camshaft, how long will it last?

[clive f]

I plan to have a good tidy up under the bonnet this winter, and I have been giving the camshaft some serious thought.
the cars done 47k miles, and looking in the sevice history there have been no engine problems at all, and on a recent rolling road session everything was okay with some excellent bhp results, but, could the cam be nearing the time when it needs replacing, on the one hand there is the old saying, if it works why fix it?, on the other hand, whilst I`m removing rocker covers and phlenum, might as well go a bit further and replace the cam and push rods ect.

If I do go down this road, do I replace like for like, but with steel rockers, or is there a cam that comes highly recommended.
I also plan to have a MA chip done,if possble next spring, will this have a bearing on the type of cam that I get?

[dnb]

My cam has 99k miles on it. (This does seem to be unusual here.) Most seem to last around 50k, but yours seems to be working well, so I'd be inclined to leave it alone. You'll see more if you take the inlet manifold and valley gasket off the engine.

I'm going to be replacing it shortly as it's started to tap a bit and I have a few other things to do with the engine.

If you decide to get a new (ie different) cam, then do it before the MA chip otherwise you may need to get MA's assistance twice.

[shpub]

If it ain't broke... don't fix it.

[aerospoke]

Hi there

The first one in my car lasted 37k and the second one was knackered after exactly the same mileage. Talking to a Roverdealer he said that was not unusual! BUT never touch a running system!

Cheers Jens

[Jasper Gilder]

What does for the cams is not changing the oil often enough and thrashing the engine when cold. I've run three Griffs up to 60K mils, got an SX on 80K miles and the only cam I've ever had changed is in my Range Rover which a previous owner kindly clocked, and which might have done about 130,000 miles or so..