Comp cams

outlaw · 05-30-2025, 02:42 PM

Can’t remember anyone know about what year it was when comp flat tappet lifters went to crap. Have older set but not sure if I should use them.
Terry

goinbroke2 · 05-30-2025, 08:04 PM

Last year I broke in my stocker cam with a set of new comp lifters. I put lots of cam lube, put springs that were 50# or so on the seat then made sure it fired within the first couple revolutions. Ran for 45 minutes between 2000 and 2500. Let it cool, installed the big springs and no issues. Lots of horror stories so I was super paranoid and made sure everything was perfect before I hit the key.

Not saying it's right or wrong or even if comp lifters are good/bad. I am saying, if I had a new set of lifters, I would run them with the aforementioned precautions.

My $.75 Canadian ($.02 US)

outlaw · 05-30-2025, 08:18 PM

All the local engine shops have me worried from comp horror stories. Seems like most started during covid but not sure if before that. Box is dated 2018.

Alan Roehrich · 05-31-2025, 10:11 AM

Check your lifters to see that they have the correct 0.002" crown, and a good finish on the face. Then use a good quality molydisulfide lube on the face of the lifter (NEVER on the sides) and the cam lobes. You can also drizzle a good assembly lube over that, and a good quality mineral based oil. Use springs that have no more than 200# OPEN pressure, and about 50#-75# seat pressure. Use a good quality break in oil, Brad Penn, Lucas, Driven, Royal Purple, etc. Have your lash/preload set correctly. Have the engine set up to start the instant you try, meaning the fuel bowls are full, the ignition is properly spark timed, etc. Make sure you have the tools handy to set the timing engine speed, etc., and make sure you can cool it. Start it, make sure it goes to 1500-2500 RPM, vary it every 2-3 minutes, and run it for 30 minutes.

Eman · 05-31-2025, 10:16 AM

I've used 2 sets of Comp flat tappet lifters in the last few years. Both sets were old stock, one hydraulic and one solid. Both engines worked out fine and both still running. I might still have the boxes, didn't know there was a date code on them. Both were broken in on break-in oil, can't remember which brands I used, and soft springs. Hydraulic went to Rotella 15w-40 and the flat tappet is on 20w-50 VR-1.

outlaw · 05-31-2025, 01:20 PM

Thanks for the replies.
Terry

GTX JOHN · 05-31-2025, 04:58 PM

The cams have a date on the end of the box.
I only run cast cams from them that are 2019 or
older any more.

On any of the cast cams = Look for "CWC" stamped
into the cam. A lot of the Chinese crap is an inferior
cast iron.

I just do not have the budget for the new billet cams and lifters
for our six stockers.

Just my .02 = For Free!

Greenlight · 06-03-2025, 01:37 AM

Just to clarify, "CMC" (Camshaft Machine Company), not "CWC". They make the cam cores.

05-30-2025, 02:42 PM	#1
outlaw Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 137 Likes: 78 Liked 132 Times in 52 Posts	Comp cams Can’t remember anyone know about what year it was when comp flat tappet lifters went to crap. Have older set but not sure if I should use them. Terry Last edited by outlaw; 05-30-2025 at 03:49 PM.

05-30-2025, 08:04 PM	#2
goinbroke2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NS CANADA Posts: 864 Likes: 1,440 Liked 348 Times in 137 Posts	Re: Comp cams Last year I broke in my stocker cam with a set of new comp lifters. I put lots of cam lube, put springs that were 50# or so on the seat then made sure it fired within the first couple revolutions. Ran for 45 minutes between 2000 and 2500. Let it cool, installed the big springs and no issues. Lots of horror stories so I was super paranoid and made sure everything was perfect before I hit the key. Not saying it's right or wrong or even if comp lifters are good/bad. I am saying, if I had a new set of lifters, I would run them with the aforementioned precautions. My $.75 Canadian ($.02 US) __________________ Jim Miller 103 U/SA

05-30-2025, 08:18 PM	#3
outlaw Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 137 Likes: 78 Liked 132 Times in 52 Posts	Re: Comp cams All the local engine shops have me worried from comp horror stories. Seems like most started during covid but not sure if before that. Box is dated 2018.

05-31-2025, 10:11 AM	#4
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,086 Likes: 1,530 Liked 1,737 Times in 395 Posts	Re: Comp cams Check your lifters to see that they have the correct 0.002" crown, and a good finish on the face. Then use a good quality molydisulfide lube on the face of the lifter (NEVER on the sides) and the cam lobes. You can also drizzle a good assembly lube over that, and a good quality mineral based oil. Use springs that have no more than 200# OPEN pressure, and about 50#-75# seat pressure. Use a good quality break in oil, Brad Penn, Lucas, Driven, Royal Purple, etc. Have your lash/preload set correctly. Have the engine set up to start the instant you try, meaning the fuel bowls are full, the ignition is properly spark timed, etc. Make sure you have the tools handy to set the timing engine speed, etc., and make sure you can cool it. Start it, make sure it goes to 1500-2500 RPM, vary it every 2-3 minutes, and run it for 30 minutes. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

05-31-2025, 10:16 AM	#5
Eman Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: E TN Posts: 467 Likes: 16 Liked 133 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Comp cams I've used 2 sets of Comp flat tappet lifters in the last few years. Both sets were old stock, one hydraulic and one solid. Both engines worked out fine and both still running. I might still have the boxes, didn't know there was a date code on them. Both were broken in on break-in oil, can't remember which brands I used, and soft springs. Hydraulic went to Rotella 15w-40 and the flat tappet is on 20w-50 VR-1.

05-31-2025, 01:20 PM	#6
outlaw Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 137 Likes: 78 Liked 132 Times in 52 Posts	Re: Comp cams Thanks for the replies. Terry

05-31-2025, 04:58 PM	#7
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,719 Likes: 2,760 Liked 2,425 Times in 687 Posts	Re: Comp cams The cams have a date on the end of the box. I only run cast cams from them that are 2019 or older any more. On any of the cast cams = Look for "CWC" stamped into the cam. A lot of the Chinese crap is an inferior cast iron. I just do not have the budget for the new billet cams and lifters for our six stockers. Just my .02 = For Free! __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock

06-03-2025, 01:37 AM	#8
Greenlight Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215 Likes: 16 Liked 79 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Comp cams Just to clarify, "CMC" (Camshaft Machine Company), not "CWC". They make the cam cores.