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12-02-2007, 01:10 AM | #1 |
The Original HotRod KnifeMaker
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tenino, Washington
Posts: 811
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Can you harden camshaft Steel?
Having a new camshaft put in the truck.
Will camshaft steel harden or just take a surface hardening? Anyone know what kind of steel the early [1968] big block cams are made from? I would like to make 3 or 5 knives from the old cam. Don't want to put in 40 or 50 hours and then find out it is mild steel Thanks!
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Dave 69 GMC SWB 2WD 454 Turbo 400 Last edited by WinDancer; 12-02-2007 at 01:13 AM. |
12-02-2007, 01:18 AM | #2 |
glamoros piece o' lowlife
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Redford, MI
Posts: 1,164
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Re: Can you harden camshaft Steel?
I think the bearing races are already surface hardened, dunno about the rest of the cam tho, probably not, it don't really need to be hardened, which saves the manufacturer some on the production costs.
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The more I drink, the more I drink, the more I drink... diesel, reg cab, long bed, 4 across the rear, single stack, wooden stakes, and lotsa lights - the Hay Express |
12-02-2007, 07:51 AM | #3 |
Watch out for your cornhole !
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Azle, Texas
Posts: 14,162
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Re: Can you harden camshaft Steel?
The cam is quite soft. During the initial break in period, the lifters riding on the lobes causes them to work harden the outer few thousandths.
Thats why it is so important to properly break in a camshaft. That's also why when a lobe begins to wear a bit, once it breaks through the surface hardened area, it wears very rapidly, sometimes removing the whole eccentric till the lobe is near round.
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12-02-2007, 11:14 AM | #4 |
just can't cover up my redneck
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Columbus OH
Posts: 11,414
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Re: Can you harden camshaft Steel?
Cams are case hardened, leading one to believe that they are made with a low carbon steel to maintain enough toughness to resist breaking. So the metal quality you are seeking (higher carbon/hardness) is just not there.
Any ordinary flat-tappet camshaft is a casting that is fairly small in diameter, how big of a piece could you get anyway? How would you get it out? Bandsawing slabs? Seems like a lot of effort for a questionable bit of metal, especially considering the surface hardening. |
12-02-2007, 07:54 PM | #5 |
The Original HotRod KnifeMaker
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tenino, Washington
Posts: 811
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Re: Can you harden camshaft Steel?
Thanks, guys, I won't waste my time.
I have a forge, an air hammer, Borax and a metal cutting bandsaw. I have several friends with plasma cutters. So getting the right size is the easy part. When you forge weld you can get any size and shape you want. But not with mild steel. Thanks again
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Dave 69 GMC SWB 2WD 454 Turbo 400 |
12-07-2007, 01:02 AM | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Shreveport LA
Posts: 3,170
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Re: Can you harden camshaft Steel?
Last I heard, stock flat-tappet Chevy cams are made from cast iron.
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