The Top Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Resource

Join the best E39A 1991-1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 community and document your GVR4 journey.

  • Software Upgraded - Reset Your Password to Login
    In order to log in after the forum software change, you need to reset your password. If you don't have access to the email address you used to register your GVR4.org account, you won't be able to reset your password. In that case, follow the instructions here to regain access to the forum.

Camshaft Inspection - Advice Needed

mooserage

Staff member
Joined
May 17, 2004
Messages
1,293
Location
Seattle, WA
Hoping some of you with more experience can provide some insight and help me learn a little about camshafts and typical/atypical wear. I've seen severely pitted camshafts and understand those can't really be used, but never seen cams with minor issues.

I purchased a set of cams recently and one is brand new and still covered in a (I assume) petroleum grease/substance to protect it from rusting.

IMG_20170313_193415.jpg


The other cam is used and arrived without any sort of lubrication on it. Its not obviously pitted, but there is some surface rust on the lobes, haven't really touched it other than scraping with my finger nail to see if it'd come off easily (it didn't). So, is this still a usable cam? I was told these were clean/mark free, so I'm just trying to understand if I should go back to the seller, or if this isn't a big deal and I can clean them up with something simple.

IMG_20170313_193311.jpg


IMG_20170313_193255.jpg


Thanks for any info.
 
Last edited:

thomcasey

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2014
Messages
907
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Any machine shop could polish that right up
 

mooserage

Staff member
Joined
May 17, 2004
Messages
1,293
Location
Seattle, WA
Thanks, this is the sort of thing I was wondering. So, I can take this to an automotive machine shop and just ask them to clean/ polish the cam? Assuming they do and everything looks decent, any suggestions on what I can put on the cam to protect it until it goes in the engine?
 

thomcasey

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2014
Messages
907
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Yes, they can tell you if they are savable or not, but I am running a set that looked a bit worse and polished out fine. When storing them, Clean them of all grease and contaminants (maybe have the machine shop hot tank them fr you)spray them down with a silicone grease that will stick or rub them down with a quality bearing grease. Then cover them in some sealed plastic. The machine shop might actually do this for you if you ask.
 

iceman69510

Turn Right Racing
Staff member
Joined
Mar 5, 2001
Messages
10,964
Location
Michigan
If you want to, you can do it yourself. I have polished crankshafts before with emery cloth (sometimes called rosin paper also I think). Use lots of lubricant. Search the web for proper grit.

But as suggested, a shop might do it fairly cheaply.
 

mooserage

Staff member
Joined
May 17, 2004
Messages
1,293
Location
Seattle, WA
Thanks guys! I reached out to a couple of shops. One said they could probably throw it in a tumbler for $20 (Delta Camshaft), the other suggested some WD40 and a scotch pad should do the trick. Not sure which I'd rather do, but I would probably feel better with it in the hands of an expert.

It's good to know that its probably still usable though.
 

kumfasa

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2015
Messages
125
Location
Tauranga, New Zealand
In my experience the experts care less than you do about your vehicle. I'm of the opinion, if you want a job done right, do it yourself unless it requires some very expensive specialized machinery.

WD40 and a scotchbrite pad and some elbow grease will sort out that surface rust no problems.
 

Breakerrr

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2016
Messages
51
Location
Wheat Ridge,CO
Quote:
I purchased a set of cams recently and one is brand new and still covered in a (I assume) petroleum grease/substance to protect it from rusting.



Cosmoline. That's the substance. It's oh so nice if the parts are small enough to fit in the parts washer. It blows if they don't.
 
Support Vendors who Support the GVR-4 Community
Boosted Fabrication ECM Tuning ExtremePSI Fuel Injector Clinic Jacks Transmissions JNZ Tuning Kiggly Racing Morrison Fabrications RixRacing RockAuto RTM Racing STM Tuned

Recent Forum Posts

Top