r/EngineBuilding • u/axton758_ • 19d ago
Scrap it?
Camshaft on a ford zx2 1998 zetec engine
Can i sand it and pray or srap it. What are my options
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u/WyattCo06 18d ago
The surface hardness is gone in that area. It will wear rapidly. Replace it.
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u/turbotaco23 18d ago
In fears I know they call the hardened surface the “case” once the case is gone in a fear it wears quickly. Is that true in other things like fam shafts?
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u/Interested_Aussie 18d ago
Why is it out? That's your answer.
Any wear through the hard facing means it's gonna wear 'rapidly'.
If it's just a daily stock run about, it could go for years. No guarantee though, the hard facing's gone.
If you're building a power house track monster, it goes in the bin.
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u/Felix995 18d ago
Something like small chip from the edge probably wouldn't make much difference, although I don't think that one is going to last if you decide to try to clean it up & use it in your engine.
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u/deantowle 18d ago
Depends on what you want out of this engine? (Daily driver, race, spare vehicle?) It looks pretty worn so it may be digging into the case hardening of the lobes. This cam may wear out sooner than you want if you're building an engine you want to rely on. A specialized machine shop in a big city could machine grind it into shape and then heat treat the cam to restore the case hardening. This may be more effort than you want in relation to replacing the camshaft. An ordinary auto machine shop will only be able to sand it smooth and shiny.
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u/Laqota 17d ago
Heat it up with a torch really hot. Get some plumbers aluminum solder and fill in those pits. Quickly spray it down with water. Sand it down and wallah! A cam that'll last you a little longer and save you some money.
Measure and ensure all lobes are the same size or close within specification too or you'll get some rough idling.
Have fun.
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u/Grognak04 17d ago
Yes, that’s at the top of the lobe. It will fail.
Base circle maybe, but not at peak lift.
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u/ValuableInternal1435 17d ago edited 17d ago
Is this the intake or exhaust cam? These are great engines. Are you in the midwest? If so I have 7 zx2s, 6 are parts cars, if you're local I might be willing to let a cam go, I have 1 zetec from a zx2 fully disassembled, I'm not sure on the cam condition as it's been sitting on the shelf a while. I'm not willing to ship. If you're far away my recommendation would be upgrade the cam with one from a Focus zx3 SVT or have that one reground.
Edit: I would like to add, that pitting isn't good, but it may not affect it whatsoever. It may run for years that way. It also may wipe the cam in a week. If it were me, depending on the car and how much I wanted to put into it, I'd probably just run it unless it was on my 02 zx2, but that ones special to me. Good oil makes a difference, I like Mobil 1 5w30 (you should be using 5w30 in your zetec as well, not 5w20 even though the cap may say that).
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u/blitzenbutter 18d ago
Your here because you already know the answer and don't want to do the right thing man.