Melling Camshaft Quality
 

I am considering using a new Melling SPC7 camshaft for a WS 400 that I am building. Has anyone had success with a new Melling flat tappet camshaft lately? I read a lot about failed hydraulic flat tappet camshafts lately it seems like. I do have a hoard of new GM NOS lifters and some 1980's Wolverine lifters to choose from so maybe that would help some.

I used a Melling SPC7 and Melling lifters in mine, fine so far. It was my second attempt, first was Melling SPC7 and Johnson lifters, had a couple of lifters that wouldn't turn, caught it while still on the engine stand.

I'm big on getting your cam and lifters from the same manufacturer.

Happy to hear this I used a melling RA IV cam recently haven’t run the engine yet but hoping for no issues obviously

On the second attempt I only replaced the Melling camshaft because, it was affordable and I had the engine opened up anyway. I saw no damage to the first cam. Two of the Hi-Lift Johnson lifters showed wear from lack of turning, so I went to the Melling lifters.

I do have a set of NOS GM lifters I am keeping in reserve.

To me it's ALL about lifter crown and lobe taper, they have to match properly. I figure you have a much better chance of that if both products are actually manufactured by the same company.

Unfortunately the '068' Melling cam I had in my original engine build may have failed. I had three pushrods that didn't turn after a two 30 minute break-in runs. High-lift Johnson lifters.
Fortunately (or not) I had issues with the cam bearings during that break in so it required a complete tear down. Upon inspection there were several lobes that showed signs of flat spotting. Was it the cam or the lifters? Don't know.
I replaced both with a Crower cam and Cam Saver Lifters.

Perhaps there is a taper/crown mismatch between Mellings and High-Lift Johnsons.

Not a common opinion here, but, when I mic'ed the lifters in my lathe, the Melling and NOS GMs were both consistent beyond my ability to measure. The Johnsons were not.

But, like OG68 I have no hard evidence to blame either cam or lifters. And btw, my cam is the 068 copy, whatever the Melling number for that is.

I would assume a company that sells or produces both camshafts and lifters thoroughly tests them used together. I doubt cam or lifter manufacturers test their products with everyone else's products, or the endless variations people use together.

So what about the fact that only a few companies actually make the cams. I think CMC is the big one that others buy and rebox. And then only a few lifters manufacturers like Hylift johnson, johnson, comp, and a few others. Other than comp who does both cam and lifters I doubt anyone else manufacture them to interface precisely. And even then comp gets hate.

X2 what dataway said.

Skippy does CMC grind cams or just supply the cores to grinders?

I have found that CWC Textron is the provider of camshaft cores.

https://www.kautex.com/en/mobility/cwc-textron-castings

CMC Camshaft Machine Company is one of the grinder company. Two different companies.

I used an older (NOS) Elgin cam (066) with Hylift Johnson lifters. So far everything seems good but at least two lifters clatter on cold start for several seconds. For what it’s worth the cam I used had the CMC embossed on it. Likely the same cam used for Melling. A Melling customer service rep told me (last year) that their lifters are made in Mexico by Eaton. Probably the best lifters are coming out of that plant right now. My opinion…

My previous motor had a 2020 year Melling 068 cam and Melling lifters that had no problems.

I would guess your cam had CWC embossed on it.

I´m not aware that Camshaft Machine Company made any camshaft cores.

Melling 068
 

Been 12 or so years with melling cam 068 and crower cam saver lifters.
So far so good. Using VR1 10w30 oil.

Gerry

It’s my poor eyesight. Thanks