Dead cylinder on my 440. Cam Swap

[c00nhunterjoe]

Did you break in the lifters with light springs? Pop a main and rod cap off when the pan is down. Change the oil and filter several times in a row if you are not pulling it. 50/50 shot it will live.

[timmycharger]

I was worried about using new lifters with an old cam so I made sure to lube everything well but I guess it didnt matter. 

I didnt use lighter springs for the break in. Figured the stock edelbrock springs were not that stiff. 

[timmycharger]

Time to order a new cam for this engine.  I have been looking online for the last few days and I think I have my choice narrowed down to the Lunati Voodoo 60303 cam.  I am looking for something with similar performance to the Mopar 284/484 cam but with better street manners.

My 440 is basically a stock six pack bottom end with stock Edelbrock heads, Hughes 1.6 rockers and TTI 2 inch headers.  I will get the matching valve springs for this cam. 




Hydraulic Flat Tappet. This high performance street cam likes 2400 RPM stall, 800 CFM carb, dual plane intake and headers. Makes un- equaled power to 6200 RPM with proper valve springs.
•Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 268/276
•Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 226/234
•Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .494/.513
•LSA/ICL: 110/106
•Valve Lash (Int/Exh): Hyd/Hyd
•RPM Range: 1800-6200
•Includes: Cam Only


Part Number: 10230703
Previous Part Number: 60303

[PRH]

I'd expect that cam would really perk up the cranking compression numbers over the 484 cam.

[timmycharger]

The tech I spoke to at Lunati felt that this cam was a good choice for my engine/car.  I ended up getting the cam, lifters and valve springs from them but had to buy a three bolt timing chain set to match the cam.

Lunati recommended removing the inner valve springs on the heads for the break in period but I didn't ask him about what additives or oils to use. 

Can anyone recommend what oil I should use for the cam break in? regular oil with additive or special break in oil?

[BLK 68 R/T]

Here is what I would use for break in oil. Then after break in make sure to run a good FT friendly oil with lots of ZDDP.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bpo-71206

[69wannabe]

Them eddy springs must be pretty strong, I had a 440 years back that I got stuck with from another mechanic ghat had ate 3 cams when it came to me. I just had to pull it and start from scratch basically. It had the six pack pistons and eddy heads and the 484 mopar shaft with the 114 CL for better drivability but it had ate three of these cams so far. Turns out the springs were way too much for that cam. Got another 484 cam and recommended springs and cleaned and freshened up the bottom and all was well after I got it back up and going. There are ZDDP additives that you can purchase or just run the oil with the Zddp already in it. There are several break in oils out there with the zddp in it but locally the oreillys sells valvoline VR1 20w50 which is what I run in my 493 ci. When you get it back together and start it up don't let it idle low for the first 20 min's. 1200 to 1500 rpms will break the cam and lifters in and then you can idle it down from there. Then after it runs another 10 to 20 mins drain that oil out and do an oil and filter change and do the same zddp oil again. Got to have oil with the zinc in it or it will eat the cam again. I also learned this the hard way.....

[PRH]

Just a little "FYI/fwiw"........

The MP "933" hemi spring, which is what MP recommended for the 474/484/509 cams, is a much higher rate spring than what Edelbrock equips the std RPM/E Street heads with.

If you buy the heads with the "hydraulic roller" option, they come with dual springs, and those are quite stiff.

For most hyd flat tappet applications, and even the milder solid flat tappet applications, I use the springs/retainers/locks/seals that come on the heads.

[69wannabe]

Just a little "FYI/fwiw"........

The MP "933" hemi spring, which is what MP recommended for the 474/484/509 cams, is a much higher rate spring than what Edelbrock equips the std RPM/E Street heads with.

If you buy the heads with the "hydraulic roller" option, they come with dual springs, and those are quite stiff.

For most hyd flat tappet applications, and even the milder solid flat tappet applications, I use the springs/retainers/locks/seals that come on the heads.

I'm not sure what springs were on that set of heads, I took them to the machine shop and he said they were pretty stiff springs for just a 484 lift cam so he swapped them for some 500 lift valve springs. I am not sure if that was the problem with this engine or not but it didn't have any valve train trouble after that but who know if they were using any zddp in the engine or if they were breaking the cam in properly.

[timmycharger]

Thanks guys, I read also that I would be ok with the Eddy springs but I ended up picking up the springs from Lunati that are matched for this cam (60303).

I will pick up 6 quarts of the break in oil, appreciate the link.

[flyinlow]

Not what I would have guessed . but I glad you figured it out.

I would be tempted to pull the oil pump off and inspect the rotors. If you don't tear down , I would do an extra oil/filter change after a couple hundred miles.
.

[flyinlow]

I have the 60303 cam in my 440 with Edelbrock heads and Comp rockers. Nice mild street cam and has gone almost 50K. miles so far.

[timmycharger]

Yes, I plan on pulling off that pump and having a look and changing the oil early as you suggest. 

Good to know about your combo. Did you run the stock springs? I am finding out that some folks had no problems with the stock Edelbrock springs but I ended up going with the Lunati ones.

[flyinlow]

Yes , use the stock Eddy springs. Broke the engine in with them also. Thought about beehive springs.

[timmycharger]

I drained the fluids and am in the process of cleaning everything for the installation of the new cam.  All the gaskets and parts have arrived including 6 quarts of break in oil and a bottle of break in additive as well.  

The oil drain plug magnet had zero metal on it that I could see, so I cut open the oil filter and didn't see anything in there either. I am not going to pull the oil pump at this point as I do not see anything in the oil that concerns me.  I pulled out the old cam and aside from the one wasted lobe, I see a few others that look suspect  .  

Time to finish cleaning the surfaces and will put the new one in hopefully this weekend.  I then need to install the new valve springs (outers for the break in) and check the pushrod length.