dcohen

it could have been the cam, but more than likely it was the fact that you were running an oil without zinc addatives

the guy who built my engine explained it all to me, basically older oils had a zinc addative in them, but when emissions stuff and catalytic converters came around, the zinc was clogging it up, so they took it out

without that addative the cam lobes dont get the lubrication they need and they just come apart, this is why most newer model blocks have roller cam setups

im not saying that this is what happened to you, but it has happened a lot in the past, my advice would be to run rotella T dieseloil (bout the only one with the addatives in it)

just my $.02

fast66

Here is a link to a good crane cam tech article on cam break inprocedure.

http://www.cranecams.com/pdf/548e.pdf

It mentions specific types of oil to use, and also about getting the engine to start as soon as possible (without cranking it over and over).
As mentioned by others, it looks like the fact that you turned the engine over a few times on the starter before firing it up killed your cam.

Quote
"Set your valve lash or lifter preload. Try to minimize the number of times that you rotate the engine, as this can displace the moly paste from the lobes and lifters."


Something my dad taught me years ago, if all else fails, read the instructions.

tyler72

So should I se the lifter pre load before or after priming the pump? I have to rotate the engine over at least 2 times by hand so that I can adjust he valves. I would just get them close and then adjust the valves while it is running, but this is a show car, and I don't want oil in the fenderwells. Ive done the cardboard trick and cut out valve cover tricks before, but they only help. They dont prevent oil from going everywhere. So, oil before, or after setting them? It would be easier to do before because I could install the distributor ond get the timing reallly close so that it will just fire up on the first try. It would be hard to get in time if you turned the engine over to set the valves with the distributor out, then prime the pump, thn put the distributor in. So, prime before turning over right?

fast66

I tend to set the valve preload (turning the engine over by hand) with the manifold still off the engine. Then re lube, then reassemble manifold/carby. Prime the oil system, then dizzy in..... off you go.
That is, untill I discovered the joy of the roller cam!