rust on cam

[feadam]

I have a cam that was brand new but stored for a couple years, its a hyd. roller it has a spot of rust on one journal and one lobe. The spots are not big should I clean it and use it? Cam was expensive and stored properly, never had a new one come up with rust.

[machoneman]

Sure, use some 1,000 grit wet/dry paper, used wet. Then check for pitting. S/b fine.

[WConley]

I'm assuming it's just surface rust, right?  If the rust is crusty-looking and sticking up from the surface you may have to scrap the cam.

I've run stuff that had little spots of surface rust.  It cleaned up leaving dark spots, but no surface divots.  That's fine to run (in my book) for a typical street engine.

[Autoholic]

I'd say why risk messing up the cam with sanding it down? Just put the cam in a vat of white vinegar for a day or two. I'd recommend doing this right before you plan to install the cam, as steel parts will flash rust after this process if they aren't covered with an oil.

[fryedaddy]

I'd say why risk messing up the cam with sanding it down? Just put the cam in a vat of white vinegar for a day or two. I'd recommend doing this right before you plan to install the cam, as steel parts will flash rust after this process if they aren't covered with an oil.

or you could put it in salty water and hook it up to a electrolysis device for a while,till the rust bubbles away, this is just a joke but it might work,im an old treasure hunter from way back.i used to clean my medal finds this way

[Autoholic]

Electrolysis is not a joke, it's another good way to do it. It just requires soda ash and a battery charger for a good rust remover solution. I've actually been looking into doing electrolysis on a full unibody (Opel GT) to strip it of paint and rust, to get a nice and clean steel body for a restoration. Haven't picked up an Opel GT yet, but that will be my first project car. I'm thinking the best way to do this, is to just do it myself otherwise it would cost like $8,000 in total. And yes, there is a way to dip an entire vehicle yourself. It be a tad crazy, but you can do it yourself and for less if you know what you are doing.

[feadam]

Checked cam and dragging finger nail across it feels like it catches.The lobe is just black and doesn't catch, the journals have tiny little spots, the three back journals all have marks, the middle one has a spot a little bigger than a pen tip, the next journal back has a little bigger spot, and the back journal has a spot the size of a nail head. Should I junk brand new cam, or should I clean it up and use, again this is a hydraulic roller cam and wasn't cheap?

[machoneman]

I'd clean it first withany method you choose and then re-inspect....and then decide on what to do.