Cleaning up old cams

[burgandy81]

Hi All,

Apologies if this has been covered but I did not find much while searching.

I am building up an engine and am currently assembling the head. The head is back from machining with new guides, a 3 angle cut, and polished valves! Very exciting.

I am now ready to install cam towers. These are 1800 cam towers and cams. The towers (and cams) have been sitting around for YEARS and were very dirty. I have disassembled and cleaned the cams with mineral spirits and a toothbrush. The bearing surfaces look fine. The cam lobes are very dark and did not clean up much. The nose (wrong term??) seem fine as they are relatively shiny and show no rust or pitting. The rest of the lobe is very dark and dirty looking.

The question is, How should I dress the cams before reassembly?
- 000 steel wool?
- 800 grit emery cloth?
- Polishing rouge?
- Cotton cloth and alcohol?
- Nothing?

I have found all of the above on various forums and do not know what to do.

My instinct is to clean with a cloth only and reassemble. I am very nervous about disturbing the surface or introducing materials into the surface.

Oh FIAT brain trust, what say you?

[SP3]

Rinse them off with your mineral spirits, blow dry, oil, install.

[davidbruce]

+1 what SP3 said. Ideally the cam buckets go back into their original holes. Don't forget a liberal coat of assembly lube on all wear surfaces.

[burgandy81]

Thank you both!