63 Vette engine rebuild

[2toneZ]

I thought I would ask a few questions before I get started. My parents have a 63 roadster that has a numbers matching engine and trans. Its low horse, powerglide summer daily driver car. It could use a paint job and a new front surround panel but its sweet for driving. The engine is just worn out and the trans slips pretty good. So I want to pull it out and refresh everything. The engine machine shop will probably assemble the long block.

1. Do I have to replace the camshaft?
2.Whats up with the brand name cam manufacturers using poor materials that tend to go flat without premium oil additives?
3. Is a roller cam the best combo to avoid a flat cam and how big of a deal would that be in a 63 327?

 

[blazinzuk]

1. Do I have to replace the camshaft?
Yes replace everything that is a wear item, a cam is a wear item.

2.Whats up with the brand name cam manufacturers using poor materials that tend to go flat without premium oil additives?

They aren't using poor materials the oil formulation changed (thank you environazis) so they took a zinc (ZDDP) material out of it. That zinc was the main anti wear additive for non roller cams. So the additive they sell is just what your government took out.

3. Is a roller cam the best combo to avoid a flat cam and how big of a deal would that be in a 63 327?

Don't know but I bet you would be a grand to retrofit a roller cam to a 327

I am not sure on this but I am pretty sure oil meant for diesels still have more ZDDP than those meant for gas motors. I am using Delo in all my cars except my grand prix.

 

[79rustyk10]

I would go roller cam for sure, not very hard to retrofit either, need the cam button up front to keep the cam in place, and the roller lifters with the link between them. shorter pushrods will be needed also.

I have heard quite a bit that the cam cores, and lifters are not of the same quality the used to be along with the oils not having the same additives. If you decide on a flat tappet cam buy they best parts you can.

Or to honor Zora Arkus Duntov, you could always go with a solid roller

 

[76zimmer]

your build plan depends on what you want in the end. If its just an occasional driver, I would not put a roller in it. You can get good quality cams and hydraulic lifters that will be fine in even a daily driver engine. The key element is proper break in of the cam and lifters and ALWAYS use cam additive. Even the diesel oils have reduced the zinc and phosphorus to unacceptable levels for flat tappet cams now. Comp Cams, and many others make additive sold in 12 oz bottles specifically to address this shortage of additives in oils.
If you just want to freshen up this engine, I would have the machinist mic-measure the cam that's in it, along with the lifters (and pistons/rods/crank). Lets face it, if you have a 1000 mile a year car, why put 5000$ worth of engine rebuild in it just to cruise once in a while?
If you want to hotrod it or race it, then your at a whole different level of parts and machine work needs.
Tell your machinist (you did get references from other customers haven't you?) what your intentions are for this engine/car, and he can guide you to an economical and enduring choice.

How bout a couple pics???