Nitriding camshaft

[GearDrive]

We work with a local heat treating company that does nitriding.
Do I nitride the entire cam?
If I do the bearing journals do I repolish them? Or do not nitride them.

[dave brode]

GD,

Not 100% sure, but the process may need to be done prior to parkerizing. You could check with grinders that offer nitriding. Lunati and Comp do on custom order grinds.

You going to groove lifter bores, and/or run spit hole lifters [if solid]?

Dave

[MTS-EAST]

  m ight want to have a company familiar with camshafts do this work as the cam might need repolished or straightened afterwards and yes the cam journals will need repolished.

[speeed_dmonx]

I understand you must discuss this first and foremost with the cam builder BEFORE ANY heat treating or any of the work is done to the camshaft as nitriding it makes it REALLY hard and a long lasting piece once it is done....this is what I plan to do for my hydraulic flat tappet motor once I am farther along..I know only a limited amount about it other than it must discussed primarily before the cam is even ground...unless it is an off the shelf because it must be done seperately of any other process....this is what was explained to me..I do know nitriding a camshaft makes it last almost twice as long as most other engine parts....even with oiling problems....however I would not be one to test this theory out..just my two cents..

Chris

[DaveM]

I have found when nitriding parts that they grow and could end up .001 to .002 bigger..

[steelybill]

 The GM factory workers I know told me that the copper plating between lobes on the factory cams prevented the heat treat from hardening the shaft between lobes , while it hardened the lobes and bearing surfaces. They would have to straighten them after heat treat.

But the Caddy cam I remove wasn't plated, soooo.......?

[MTS-EAST]

  I doubt....ok i would put nothing past GM.....that you would ever find a stock caddy cam that has been copper plated.

  really no need for it the lobes and the material back then and the spring pressures and rpm the caddy was designed for they didnt need it.


   as much as i hate COMP CAMS   if you want a camshaft have the company that grinds the cam do the nitriding....IMO

[dave brode]

Lunati does it too, but probably only on cams bought from them. $100.

Comp told me that it has to be done prior to other process', but the guy would not be specific [or didn't know]

Dave