Thread: Opinions on camshaft damage SR20VE

Hey guys I recently purchased a SR20VE from Jdmenginzone. So I open up the valve cover this past sunday, and I find some rust on the number 4 exhaust lobes. I also spot some scuff marks on the number 2 exhaust lobes.

The story I'm getting from jdmenginezone is that they pressure wash the engines and sometimes the liquid gets in the valve cover. They are also trying to tell me that the 3 motors they have left are not in better shape than the motor I received. They are telling me that the stock that is left has oil sludge build up on the valve train. I think I'm getting some BS on the condition of the remaining stock as I don't have any way of verifying.

So the manager I speak to tells me to run or crank the engine a bit for the rust to clean up. I personally don't like this option as I don't want rust flakes falling into my oil supply. I also don't really want to take the cam off and try to sand off the rust. The rust doesn't just look like minor surface rust. I do spot some rough texture to it.

My gut instinct is to have them take the engine back and get my money back. I have a feeling these guys are gonna give me a hard time on that. The manager was like if the rust does not clean off I'll take the engine back no problem. Well I just don't even want to spin the engine to clean the lobes.

The top of the head looks clean otherwise. Any opinions on the situation are welcome.

If this were me and I wanted a really nice engine with no issues at all and I paid a good bit for it I would do whatever I could to return it.

If I paid bottom dollar and weren't being super anal about it, I would leave the #2 lobes alone, and rotate the #4 lobes to a position that would make cleaning them up easier. I'd take some brake cleaner and paper towels to it until I had a good idea of what I'm dealing with. I'd then maybe hit it with some steel wool or emery cloth or something extremely fine. If that cleans up the rust then I would be happy about it. Also clean that one rust bolt head. Lube it back up and be ready to go.

If the rust doesn't clean up well with the least abrasive sanding then you're in a good position to return the motor.

They are not lying when they say the 3 they have left and they are not in better condition. I went there about a month ago and hand picked my engine, as well as my buddy. They had 6 ve's, so when we left the 4 that were still there were not all that great at all. I did see the motor you have there but did not get it cus of the rust and saw some rtv in places indicating its been apart. I say try to clean up the lobes with some emery cloth/real fine sand paper or sctch bright pad with rags and some brake/carb clean. Also spray some pb blaster or wd40 in each cylinder and let it sit overnight before turning it over.

the cams need to come out so you can inspect the rockers for damage. the surface rust should come off with a emery cloth and some pb blaster. I would get the surface rust off then see if the cam is scored. I would be more worried about water that may have gotten into other places. I would spray down the cylinders as mentioned just to be safe. If it were my motor it would be returned. That motor must have been sitting for some time to get rust like that.

i have ran every motor from jdm engine zone and never had a problem and some have been worse then that. If it was me i would run the shit out of it rev it to 9k and let that rust spin off it

I would return the engine and get your money back. If the water made it through the valve cover it would also make it to the oil pan rusting the bottom end (crankshaft, cylinder wall) due to condensation.

One time I received an engine from an importer that was flooded in one cylinder due to the pressure wash.

As to the rust on the camshaft, the last thing you want to do is put sand paper to it. The camshaft is a very high precision item. It's better to get a used stock VE camshaft. They are a dime a dozen since a lot of people swap them out for bigger cams.

glad i didn't buy the sr20ve engine fron engine zone but from someone else, sounds like i would have got one of the sludged engines. on i got will be here the 5th, will check it out for rusty parts

Pop the cam up ( just pull out the bolts, clean the rust off, throw down some oil on the lobe, toss back in the bolts, torque em down, forget about it.

Stratton.

Emery cloth and ride!

unless its just the pic i do not like the black color of the lobe in the first pic, it looks like a lack of oil scorch