one last cam question

98zjstroker

98zjstroker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Location
concord nc
So my new camshaft for by current build came in and I noticed that the lobes on the cam are not polished and are more of a dark grey color. I was curious as to why this is. The past cams I have used that were over the counter were not like this. Now I know that if a cam has been nitrided it will have a darker grey color to it (my cam is not).

I looked around online and see that some are polished and others are not but nothing that explains why. I have tried to find something online that would explain the difference and failed. I know this is probably a stupid question but I was just curious.
 
Probably bc if it’s a flat tappet cam, the final heat treat happens during the cam break in procedure.

The cam and lifters wear in together and get hit while being oil soaked.

This is why cam break in and having proper break in oil with plenty of zddp is crucial for cam break in.
 
Nitrided cams often have the journals polished post-treatment, and the lobes not polished. Don't be concerned, they'll break in just fine.
 
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