Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

alwayscode390

alwayscode390

pppssssshhhhhtttttttttttt
This is the DLS cam I bought with the Vortec Heads recently.

The Vortec Heads are coated in 3 places ... so I figured MAYBE the person coated the Cam with something too?

Most cams I have seen (especially roller cams) ... are shiny on the lobes and bearings, this one is dark graphite gray. It has been ran for 10 minutes , and I can start to see the shine come through.

Maybe its just the brand of cam?

What do you think? Thanks :) ---

2d8fhq0.jpg


ctkee.jpg


***HERE IS A PIC OF AN UNCOATED CAM FOR COMPARISON :

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S

STAGEUP

Member
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

It's either been teflon coated, or exposed to moisture. Hard to tell in pics
 
alwayscode390

alwayscode390

pppssssshhhhhtttttttttttt
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

Its definately not moisture ... I have had a cam get "dew" on it from temperature change and you can usually FEEL that.

Teflon sounds interesting ... is it mainly for the bearings , since it looks like its coming off the lobes already ( and with a roller cam shouldnt really be necessary for friction ).

I will do some research on what the benefits of teflon coating includes ... THANKS !!! ---
 
S

Syclone22

Member
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

alwayscode390 said:
Its definately not moisture ... I have had a cam get "dew" on it from temperature change and you can usually FEEL that.

Teflon sounds interesting ... is it mainly for the bearings , since it looks like its coming off the lobes already ( and with a roller cam shouldnt really be necessary for friction ).

I will do some research on what the benefits of teflon coating includes ... THANKS !!! ---
Click to expand...

The camshaft looks like it has been in a hotbad it
will likely have a dark color if heat coated it will be
darker and have a other finish !! :tup:
 
M

MoJo

New member
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

That is Parkerizing or chemically known as a manganese phosphate coating. It helps lube the camshaft during break in,and is used mostly on flat tappet cams. My Comp Cams hydraulic roller cam did not have the manganese phosphate coating. It was coated with a rust inhibitor.
 
the baPhoon

the baPhoon

Active member
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

thats interesting.

We use to parkerize the ak47s i use to build. Never thought of doing a cam...
 
M

MoJo

New member
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

"Parkerizing" is a generic description for various types of metal treatment. On firearms it is a matte finish to prevent reflective sunlight for giving away a shooter's position.

My P.53 (1853) Enfield .477 cal., 1:78 twist rifled musket is Parkerized but with a different chemical analysis compared to that used on camshafts.
.
"Japanned" is another type metal treatment that was used on early firearms.
 
alwayscode390

alwayscode390

pppssssshhhhhtttttttttttt
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

So, this is not a performance coating ... its more to aid in the break-in process?

I added a pic of an uncoated cam for comparison

Someone told me its a Parkerized CAST IRON cam ... Its still a roller cam , right? Whats the benefit of either a billet or cast iron cam vs. one another? ---
---
 
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MoJo

New member
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

alwayscode390 said:
So, this is not a performance coating ... its more to aid in the break-in process?

I added a pic of an uncoated cam for comparison

Someone told me its a Parkerized CAST IRON cam ... Its still a roller cam , right? Whats the benefit of either a billet or cast iron cam vs. one another? ---
---
Click to expand...

Parkerizing or manganese phosphate coating is for break in of flat tappet cams. i see no reason why that type coating is necessary on any roller tappet camshaft. Hydraulic roller cams are SADI (Selectively Austempered Ductile Iron) camshafts. Solid roller camshafts above .560" valve lifts are steel billet camshafts because the cam lobe base circles are so small and the cam core is machined between the lobes to achieve the high valve lifts and therefore is small in diameter and weaker. If a SADI material was used for camshafts with over .560" valve lifts, it would bend and a cast iron camshaft would bend or break if machined that small between the lobes. In the old days we called steel billet camshafts "toothpick cams" . The distributor or mag used with a steel billet camshaft must have a composite cam gear or a sacrificial bronze gear because steel is not compatible with hardened cast iron gears. .
 
alwayscode390

alwayscode390

pppssssshhhhhtttttttttttt
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

So, only SOLID roller camshafts are billet?

Does that cam I posted with the coating look like SADI or Cast Iron?

That last pic is a Comp Cams 422 hydraulic roller cam ... is that a SADI cam? ---
 
M

MoJo

New member
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

alwayscode390 said:
So, only SOLID roller camshafts are billet?

Does that cam I posted with the coating look like SADI or Cast Iron?

That last pic is a Comp Cams 422 hydraulic roller cam ... is that a SADI cam? ---
Click to expand...

SADI means "Selectively Austempered Ductile Iron"

"Selectively" means only the surface of the iron cam lobes are heat treated.
"Austempered" is the type of heat treatment (tempering) of ductile iron. .
"Ductile" means a type of cast iron that will bend up to it's elastic limit before breaking. .
"Iron" means it is made of cast iron. All iron is cast.

All hydraulic roller camshafts are SADI cast iron camshafts.
In the 1960s Iskendarian Racing Cams called their performance cast iron camshafts "Hardface Overlay" and used it on their solid flat tappet camshafts.In 1964, I installed a Isky Hardface 505 solid flat tappet cam in my '55 Chevy with a 327 cu. in. engine running in NHRA D/MP After three months, I replaced the Isky cam with a GM 1965 327 Corvette FI 30-30 camshaft.

Solid roller camshafts are steel billet cams. That is because solid roller camshaft start at .550" - .560" valve lift and use exceptionally high valve spring loads that would break a cast iron camshaft. You can identify a steel billet camshaft by the machining marks between the cam lobes. A steel billet camshaft is machined between the lobes in order to reduce the cam lobe base circles and achieve the exceptionally high valve lifts.

Solid roller and hydraulic roller camshafts usually do not have any type of Parkerizing. They only have a rust preventive coating that should be washed off with some type of solvent before the camshaft is installed.
 
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the baPhoon

the baPhoon

Active member
Re: Is this cam coated , or what ... never seen a dark cam before ---

The ak's were by no means home built. Worked for a gun manufacturer.


We used the matte on the externals.
A slight lubricated parkerization on the bolt carrier and bolt. Polished piston. Only did a couple prototypes this way.

Normally it was KG gun kote.
 
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