Well, its official, Edelbrock cams SUCK! So as some ofyou may know already, I installed an Edelbrock Total Power Package top end kit on my 72 Coupes 302. It came with their cam, heads, air gap intake and all of the other parts needed to install the kit. After installation was complete and I had run the engine through the recommended break in proceedure for the cam (I followed the directions to the T), I drove the car for maybe 5 miles when the oil light came on. I did a manual oil pressure test on it since it only has a dummy light, and discovered that the oil pump had gone bead. I pulled the pan, and disovered lots of metal shavings in the oil. I took the pump off and removed the plate to find the "fingers" in the pump heavily scored and scratched. Thinking the shavings had come from the pump itself, I pulled the main caps to inspect the bearings. All seemed fine and had no signs of damage to them. I installed a new pump and flushed the engine several times. Oil pressure was good then, but I couldn't get the valves to adjust right. I drove the car another 50 miles or so and the oil light came on again. I assumed that the bearings were just getting wasted by the crap that I was unable to remove so I just decided to pull the engine and go through it and go ahead and stroke it to a 347 while I am at it. Upon dissassembly yesterday, I discovered that the cam lobes were virtually gone, and that the lifters were also eaten up pretty badly. DING DING DING!!! I found the problem, the cam was coming apart during break in and the first few miles. The metal form it got in the pump and ate it up! This explains why the valves wouldnt adjust right too. I'm highly dissapointed in the whole ordeal, and Im hoping that jegs will warranty the cam, but I am NOT going to install another Edelbrock cam and risk destroying an $1,100 rotating assembly. I know that I probably want to go with a comp cam, but Im not sure which one. I want a choppy idle that will "count the licks" but will still make excelent power in the 2500ish-6300ish rpm range. I have considered a thumper series retrofit roller cam, or maybe an xtreme energy series flat tappet cam. Any suggestions?

 

Im a firm believer in Comp Cams. Thats what I've used when building engines, and thats whats going into my '66 Coupe 289.

Not sure which one yet though. Good luck.

 

hey tyler , i got the basic same setup as you, 351 w , rpm heads air gap intake but i got the comp cam think it like 510- 510 not sure off hand, i have read alot of articles about cams going flat, cam companies are blaming the oil companies and they are blaming the manufactures of the cams, they had a batch of cams from what i understand that were made with crappy material.

 

Thanks! I have installed a comp cam in another vehicle too, and I love it. It makes great power and I have had no problems with it. tahts why Im gonna put one in my car. Im just not sure which one because the selection is huge!

 

im still waiting on my motor still at the machine shop, i cant wait feel like a giddy little school girl, how did it run before it took a crap?

 

Yeah, it had to be the cam because I was more careful with break in of this one than I ever have been, but it still went south on me. I was so caustious installing it, but oh well! It doesnt matter now, lol, its just a bunch of shavings! Thanks for the advice though! Definately going to go with a comp. Do you know the Part number of the cam you bought shazzy?

 

not off hand but i will get it for you monday you got an email addy? or i can just ost it back here

 

It ran strong above 2400-2500 rpm, but keep in mind I only got to drive it 5 miles or less before it messed up, so I really don't know. It had a smooth idle though which dissappointed me. The converter is just a 2000 stal to which seem too small b-c it would bog off the line if you stood on it. Im putting in a 2900 stall while Ive got the engine and tranny out. Thats just another reason im not getting another edelbrock though b/c it didn't sound good. I want a choppy, bad *** idle if you know what I mean. I want it to scare women and children when its just sitting there running haha.

 

My email is Catboy400i@aol.com you can email it to me an that way I can look at the specs of it.

 

rg got the addy, i was told that the cam i got would be a nice loppy idle and scare my wife some, im going with a 2000 stall converter and see how it goes from there.