Cam lobe/lifter alignment

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Old February 16th, 2019, 11:38 AM
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Cam lobe/lifter alignment



Hey everyone ,

want to to get some info on this before I button my motor up. I got the cam and lifters in today. Cam set in nicely. Timing chain abd gear are in. Everything lines up as it should. But I looked in the valley in the center hole where you can see the cam. Looks like the cam lobe and lifter are not centered on each other. Is this normal or is the cam messed up? It’s a new cam and new lifters. Plain flat tappet setup. Cam is a basic RV Melling MT01

Thanks in advance




Last edited by Matt Joseph; February 16th, 2019 at 11:43 AM.
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Old February 16th, 2019, 01:42 PM
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Yes that is normal. I think it has something to do with making the lifters spin.
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Old February 16th, 2019, 01:59 PM
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Correct, the offset along with a slight bevel between the lifter/cam lobe causes the lifters to spin n the bores and equalize the wear.
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Old February 16th, 2019, 02:06 PM
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That looks like a quality lifter. Maybe a Delphi
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Old February 16th, 2019, 03:42 PM
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Yes, its normal, as stated above it causes the lifter to spin. Follow the manufacturers break in procedure.
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Old February 16th, 2019, 05:25 PM
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When you say the timing chain lines up,what do you mean by this? Did this cam come with a spec card telling where to install the intake centerline or did you line line the marks up and call it OK? This is the worst mistake made with cam timing. The cam vendor tells you where they want the cam installed and some disregard this. Not picking on you,just asking questions.
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Old February 16th, 2019, 06:57 PM
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I think what the Op is saying is the 2 sprockets were in line with the chain installed.
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Old February 16th, 2019, 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
I think what the Op is saying is the 2 sprockets were in line with the chain installed.
I understand what he was saying. I was checking to see how he installed the cam. Did he degree it,put it in just using the timing gear marks? If you just install a cam not checking to see where the cam is,you're just asking for trouble. Just a few degrees off makes the difference in a good running engine or a pig.
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Old February 16th, 2019, 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 66-3X2 442
When you say the timing chain lines up,what do you mean by this? Did this cam come with a spec card telling where to install the intake centerline or did you line line the marks up and call it OK? This is the worst mistake made with cam timing. The cam vendor tells you where they want the cam installed and some disregard this. Not picking on you,just asking questions.
the dots lined up real good
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Old February 17th, 2019, 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by 66-3X2 442
If you just install a cam not checking to see where the cam is,you're just asking for trouble. Just a few degrees off makes the difference in a good running engine or a pig.
I agree. Back in the 90s I stuck a new cam in by aligning the dots and the engine didn't have any low end power. When I checked with a degree wheel I found the cam was 8º retarded.

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Old February 17th, 2019, 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Fun71
I agree. Back in the 90s I stuck a new cam in by aligning the dots and the engine didn't have any low end power. When I checked with a degree wheel I found the cam was 8º retarded.
^^^^^^^^^This is exactly my point. Just because the gear marks align doesn't mean anything. A lot of these parts are made overseas and are junk. We had some Cloyes True Roller gear sets marked wrong and they are top of the line parts. Even if the marks are correct and align correctly doesn't mean the cam is in the engine where the grinder wants it. They give you the specs where they want it installed for a reason.
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Old March 10th, 2019, 08:20 PM
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It’s an RV cam. Those grinds are so mild being off a few degrees won’t make any difference. I’ve degreed in a bunch of cams and never found one off even so much as a degree. Of course the one I don’t check might be the one that is screwed up so I check them anyway.
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Old March 25th, 2019, 08:01 AM
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Just figured I’d touch base. Got motor broken in and after about 2 weeks of timing and carb adjustment got it running well. Thanks for the help
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Old March 25th, 2019, 08:27 AM
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Well done.
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