Cupped / Dished Lifter Question

I noticed a few cupped lifters when I pulled my intake. I decided to hold off changing the cam and lifters for now because it seems to start and run fine. One cam lobe looked like is was a little more worn than the rest but they still looked pretty good.

My question is how long do the parts last after the lifter has cupped and is it a bid deal. Ideally I'd like to take care of it when it really becomes a performance problem but at the same time don't want to mess up the engine because it's still has good oil pressure and compression.

 

I don't know about the longevity thing. I do know that the accepted wisdom is - installing new lifters on an old cam is allowed. They are not very expensive. Old lifters on a new cam is forbidden. Which engine is this? Good to put year/model/equipment in your sig so it's always there.

 

If you have a v6, it’s common to have bad lifters and a cam. It’ll run better witha new cam and lifters for sure, but project creep is strong...

 

I've had cam/lifters fail in as little as 50 miles, from a barely audible click to a totally round cam lobe. You are the only one who has all the info to make an informed condition. Good luck!

 

Once the lifter begins to cup, both it and the cam lobe will wear at a pretty fast rate. I've seen a full lobe become almost round in about 1800 miles.
-Donny

 

Duh... I forgot to mention it's a Dauntless.

 

Based on all the different opinions I'll just keep a close eye on it. I don't plan on driving it much. I'll price out everything and this way I can see if I like it enough to put the money into it. Thanks.

 

Notwithstanding that all the microscopic metal pieces that are missing from the lifters and cam lobes are constantly eating away at your cylinder walls, bearings, rods , oil pump , crankshaft , rocker arms and any other part that see's oil flow..........

 

Let them eat. Life is too short to worry about perfection in an off road vehicle.

 

OK by me............

 

I know I sound lazy but I have too many projects and too little time. I just want to get out and enjoy it, see if I want to put more money into it or pass it on.

 

I took down two 304 V8. Both had cupped lifters. One was a well worn engine in need of a rebuild, the other was running great and had little cylinder wear. Even the cupped lifters appear to have been rotating. I wouldnt sweat it u til you decide its time to put that project on the front burner. The engine works for you, not the other way around. If your cam was running fine then chances are it will continue running fine. I have more confidence that your cam will make it another several years than a new cam lasting a few weeks. Cams usually seem to either die in infancy, or live a long life wearing out along with the rest of the engine.

 

Might add some stp or Lucas for extra lubrication?

 

Fact is once the hard facing on a cam or lifter which in most cases is only a tenth of a thousands .0001 or so deep is gone...........it's all down hill from there as nothing will save the part short of non use!

 

I'm with Terry. Just the thought of all that powdered metal circulating in the engine gives me the chills. I've pulled and tossed both cam and lifters every time I've observed cupping or any other abnormal wear. But I guess it depends on the engine. If it's truly worthless-go for it. I did that once-1960 Rambler station wagon with the 250 V8. If you got stuck with that car, you didn't need to get out to push it------ Bought it for $40, drove it 2 years and scraped it. Poor college kid scenario.

 

I'll agree, the right way isn't always possible though.
Seen many a bad sbc from 60s,70s, run years after lobe started letting go.
U gotta remember by the time the lobe let's go, the valve springs are probably weak also.
Once a lobe wears, theirs no way except teardown and vat and flush to get all that crap out.
Change oil and filter, set lash, give it some stp, and drive it. Damage is done, needs complete build anyway, drive it, have fun with it, until complete build is in reach.
I'm sort of in the middle of similar problem, (experiment) with a 455 Pontiac engine, in my 70 amc rebel.
Did a ring,and bearing,and gasket job on it before I fabed it into the rebel.
All stock except for the cam,lifters, and valve springs.
Lunati got some bad offshore lifters, and I got them with my cam kit.
Lifter,and lobe went out bout 10,000 miles? I added atf, 50-50 with oil change,drove round under 3k, couple hours, drained oil, changed filter, when I installed a cheap summit cam kit.
That's benn 2 years ago, bout 15k miles, still running strong. Now during this time I've benn collecting parts for a complete rebuild, but stuff keeps putting it on hold.
It does use a tiny bit of oil, but that's ok, I get to drive it and enjoy it while waiting on build.
I don't think he will hurt anything, that doesn't already need replaced. I would watch oil pressure, if it ever falls below 15psi, I'd park it until build.
Just my 2cents worth?

 

You guys answered my two questions very well, Thank You. It is on me now to make a decision. In my gut I agree with Tarry because I saw silver sludge in in the pockets under the valve cover. At first I thought it was an additive but now I think it could be metalic powder but I'm not sure because it felt very slick. The engine is running so well I feel I should bite the bullet and do the cam, lifters and push rods and check everything else while appart. Maybe even a total rebuild! I'm going to stick with my plan and take it out on a few short runs with the family and find an excuse to put (or not to put) some money into it.

Edit - Forgot to mention, I added zink additive but it's probably too late for that. I had it sitting around and I usually add a cap when I change the oil in my F-Heads.

 

That's very smart. I've been told oil pressure is an indicator of bearing health.

 

Yep those were the days John, ..........Every summer when we were old enough to drive , me and a few friends would buy what we called a "Community car" or "Jungle Cruiser" for $50 bucks or so....and drive it it like we stole it all summer....even cut the roof off one to make it a convertible......my group and a few others in town would do the same thinking that when the "Fair" season came to town we would enter them all in the Destruction Derby........but unfortunately by then in most cases........all of our cars were already tore up by our "unsanctioned" off road Jungle Cruiser events we held in the hills & fields nearby with the other kids in town.........Once finished , the wrecker used to come and get them and give us $25 ea. for scrap metal which he hauled to the Steel Mill.........

 

There is a reason cam grinders have break in procedures, to prevent start up wear in new engines, not following these procedures usually leads premature cam/lifter failure. As Tarry says, all that worn metal circulating through an engine doesn't sit well with me. At the least I would go ahead and get a cam/lifter/timing set with gaskets and hope the "perfect" oil filter system works. Failing that be prepared for a major overhaul, depending on sources for parts and machine work if needed can be any where from $1000 to $3000. We all have other priorities in life and can only answer those questions for ourselves, Good luck!