Flat tappet cam install considered a risk?

[Drewster]

Im just got my 206/206 flat tappet CompCam when I found out about the chances of wipping a lobe. I was planning on installing it in my new short block but now im kinda spooked about wipping a lobe. Should I just use Rotella T and EOS for the break-in and not worry?
I am considering a roller cam but then I could really use the money on a front mount. (or elsewhere)
I have a set of ported stock irons ready to go on but I would have to spend time change the springs.
Is a 212/212 roller cam ok with a 2800 stall 9/11 converter and a TA-49....
better recomendations?

Im getting tired of thinking about this.

Andrew

 

[QUIP'6']

rotella and eos also keep the idle up and steady

 

[TURBOELKY]

DUDE, flat tappets have been around for EVER! just because its a buick turbo 6 does not make it more susceptable to whiping a lobe. Your right, save the money towards a front mount and put it in there!:biggrin:

 

[SouthernCal GN]

Break in the cam on some worn valve springs. Make sure you prime the heck out of the engine before starting, and don't stop the break-in process once you start.

Many cars making stupid power with that lil ol' flat tappet, so don't be afraid!

 

[Blown&Injected]

make sure everything is right before starting it up - no fuel or water leaks. Fan works, TPS and cam sensor set.

Turn the engine over by hand while pre lubing.

And as mentioned - old valve springs especially on the #3exhaust valve, because these Buick V6's do indeed have an issue in that area.

 

[Clark6]

Im just got my 206/206 flat tappet CompCam when I found out about the chances of wipping a lobe. I was planning on installing it in my new short block but now im kinda spooked about wipping a lobe. Should I just use Rotella T and EOS for the break-in and not worry?
I am considering a roller cam but then I could really use the money on a front mount. (or elsewhere)
I have a set of ported stock irons ready to go on but I would have to spend time change the springs.
Is a 212/212 roller cam ok with a 2800 stall 9/11 converter and a TA-49....
better recomendations?

Im getting tired of thinking about this.

Andrew

my brother had a 218 flat tappet in his for a long time running mid 11s. never wiped a lobe he's since went to a 212/212 roller & roller rockers on chpion alum. on his fresh new rebuild

spent a bunch of dough for that roller set up, i know its a durability issue , i myself have the 202/202 flat tappet from postons in mine no lobe wiped yet runnin low 12s
but i do think i have a rod knock now gonna get the bottom rebuilt, with some chp alum. also im still debating also but as cheap as i am i'll probably go with a flat appet with stock rockers i may go 218 flat this time & save the 500 bucks hope im not making a mistake.........

 

[bison]

Break in the cam on some worn valve springs. Make sure you prime the heck out of the engine before starting, and don't stop the break-in process once you start.

Many cars making stupid power with that lil ol' flat tappet, so don't be afraid!

Exactly. Using stock worn out springs and EOS is the way to go. There is not as much to be gained as you would think with a roller. There is nothing to be afraid of here. I would not run a TA-49 with a 212-212. The 212-212 likes 66 and larger turbos with a 3000 stall for optimum 60 fts and power potential.

 

[the wrath]

well what i did was had my cam and lifters cryoed is suppose to make the cam almost indestructable cost me about 30.00 to do the cam and 12.00 for the lifters i think. the website is onecryo.com

 

[Drewster]

can the #3 exhaust be checked for mis alignment before the cam install?

Can the #3 exhaust be checked for mis alignment before the cam install?
I heard of installing the cam and lifters and rotating the cam to make sure the #3e turns fast enough.
Can the bad lifter bore be found by measuring?
Maybe it has an odd ball intake to exhaust bore spread as compared to the others?

If the block does prove to have the mis aligned bore, does a roller cam make it a non issue? (seem to be the only "must use roller" reason).

Andrew

Thanks for the feed back...

 

[Drewster]

I just checked the spread.

