camshaft options....????

[MMiller]

Yesterday I pulled the camshaft out of my 93 to re-seal the front cover. I then found 2 or 3 lobes that were flaking off....I am not in the mood to put it back in the truck now. It has a Super 40 charger, Bosch 185 injectors, low pressure piston lift pump, typical pump mods, ground fuel pin, 3200 spring etc. It runs real well, and I use it to tow heavy, its not a toy or a race truck, must live at 70 mph towing 30,000# for hours on end.....Its been suggested to get a re-ground cam from Indiana....any suggestions? A new camshaft from Cummins is $450. The guy also reccommended 24 valve lifters because they have a larger surface area.

Opinions, suggestion, experiences appreciated.

Michael

[RCCUMMINS89]

If you're going to go with another cam, go with a Hamilton.

[cmann250]

I believe I have heard that using 24v tappets does not allow you to use a mechanical lift pump. I can't say I've been into one that far (fortunately), but it's worth asking someone that has.

[RCCUMMINS89]

Tappets have nothing to do with the cam lobes..................now a 24 valve cam, those don't have a cam lobe for a lift pump.

[cmann250]

There's something in there, but I don't know what. I feel like I've heard this several times. I'll do some searching tonight.

[RCCUMMINS89]

I'd be curious to know if there is something I haven't heard about or am not thinking about as well.

[MMiller]

I talked with Ryan at Hamilton. He thought a 188/210 cam would be a good fit in my truck. I would have to get some of the 60# valve springs, and I figure on getting new lifters. We talked about 24 valve or common rail lifters. The 24 valve lifters are about 1.3" diameter at the area that rides on the cam, and common rail ones are 1.5". He said I could use either one, just be sure to tell him when I ordered, and he would make sure the cam was clearanced so those lobes didn't interfere with the lift pump. I suspect since the lift pump isn't there on a 24 valve and common rail they can make the lobes and lifters wider in that area, but in an application that uses a lift pump it may cause issues.

When its all said and done, buying a cam from Hamilton, new valve springs, and new tappets, with some shipping, I'm right around $950. Ouch. If I were to put in a stock cam, 60# springs(that I should have anyway) and lifters it is about $750. I'm going to call a guy about having a stock cam re-ground later today.

Ryan also advised that newer oil does not have enough Zinc in it(something the gas powered racers are having troubles with too) and I should start adding it to my oil to help areas like the cam/lifters for wear. Bgilbert brought a good question up when he called me today. Does the larger lift/duration camshaft move the hp up in the rpm range like a gas engine application? I need to make sure of this, because I don't want anymore top end power.

Michael

[dazedandconfused]

I don't remember if that's the one BC847 is running but his actually moved the power to the left or lower in the rpm range.

Here is his thread.
http://www.1stgen.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12641&start=0

[CumminsPower59]

Michael, I've been running Orchlens house brand oil, CI-4 rated, not the newer CJ rated stuff. The older rating means it still has some of the extra "stuff" needed for older engines. As for zinc in it, that I am not sure of...worth looking into...

[Tacoclaw]

Actually, the 24v lifters will clear our pump lobe and supposedly the CR ones will not. I have 24v lifters with my 188 and a HPLP with no issues, I can guarantee you they'll work together.

You may want to double/triple check with him on the CR lifters if you deem then necessary.

Also, I just run whatever oil we run in everything at work. Normal 15w40, nothing special. I ran 2 bottles of Hamilton's zinc additive for the first OC, then one after that. You don't need special oil if you throw some additive in it as scheduled.

Now I just throw a gallon of oil in it every month or so as it leaks it out, haven't put any zinc in to replace it. I bought some random zinc additive from Summit for my next OC.

[oldestof11]

BC runs Hamiltons 188/210.

Now, that cam is almost "drop in" depending on piston-to-valve clearance. 188/208 might allow some extra room.

[Tacoclaw]

I run the 188/220 I believe. I didn't check sthi when I put it in, I threw on the old head gasket and torqued the old head bolts extra tight, tightened the valves a little extra,then rolled the engine around by manually and felt for contact.

Probably not the best way to do it, but nothing bad has come from it yet.

[BC847]

I do run the 188/220. Before that, I ran the 1st version of the 181/210 (Zach later came out with an improved, 2nd series of the 181/210 as I understand things).

I saw over on CompD where folks who were trying the 188/220 had posted some dyno-plots that in my eyes, essentially moved the torque band a couple hundred RPM to the left (+/-). I figure that seeing the VE moves its best fuel in the lower engine RPMs, that better air down low would go well with the low RPM fuel. It appears to work OK in my mess. That thread referenced earlier sums up the swap and initial findings.
I was just looking at Zach's website and he has apparently expanded his offerings as far as differing grinds. As always, I recommend one call them and tell them what your plans and goals are with the truck.

Zach's done good by me. http://www.hamiltoncams.com/