Cam lobe wear

[f$nsho]

I just did the top end 60k service and found that one of the cam lobes on the intake/back is pitted and scratched. I replaced the shim, which looked pretty beaten up, and put it all back together again. It runs great now, it has lots of power and the "tapping" nouises are gone.

I just wonder for how long it is going to be before the shim is going to be shewed up again? Any ideas how much it is to replace the cam lobes and if I could do this myself?
This car is turning out to be a real money pit

 

[SHODUDE]

There is no telling how long it will take to chew up another valve shim. Its not something I would let go too long though. Pitted cam lobe, chews up shim, spits shim out, disintegrates cam lobe.

Yup, I've seen it.

The cams run about $125 and up for a used set. You will be hard pressed to find someone that is willing to sell them individually though.

 

[luigisho]

Keep your eye open on e-bay. Cams show up there from time to time. Do you have atx or mtx?

 

[Mike Kopstain]

f$nsho:
Any ideas how much it is to replace the cam lobes and if I could do this myself?
This car is turning out to be a real money pit

You can't just replace the lobe, you'll need the whole cam.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

the first question to ask is, whether it's an exhaust or intake cam. Exhaust are interchangable between 3.0 and 3.2 cars, and can be found for relatively cheap. The intake cams for 3.2's are also cheap, because everyone's getting rid of them to upgrade to 3.0 cams. So you have a choice if you have an automatic. Stay stock, and cheap, or pay some money, and get more power.

 

[SHODUDE]

f$nsho:
I just did the top ...intake/back is pitted and scratched.

 

[f$nsho]

Yes, it an intake cam on a '93 MTX. It has 145.000 miles on it and I am pretty sure this was the first time the shims were checked/ replaced. It's to bad I did not have the stomach to do the job earlier.
So it seems the whole cam needs to be replaced and not just the one lobe. What would be a good place to check for these? Any suggestions?

 

[shojuan]

I think shodude is giving you a hint.

Rick

 

[SHODUDE]

I have a few sets. Email me at [email protected]