Light corrosion on cam lobes

[anonymous-user]

I've finally got around to stripping down an engine I've had sat in the garage for a few months. However, having taken off the cam cover, there's some light corrosion on some of the cam lobes. Are they screwed, can be remedied with a bit of emery paper, or can I just run it and let them sort themselves out?

[Boosted LS1]

I've seen cams like this before and a fettle with very fine wet and dry using wd40 seems to work. If you have pit holes then they're probably shot.

[grahambell]

Agree with Boosted. Light rub with very fine (1200 grade) wet and dry soaked with oil and hopefully you'll be OK.

[anonymous-user]

Excellent. Many thanks guys. Sets my mind at rest. Further investigation showed that some of it was actually coming off when I was running my fingernail over it to check for pitting so I'm hopeful. It will, however, teach me not to leave an engine sitting around for so long when I'm not planning on completely stripping it.

[GreenV8S]

Before you get in there with the abrasive, it would be worth trying the traditional oily rag and see if you can polish the rust out. You really don't want to be removing any material from the hardened surface if you can help it.

[Steve_D]

Have cleaned a cam in a similar situation using a piece of wood carved down to form a scraper and engine oil.
The wet and dry will work but comes with the risk of introducing abrasive particles into the engine as I'm assuming you don't intend removing the cam to clean it.

Steve

[That Daddy]

1200 wet and dry soaked in ATF never removed anything other than slight corrosion

[MattYorke]

Crocus Cloth