[DeTomaso] cams and oil with ZDDP

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

FWIW, changing oil or souping up what you now use may not fix flat-tappet 
cam wear woes. Wiping (losing a cam lobe to excessive early wear) is a 
phenomenon that goes back to the 1950s and has been "fixed" over the years by 
patented changes in metallurgy, by welding a hard-face strip into cam lobes, by 
secret break-in procedures, or by changing a little of this and a little of 
that. Nowadays, the 'fix' seems to   be adding extra zinc-compounds to your 
crankcase, which may or may not help you, depending on whats really wrong. 
FWIW, in your daily driver or a hot-rodded early engine, roller cams are no 
absolute fix either. For instance, if the engine design uses 
finger-followers, they can 'wipe' as well, or fail from a poorly-cut integral distributor 
drive gear. The only recourse is to add a high-quality known-brand of 
guaranteed aftermarket camshaft, of any type, WITH ITS ENGINEERED KIT, and pray a 
lot 'cause they ALL can fail. In the modified-engine game, cams, lifters and 
pushrods are consumable items just like windshield wiper blades and brake 
pads. Nothing lasts forever- nor should you expect them to. 
Good luck- J Deryke (who keeps an extra overhaul gasket kit around for all 
cam changes)


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