breaking in a cam??

[mgoncalves]

I keep hearing stories of how important it is to properly break in a cam on a gasser. I have never done anything special, and have had good luck.



What do you guys think? Is the cam "break in" a myth??





Matt

 

[B.G. Smith]

Some new cams come with special lube to put on the lobes on installation, reground/reconditioned cams come with nothing. Unless you are going to hit the drag strip, I would just do the normal engine break in. bg

 

[Rman]

the first 20 minutes is pretty important, street or strip.

 

[RustyJC]

I try to do 2000 RPM for the first 20 minutes with a flat-tappet cam, even using the cam maker's assembly lube.



Rusty

 

[badinfluence]

As already said 1st 20 minutes is really important. We use GM break in lube I think it is called EOS, comes in a pint bottle. We have had good luck with it in our race engines and street engines.

Brett

 

[lmills]

Ditto on the first 20 minutes if it is a flat tappet cam. We always used a break in lube on flat tappets. On a roller cam motor all you need is a nice coating of oil. The critical thing is to make sure that the lifters are spinning in their bores when you are breaking in the cam. The break in lube is slippery enough to resist friction so it is more likely to rotate. As long as they are spinning in their bores you won't get flat spots