Comp Cam lifter failure

[SilverXJ]

Shortly after(about 4 days and roughly 500 miles) I installed my ported and polished head (that is in another thread) my engine started to make a knock from the valve cover. One minute it was fine the next it was rattling. That evening I took the valve cover off and the exhaust lifter was about 1/4" further down in the bore than it should have been. The damage at that time was a bent pushrod and damaged HS roller rocker. The push rod became wedged under the rocker on the aluminum body after damaging the adjustable screw.

Today I finally got around to pulling the head. Prior to pulling the head the lifter's socket was at the top of the lifter, where it should be. Once I pulled the lifter out the socket slipped down into the lifter. I took the lifter apart. What I found was that someone at Comp Cam played a cruel joke me by assembling the lifter wrong. The plunger spring, which is usually installed under the plunger was installed on top of the plunger, under the oil metering disc. I am amazed that it made it as far as it did with out incident. The only thing I can figure is that eventually the spring was pushed down into the plunger, causing the knock and failure.

However, it looks like I got off easy. It was only driven for like 7 minutes while knocking and the cam shows no damage as goes the lifter face. Prior to dis assembly I put a dial indicator on a know good push rod and measured the cam's lift and it was right where it should be. And from what I can see I see no problems with the cam lobe. Any one think I should replace the cam?

I will definitely have some words with Comp cam about this, but I doubt that I will be able to use any form of warranty as the lifter is already disassembled. Regardless I will never buy another set of Comp Cam lifters. I see this as an error that should never have happened.

I already have the replacement rocker and will be ordering a new push rod and new set of lifters, probably Crower cam savers. The hard part is going to be tracking down a .043" head gasket as the one that was in there was a MP gasket.

With all the problems I have had with this engine I am beginning to think it is cursed.

-Chris

[seanyb505]

With all the problems I have had with this engine I am beginning to think it is cursed.

-Chris

Have you considered owning a Honda?

[Alex22]

we've seen two lifters that were magnetized from the the manufacturer, one of them was a comp and I forgot what brand the other one was. When priming a sb chevy one lifter was putting an awful lot of oil up to the rocker arm so the lifter was pulled out and take apart. Nothing was put together wrong but when part of the lifter was picked up a screwdriver stuck to it. The magnetized part was sticking to the lifter body and holding it open.

~Alex

[SilverXJ]

I can understand how a magnetized lifter can get by, but not one that is assembled wrong.

[Alex22]

1 out of a few hundred thousand they have sent isnt bad quality control, yes, it defiantly sucks that you are that 1. It seems like a lot of parts that were once taken for granted that they were correct have to be inspected out of the box.

~Alex

[Flash]

I'm sure, that if you talked nicely, comp would send you a replacement lifter...................My self, i would be replacing the hole set with cam savers, too.

Glad you found the problem, with minimal damage


Flash

[SilverXJ]

I'm glad that I don't have to replace the cam again. However, now I am having difficulty finding a .043 head gasket

[Cheromaniac]

I'm glad that I don't have to replace the cam again. However, now I am having difficulty finding a .043 head gasket

The Victor-Reinz #5713 head gasket is exactly the same as the Mopar Performance P4529242 item (the MP gasket is made by V-R) and it shouldn't be hard to find.

[SilverXJ]

I though the MP was made by Felpro? If VR made the MP I think I can get one at carquest. I just had heard that VR's quality was lacking.