M20 Camshaft Journal wear - Normal?

[Rontgen]

A question for those of you with M20 tear-down experience: How bad do these journals look as compared to the average?

I'm building a street-driven M20 with zero performance mods. Just a basic stock re-ring build. Assuming it measures within spec, would you run it?







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[TobyB]

Yeah, polish it first...

The top photo looks pretty normal for an engine
that has had some dirt going thru it.
I can't get the second photo to resolve, but it looks a bit worse.

The guys who regrind cams for me (Delta, in Tacoma) don't usually mind
that much scoring, and just give the journals a quick polish.

I get the sense that cam journal clearance has a bit more leeway than cranks do...


t

[Rontgen]

Thank you! That was my thought as well, just wanted to confirm that I'm not completely crazy. Haha

This is a rebuilt head installed by the previous owner in 2002, yet the rod/main bearings look really clean with very normal wear. I'm inclined to believe that most of that cam scoring was probably present when the rebuilt head went in 13yrs (and who knows how many miles) ago.

Thanks again!

[Old525i]

You can get a new cam for ~$140

[AndrewBird]

If you can feel any of it with your fingernail, I wouldn't run it. Otherwise, I concur with the light polish.

[Rontgen]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.