There is ~13/16" between the #3 lifter bores and ~11/16" between all the others. a 1/18" difference. Is this the mis alignment that causes the lobe lubrication problems?
A

 

[87buickracer]

cam install

Cryogenic treatment would be the way to go with a flat tappet cam.

 

[turbofabricator]

There is ~13/16" between the #3 lifter bores and ~11/16" between all the others. a 1/18" difference. Is this the mis alignment that causes the lobe lubrication problems?
A

I think that the reason the #3 lobe is farther apart is to get it away from the hot oil comming off the thrust bearing. That is the only reason I have been able to come up with why GM did this. That is also a good point to think about when installing roller lifters. There is one link bar that is longer than the others. If you install the short link bar on #3, then it can bind, causing failure. This is usually only on solid roller cams (i.e. StageII) that the link bars are separate. Anyone else have a theory as to why GM spread the #3 lifter bores?

 

[bison]

The misalignment cant be easily corrected. If you take the precautions you will be good. Weak springs, EOS, and keep the rpm over 2k when breaking in.

 

[bodycount]

The misalignment cant be easily corrected. If you take the precautions you will be good. Weak springs, EOS, and keep the rpm over 2k when breaking in.

Just curious, but how can the lifter bore be easily corrected? Also is the idea behind using weak springs to save the cam? Wouldnt lifter bounce be a concern on a new cam and cause a wiped lobe?

 

[FHW]

My .02 cents
My original stock well taken care of engine wiped #3 at 50,000 miles every everything else was fine.
No one has a better block then the next guy #3 is about .110 different moving the lifter closer to center line of lobe of cam that makes this lifter harder to spin at this position,Ive even had two of the last cast 153 stage 2 blocks that still had #3 .110 off.
I asked Kenny D. when he was at Bristal raceway why buick did this he replid he had no idea ,he mentioned that the v6 was origanaly a v8 that buick just removed the extra 2 cylinders from and thought maybe someone just moved this lifter on paper and thats how it stayed.He mentioned he bushed most of his motors ,all 12 ,to position them to his spex.
I really think #3 lifter is just a mistake by buick,will it wipe your cam " MAYBE"
what conditions set a wipe in motion "WHO KNOWS".
After finding out about #3 I went roller on my rebuild back in 2000.
To me if you don't go roller that dirty harry line comes in play....you feeling lucky today.

 

[Drewster]

I have 90# seat pressure springs installed and would prefer not to have to change them for break in. If I do, Im just another step closer to a roller cam/ spring install.
For a Cryo treated cam/lifters do you do the same break in prooceedure? (im guessing yes but wanted to verify).


(i also meant ~1/8" not 1/18" in bore difference)
(.110" good info)
Thanks for your advice guys.

 

[ThikStik]

I use to put in cams under shade trees , standing on dirt , 25 + years ago...never lost one. Now , with way better and cleaner garage conditions I cant make a flat stay alive. This is the first time Ive ever seen that manufacturers have admitted culpability, (there is some suspected foreign parts being used.. not just the lube issue). That is enough for me to never touch a flat tap cam again. Dont forget, you lose a cam, and some of the particles go thru motor/turbo. Now soon, zinc will be removed form bearings. Make you guys wanna wright your congresswoman?

 

[gczarny]

I would never use flat tappet cam over roller , I wiped out two of them killing two motors and they were 206/206 comp cam like yours , properly broken - in I should add , to spend the extra money for roller set up to make more power is not the right reason , flat cams will can make as much power ,BUT for piece of mind , cooler running motor , oil selection without looking for specific additives to stop lobes going south ETC ,ETC ... I would suggest you to go with roller !!!! tha's my 2 cents .

 

[83ttypecooled]

Hi,
I'm assembling my motor as if I didn't ever hear about problems with the #3 exhaust lobe wiping out. My stock cam did not have a trouble on #3E. Infact, the wiped out lobes were on #6 I and #5 E. Both were back cylinders, probably oil starved.

 

[conn84gn]

Stay with the Rotella even after break in