I don't think so Mike, Cams are a funny kind of metal, almost cast. I was told that they just wear away to sludge and it's no biggie. Won't be any metal flakes because cast doesnt flake. Think about all the motors who have wiped a cam lobe and had the cam replaced and ran for miles. I wiped a cam on a 1 ton Dually with a 454. Dang thing was completely round. replaced the cam, 0 problems for 20K miles. It's done every day. Big block Chev** are known for wiping cam lobes but last forever. Someone else can talk about why cams don't produce sharp metal fragments. Kerryp --- Mike Pittinaro <mechimike@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > buying another used 440, I would go with the > partial > > overhaul. You keep the > > original engine, and you know for sure what you > get. > > Yeah, what I get is an 89,000 mile motor that's been > run on 4 cylinders for 300 miles, rubbing two ends > of > the cam together and sending metal shavings > throughout > the engine. > > I had a 140,000 mile 350 Chebby once throw a timing > chain. The motor ran OK before then, and after I > did > the chain (during which I removed and cleaned the > metal bits out of the oil pan) the engine lost > compression and burned oil. It still ran until I > gave > it up at 180,000, but I learned my lesson. Internal > failures where metal bits go flying around have a > tendency to wreck other parts of the engine. > > Here's my plan right now, formulated from various > emails, public and private, my own experience, and > the > suggestions of my mechanic here. The guy in NY > already has the top of the engine apart. I'll have > him put it back together, in the car, with a new > camshaft and oil pump. My parts cost should be > about > $150, labor included will bring it up to 500 or 600. > > I'm already into him for something just for tearing > it > apart, might as well get some new parts. That > should > get the car to the point where I can drive it back > to > Maryland. > > At that point, I can sit on it, move the car short > distances if need be, and save some money up while I > decide what to do. I may just put it on hold until > I > get the Satellite 360 project done, and then rebuild > the motor. Or, I may replace it with a 500 dollar > used plant, holding onto the original until I can > afford the time and money to rebuild it properly. > At > any rate, I'll have time and patience to make the > decision then. > > ===== > --Mike Pittinaro > > "Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons > from God." > --Kurt Vonnegut, "Cat's Cradle" > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes > http://finance.yahoo.com > >