Whats the effect of a worn camshaft on an engine?

Would lobe wear vastly effect the top power range?

All imput would be welcome.

                                                 

I'm no expert but I would have thought it would take years of abuse / lack of oil to wear cam lobes?? Cams would look visably worn.

Symptoms I would guess would include lack of power, misfire, smoke.. but at all ranges?

Cam wear does gradually affect the performance of an engine but that probably starts from day one of new cam install. I met an old boy last year at a car show in Weston. He had an old P6 V8 Rover that eventually would only just start with the engine spitting and banging and all due to cam wear. Not being worried about the loss of power he said he only replaced the cam because this spitting & banging was embarrassing when he went to shows. When he replaced this cam he said the cam lobs were almost non existent with the cam being nearly completely round thereby only just opening the values.
On a V8 Rover you need to think about replacing the cam at 50 to 70 thousand miles, but I think they are notoriously hard on cams. Modern engines obviouly go much further. 

If the cam is worn, all that is above is right on the nose, but I would also consider where the bits that are wearing off the cam are going, and what damage they are causing to the rest of the engine

worth checking   

Why I ask is my 2.0 pinto is a bit flat at the top end and I read somewhere that early Sierra's were a bit notorious for camshaft wear, having them replaced regularly!

If the cam lobes are worn, surely this would effectively reduce the opening of the valves and the intake of fuel.

The Pinto engines do wear cams quite quickly, they were also notorious for snapping cam belts at regular intervals. Many years ago I had one go on the Cumberland Basin. I walked to Brian Bros, purchased a new belt and manage to changed it on the side of the road, which was fun with all of the traffic roaring past.

You say you have a flat spot at the top end. I'm assuming all of the ignition components are working okay and the timing is correct etc, and the carbs are okay, with no water in the jets etc.... the list goes on.

I'm sure you know all of this but a worn cam would tend to reduce the maximum revs and top end power of an engine. Low profile cams give lots of torque but lower max revs/power, whereas the higher profile cam gives more engines revs and higher top end power but with reduced low end torque.     

That could well be my problem then because it struggles to rev. over 4000rpm but pulls strongly to there.

The ignition timing seems ok unless the distributors out with an incorrect TDC......or the cambelt might be a tooth out!!!

Its no good...I shall have to brave the cold and get the rocker cover off and see whats going on!!

If i need to change the cam. ....I'm not sure whether to get a standard one or a fast road cam.....but I don't want it too cammy at the bottom end.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

If you purcahse a new cam then you probably need to decide what rev range you want to use the car within. The right fast road cam is good but if you go too high as you will get an uneven tickover and rubbish low end performance. Very high lift cams are great if you are on a track and driving near the top of the rev range, but not a lot of use on the road; that is unless you are a very quick driver which some are, but certainly not me.... I have to go some to break the speed limit with my wife in the car. If we ever go in convoy and my wife is with me then I am a bad choice as a lead vehicle as everybody ends up falling asleep behind me....     

Ha...Ha...you can't be that slow!      My missus has only been out once with me and she never stopped nagging about going too fast.....I never went over 60mph....honest, it just feels faster what with side exhaust and the roof down, doesn't it .

I would only put in a mild cam. that would pull from 1000 to 2000 r.p.m. probably....See what others have done with theirs and get some feedback .

A worn cam will reduce top end power and rev range due to the fact that the valve lift is greatly reduced the valves simply don't open far enough to let the air into the engine to rev that high.

I don't know what engine ur using but you may want to replace the cam followers/rockers at the same time because they may well have worn too.

To Paintman (and anybody else) .....
My wife actually loves our kit car. Before we ever had the thing she was always trying to get me to take her our somewhere, and my usual boring answer was no and that I had other things to do.
Since we have had the kitcar all that has changed. I now like going out to different places, even if it take me forever to get there.
She also likes the attention it creates with strangers showing an interset and wanting to talk to her, as like most husbands I don't talk to her much.
Kevin

Thats a great post Kevin, its a shame more wives or partners dont share the same passion.

My missus loves the car and the whole club scene, but when it really comes down to it, I think she prefers shopping

Look you lot, I thought we were discussing the problems with my camshaft not the merits of the wife's company on a trip out!!    (I'm joking)

Actually she now says she intends to go out in the Hood by herself, so I can't criticise the way she's driving it.....I'm definitely going to drop in a hot camshaft now!!

I don't think my wife would want to drive our kitcar. The problem with a lot of kit cars is you have to work at driving the thing (no power steering etc) which doen't always suit the ladies. My son drives the kitcar which I am not that keen on as he has a habit of driving it a bit too quick, which does worry me. My daughter says she is going to drive it but never does, thank goodness.

I think we should have forum string about "How you came to own your kitcar and experiences of why we love our kitcar".

O, and about the least important bit. You can purchase new cams for about £150, not that you asked this question but I just thought I would mention it anyway...

Kevin

Off the subject again....I bought my Hood just down the road from you I think, in Dundry Lane just past the lakes take a turning right. (directions from the Airport)

Did you ever see it about....Robin Hood s7 reddish with the stainless bonnet etc..?  Tony

Tony,
You asked about if I had ever seen your car about locally as it came from Dundry..
No, I have never seen your car on the road locally. It could be that the car has maybe been shut away for some time.
Kevin

I have a EXMO Hood with 2l engine and I spent a long time researching the best cam to fit for day to day use and fast tracking.

Please remember if you are fitting an eBay second hand cam you MUST get and fit the rocker follower arms fitted back to the lob it was running before it was removed, or install new ones, and when you first start it up rev it at 2-4K revs to bed it all in or you will wreck the lobes. I know its anal but if you want it to keep going well do the job propper!

I purchased a one season used cam from  Frank Anderson, Bath direction they is... http://www.andersonracingengines.com/ each of the followers were clearly engraved ready for reassembly.

This was a special cam developed by Frank for his engines and made by Piper for him.

His claim is that the cam is good at tick-over and low speed but develops excellent torque at 3-6K, so with a car weighing 750Kg it should do the job.

Unfortunatly the engine is still in the garage being built up ready for the spring so I cannot actually confirm the claim... yet.

My wife will not go anywhere near the kit car in respect of riding or driving, I think I got the best trained.

I eventually got round to taking out the standard cam.....I measured it against a new one and guess what the difference was across the lobes..........................................................
.............................80 thou.!!

The new cam should make a difference. I would guess the tappets were noisy with that old cam. 

Funny enough it was quiet but I think the last owner had just done the tappets!  Can't wait to put the new one in and try it.