Cam question -- pictures

[SavannahZ]

Hello all,

I took off my valve cover today for the first time to see what shape everything was in. All components looked good except for one area on the cam. It looks as if it has surface rust. I took off the oiler bar and sprayed it well with carb cleaner, but it appears to be in great shape.

I took it apart because I wanted to check the clearance levels. The car is running well, there just is a slight ticking at all times.

Let me know if you guys think everything looks to be up to par.

Thanks!

Pictures of cam

[240ZX]

I would suspect that the rust was caused by condensation under the cam cover and was likely due to it sitting for some period of time without use. Likely it's not anything to be concerned about, unless its got enough rust that it could flake off and get lodged in some unwanted place within the oil system.

[EricB]

your cam lobes look a bit worn - i wouldn't say unnaturaly so though - our cars are 30+ years old after all... nothing really to worry about unless it smokes or is otherwise not running well... did you do compression and leakdown tests on it yet? I assume you got the car only recently...

-e

[SavannahZ]

It did sit for quite awhile without extensive use. It is just surface rust. The engine was rebuilt by a company called ATK by the previous owner. Supposedly the engine only has 15,000 miles on the rebuild. I got it about four months ago.

[Coastieee240z]

That's kinda funny. My engine supposedly had only 1200 miles on it since a rebuild when I bought it. It sat for a little bit at the dealership but not for very long couple months. It has that same rust looking ring around the cam but only on one of them...just like on yours. Makes me wonder if it's supposed to be like that ?? I've never had a problem with mine though FWIW.

Here's thumbnail pics of mine.

<a href="http://www.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc35&image=_Cam_Cropped.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.imagevenue.com/loc35/th__Cam_Cropped.jpg" border="0" title="Photo Hosting and Image Hosting at www.Imagevenue.com"/></a> <a href="http://img1.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc31&image=_Cam_Cropped2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img1.imagevenue.com/loc31/th__Cam_Cropped2.jpg" border="0" title="Photo Hosting and Image Hosting at www.Imagevenue.com"/></a>

[SavannahZ]

After posting those pictures I was looking around and found another picture of a cam on this site that had only the one ring discolored as well. I think it is curious too. It was the same ring as mine, and yours...there has to be a solid reason behind it.

[hls30.com]

The orange ring of glyptal is there to mark the front for cam resurfacing/installation, I was told it is an ATK thing.

Will

[Coastieee240z]

ATK ?? What's that stand for ?

[hls30.com]

http://www.atkengines.com/whybuy.htm

Will

[SavannahZ]

No kidding, thanks Will