Roller cams last forever. If I had to go by the pics only I would clean up #1 and run it on a get it going now and run it build. I actually would not be afraid of #2 just make sure it had no serious burrs. The pits are not optimum but the cam would do in a pinch. I was a cam short of putting a bike together in the '70s. I was on a close turn getting on the road and making a run. I had a roller cam on my bench that I took out of a '38 model bike for a cam change and it worked in my '49 model bike for several years. I know we don't do bikes here anymore but this is a cam discussion at this point and a cam shaft in a 4 stroke internal combustion engine is a cam shaft perhaps less lobes but still functions the same.
My buddy who’s good at talking me into stuff dropped by yesterday and had a look at the motor. His take was that I have the cam(s) and the lifters, they’re the expensive parts. I’ll need a reinforced timing cover, a button, and pushrods. It’s a cheap motor and if things start to go south, I’ll hear it. If the cam shits the bed and I go flat tappet, I’ll only really be out the cost of the button and pushrods as the timing cover can be reused. If things go really wrong, I’ve got a couple 283s that could be freshened up pretty easily. When I say a cheap flat tappet, I’m most likely looking at one of the Summit Classic grinds. I’ve got one in a 63 327 that’s been hanging in there since ‘98. The El Camino was supposed to be a rough car that I could run around in and not worry too much about in parking lots. Once I got into it, the frame was bent and the rust was worse than I thought. I’m spending lots o money getting it right enough to put into primer. If I wait properly rebuild a 348, $$$$$$, it will be a long time before this car ever moves. If I build a humble 350, I might drive it this summer. If I nuke the motor, I’ve got all winter to work out a solution. Cam 1 seems to be some oddball custom grind and smaller. Cam 2 is a 12-422-8. 270/276 0.495 int./0.502 exh. I think I’m going to reuse a cam and see what happens. I’m doing it for science…
Where is all that metal going to go if that cam goes south? You might find you'll be out a little more than just the cost of the button and pushrods... I've run used cams & lifters before without any issues, but that was back when we didn't have all the problems with those parts that we do now.
I have no idea where you are but locally here I know a guy who does dyno work . Quite often someone has him try several different cams to find the best one. He usually has a dozen left over with lifters on the shelves ,some are free. The rest are dirt cheap. check a rebuilder ,talk to a racer.
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