Chopped,
I will use your post to put the final on my cam gear situation. Instead of boring you on the details that lead up to this point..read my previous post on cam gear install from a couple of weeks ago (6T4Ducce). OK, my cam was wiped, 8-10 lobes had serious damage and subsequently 8 lifters were mushroomed. They had to be punched down through the block for removal. Pieces of the original cam were found in the oil pan almost big enough to reveal a part number on them! Not really but there was large chuncks in the pan. The exact cause has not been positively determined but most feel that the primary reason was due to improper breakin of the original cam and secondary cause was improper cam gear install. Remember this engine had approx 1500-2000 miles since rebuid. The new cam was ground by Crane and the aluminum gear was pressed on prior to installation into the block using the cold cam / hot gear method and a hydraulic press was used. Pre-breakin lube was accomplished as per Crane Cam install instructions and the engine was primed with oil. RPM breakin proceedure as per Crane Cam install was done and a subsequent oil change was done prior to road test. It now idles better than ever..imagine that...and 17 manhours later and I am back on the road. Good luck with your install and do not cut corners...they can be expensive.
