Cam Trouble

[DTFE30]

I just purchased a set of custom reground cams from a forum member for my S50 this week. The specs are as follows, Intake 266 .440 inch lift, exh: 270 .393 inch lift. Got them in and running last night.

The only problem is that the valve train is very noisy. I took the valve cover off to fix a leak and decided to measure the minor diameter of the lobes. After a couple measurements, I determined that the new cams are 80 thousandths smaller than the stock s50 cam lobes.

This is causing a "slapping" noise against the lifters. I know I cant adjust the lifters because they are hydraulic.
Is there anything else I can do, or am I out a set of cams?

[Wanganstyle]

how did you know they were correctly ground? re-grind on M20's need oversized eccentrics; with HLA you cannot adjust the clearances. Perhaps you need to convert to a solid lifter setup to adjust the valve train? No other instructions given to you for setup?

Why not buy a set of new camshafts from a reputable camshaft manufacture ???

[chondamx]

That is the very nature of reground cams, the lobe size shrinks increasing tolerances. Throw some solid VW lifters in there and shim them to spec.

[DTFE30]

What VW lifters would I need?

[chondamx]

Should be these guys: 027 198 309 HM14.5. The M42 guys love them and the M50/M42 lifters are the same dimensions.

Ah, crap, I just reread your OP and realized you have an S50. The lifters in the M52/S50s are smaller and these lifters won't work. I guess you could always source some cheap M50 cam trays. I am not aware of a solid VW lifter that is a suitable replacement for the smaller diameter M52/S50 lifters.

[DTFE30]

Thanks for your help. I just bought a stock set of S50 cams to put back in it.