Reg Evans Posted April 16, 2009 Report Posted April 16, 2009 The engine in my 58 Sweptside suddenly started running like crap last year so I parked it until I felt like finding out why. It's a 315 poly head. Today a friend and I removed the valve covers and spun the engine over. Oh Crap!.......#4 exhaust valve is not going up and down. We removed the valley cover and there isn't any lobe left on the cam for #4 exhaust. What the devil would cause this ???? So far I haven't found a new or used cam for this 315. Any ideas Quote
48Dodger Posted April 17, 2009 Report Posted April 17, 2009 Never heard of a single lobe wearing down that far. Do you have hydraulic lifters? Maybe a lifter has failed giving you the impression the lobe went flat. If it has failed, there will be an obvious tick noise. What years are the 315's? I know you said 58, I was just curious about the history. 48D Quote
YourPowderCoating.com Posted April 17, 2009 Report Posted April 17, 2009 original build on the motor? I have seen chevy v-8's do that and we (brother and I) decided it was due to improper cam break in. We have no data to back it up, just really lubed the new one up sloppy good with the correct lube provided and did the basic cam break in and didnt have an issue, who knows, maybe bad casting on the cam and the surface metal didnt get the hardness it was supposed to get during baking. started backfiring through the carb = flat lobe syndrome Quote
Reg Evans Posted April 17, 2009 Author Report Posted April 17, 2009 I'm not sure of the history of the engine. It ran great for a while when I first got it but then a valve spring broke on #8. I had the heads rebuilt with new everything and it ran good again without installing new hydraulic lifters for a while until this happened. The lifter with the flat lobe shows a lot of wear too on the cam end. These engines were use is the trucks in 57 and 58. Then in 59 they went to the 318 poly. They are basically the same V8 engines used in the trucks starting in 54. ( 241,259,269 then 315) Just a bigger bore and stroke I think. They were used in some of the cars of that era too. Quote
Reg Evans Posted April 17, 2009 Author Report Posted April 17, 2009 I'm not sure of the history of the engine. It ran great for a while when I first got it but then a valve spring broke on #8. I had the heads rebuilt with new everything and it ran good again for a while until this happened. These engines were use is the trucks in 57 and 58. Then in 59 they went to the 318 poly. They are basically the same V8 engines used in the trucks starting in 54. ( 241,259,269 then 315) Just a bigger bore and stroke I think. They were used in some of the cars of that era too. Quote
Young Ed Posted April 17, 2009 Report Posted April 17, 2009 Can the cam be sent out to a cam grinder to be redone? I know they can spray weld a crank back to standard Quote
Reg Evans Posted April 17, 2009 Author Report Posted April 17, 2009 Yeah, I guess that can be done but I think it's expensive. I'd rather find a new or good used one if I can. Quote
YourPowderCoating.com Posted April 17, 2009 Report Posted April 17, 2009 hhhhmmmmm, wonder if the poly 318 cam will interchange, might have an easier time finding a replacement for that. Quote
Reg Evans Posted April 30, 2009 Author Report Posted April 30, 2009 I got a referral to Delta Camshaft in Tacoma,WA. and their service was great. They got the cam from me on Monday and by yesterday it was on it's way back to me. Only in the $140 range with 6 worn lobes built back up + an RV grind. They are selling me new hydraulic lifters too for less than I can get at NAPA. Highly recommended ! http://deltacam.com/ Now....maybe I can get this beater back on the road. Quote
OLD DODGE Posted April 30, 2009 Report Posted April 30, 2009 Looks like they have a good operation going on there. Did you get the free t-shirt also? Quote
Reg Evans Posted April 30, 2009 Author Report Posted April 30, 2009 They do. Gee, I don't know. Maybe there will be one in the box. Quote
buds truck Posted May 1, 2009 Report Posted May 1, 2009 very neat. Glad it all worked out well. Quote
Reg Evans Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Posted June 25, 2009 Update......The engine is almost back together with the new cam ( RV grind ) but I thought it would be a good idea to install a fresh oil pump the heavily zincked oil I'll be installing. So far...no luck. Any suggestions for a 58 Dodge truck 315 V8 poly engine # L8D3-bla bla bla? I asked Summit Racing about acquiring a high output oil pump and they responded with this short and sweet reply ....... "Reg, I was not able to locate an oil pump for the 315 from any of our parts manufacturers. We appreciate your business. Thank you, Summit Racing Equipment" Quote
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