems like that should have been fixed already..but no..)
(.png is often smaller size as well)

[1990C4S]

I don't see anything there that would concern me.

But I will defer to the experts here.

[asphaltgambler]

I agree^^^^^

[stomachmonkey]

What does the line in the description "good rectifiable condition" mean.

You only rectify things that need to be rectified. LOL

[speeder]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

What does the line in the description "good rectifiable condition" mean.

You only rectify things that need to be rectified. LOL

No idea what he means there and he may not know either. It's 15 minutes away, I'll go look at it today and buy it if it's ok.

[Joe Bob]

Can't the cam be welded, built up and reground? This company specializes in Diesel applications. Camshaft Remanufacturing | Hillcrest Camshaft

[Jeff Higgins]

I've built a couple dozen motors from our 911's to American V-8's to VW's to a variety of motorcycles, and every cam I have ever seen looked just like that. It's just burnishing. I would not hesitate to use it, if it's as good as the pics. See if there is any pitting, or any deep grooves that will catch a fingernail or something. It will also be obvious if the surface hardening is worn through - it will be a different color in that area, with kind of a "halo" around it. Absent any of that, you're probably good to go.

[DanielDudley]

Use a cam assembly lube on the lobes.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Can't the cam be welded, built up and reground? This company specializes in Diesel applications. Camshaft Remanufacturing | Hillcrest Camshaft

That's always an option w cams but in this case, a new one is probably cheaper. If I could have just the damaged lobe welded and repaired, that might be cost effective. A good used part is the fastest and easiest way to go in situations like this, as long as the used cam does not have excessive wear. Some motors eat cams and some don't, this one doesn't. It's a roller cam.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I've built a couple dozen motors from our 911's to American V-8's to VW's to a variety of motorcycles, and every cam I have ever seen looked just like that. It's just burnishing. I would not hesitate to use it, if it's as good as the pics. See if there is any pitting, or any deep grooves that will catch a fingernail or something. It will also be obvious if the surface hardening is worn through - it will be a different color in that area, with kind of a "halo" around it. Absent any of that, you're probably good to go.

Thanks. That's pretty much what I was thinking and since starting this thread, I looked at and felt the undamaged lobes on my cam that look similar. They feel fine. When a cam actually gets eaten through the hardening, it's a pretty obvious and nasty damage, (which I've seen photos of).

Called a dealer to price a new cam while I was ordering some other stuff, it's NLA. So any aftermarket ones are probably China? Or do you think they still make them here? Anyways, I'll take the part made by Canadians in the mid-'90s any day of the week over a 3rd world part, assuming the used part is sound, of course. 😺👍

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Can't the cam be welded, built up and reground? This company specializes in Diesel applications. Camshaft Remanufacturing | Hillcrest Camshaft

Clicked on the link, that's an awesome machine shop. I've been in one like it in Minneapolis called "Crankshaft Service", (I think), they have cranks and engines from earth movers and trains that are 10' long, stuff like that. An engine block the size of a PU truck.

I'll try to dig up the photos. I like building motors.

[speeder]

I'm starting to get excited about this little project.

I bought this truck a while back in the PNW w a bad motor and left it at my friend's place out in the desert, almost forgot about it for a while. It's a PIA to pull that engine out of that body and of course the lump weighs ~1k lbs. once it's out. A bit expensive to rebuild as well, it's no SBC or Toyota 4-banger.

Like anything else, though, once you get past the inertia and dig in, it's kind of fun. I enjoy rebuilding engines as a hobby and am pretty good at it. I couldn't rebuild a transmission to save my life but have skilz w engines.

It's a manual transmission F-250 4x4 w 4:10 ltd slip in an extended cab long bed XLT, 1995 so first (non-intercooled) Powerstroke 7.3. These so-called OBS trucks have quite a following and they're pretty nice. I can't wait to see how I like it w a fresh motor and 5-speed trans, might be a keeper. Should tow great and get super MPGs. The auto trans is the weak link in those rigs although I've had good luck w my autos.

A few pics, pretty clean:







The auto trans in the truck bed is from an old Mercedes, not the truck.

[fastfredracing]

You guys are lucky in the southwest. Most of those are rusted beyond repair here . Cool project.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

You guys are lucky in the southwest. Most of those are rusted beyond repair here . Cool project.

This truck is from the PNW, (eastern WA. state), much cleaner vehicles than anything in the southwest where the sun and heat eats them alive. This truck is covered in factory paint w no clear coat damage, a clean interior, etc.

But yes, they are worth nothing with rust and worth big bucks w/o it. Only dry vehicles have any value.

[sammyg2]

[T77911S]

man I would love to help you with just to see it go back together.
my daughter has a 99 f250.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by T77911S

man I would love to help you with just to see it go back together.
my daughter has a 99 f250.

I'll try to remember to post some pics as I reassemble it. They are pretty straightforward.