One  of the biggest reasons  people are  killing Cams during  brake in   now  as compared to 15 years ago  has little  to do with  the lack of ZDDP, It is  more to do  with the
Engine builder being uninformed as to what oil should be used  during  Brake in, People are  using a brake in oil  for running in a new cam! The off the shelf  brake in oils  have about 40, 000 pounds load ware  resistance
Research  has shown  you need a minimum of 70,000 to safly brake in a cam!  Buy a better  oil and  the cam  will  live!

Break in oil?  You don't say which one?  Did you note after, whether or not U had proper oiling to the top end?.  And I can't comment on it for sure, but I wonder if 3500 rpms wasn't a bit much for an initial start up. Did you part fill the oil filter before installing? An annoying situation, hope you can solve it..


Paul

Sorry, but all cam manufactures recommend using light springs or removing the inner spring when breaking in a cam.  They also recommend using low ration rocker arms.  And this is recommend for engines with hydraulic lifters.

I also agree with not using break in oil.  Find oil with the highest zinc and phosphorus contend.  (high zddp) SL raing. 

You may also want to have your cam shaft Nitrided.

Grumpy

The problem with  using a brake in oil   in a  engine  with a  new set of lifters is  the  brake in oil is made to seat the rings  fast  The rings ware to fit the bores but the lifters ware as well!  What you want to  brake in a new cam is a Oil that has a high PSI rating on the ware protection
I haad the  same problem  with my engine, I was using  Joe Gibs  brake in oil  then I found out it is to  brake in the rings not the Cam!   The last two  engines  I built I used Pennzoil High Mileage to do the  brake in and the can was checked for ware  after 200 miles  and looked like new!

As a retired Automotive Instructor, and builder of dozens of engines over my life time, I still have to disagree with changing out valve springs on camshaft break in procedures.  It is not a good idea, nor is it necessary.  No factory does it on their high performance engines, and it is not taught in basic engine building courses.  Yes, some folks swear by this procedure, but it is unnecessary, and a waste of valuable time.  I have built and raced Ford vehicles since 1962 when I rebuilt my first 292.  Sorry, but I will stand on my statement, "Break in the engine with the springs you are going to run.".
Joe-JDC

JDC

Thanks Charlie.  It looks like a good list of items to check before we fire it up with the new cam.  BTW the wife and I are only four months from completing our relocation to Savannah.   So I only have a couple of months to get my truck back together...the bodywork is going to the painter tommorrow (Friday).  I should be hauling it along with the rest of my garage stuff to the new house in March.
Bob

There is no need to modify the oiling system, though you need to be sure that it is functioning correctly.  From Ted's site, a list of causes for cam failure, most of which have nothing to do with lubrication

http://www.eatonbalancing.com/blog/2012/11/06/camshaft-and-lifter-failure-causes-2/



Lawrenceville, GA

Yes, these were new lifters.  As for the valve springs, these were the ones that JM assembled the heads with.  BTW the rocker assemblies are new as well.  I ordered the entire rebuild package from JM and assumed that he used the right springs for the cam.  The engine internals were properly lubed and it fired right up.  It was run between 2500 and 3500 rpm.  As for the oil, it was break in oil and would be swapped out for dinosaur oil after we finished up with tuning the EFI (using a carb for the break in runs) on the dyno.  Just another little set back with this engine.

Break in the camshaft with the springs you are going to run all the time.  If you lubed everything properly, and did a pre-oil pressure check of the rocker arms getting oil, you should have not had a problem.  If you turned the engine over several times without actually running it, the spring pressure may have wiped the lube off the camshaft.  Joe-JDC.

JDC

Charlie, I would very much like to find out about that "old wives tale" myself as I have 115 lb springs in my rebuilt 56 heads going on my new engine. I will not be breaking it in for quite a while but I certainly don't want to screw up my cam. (Or anything else for that matter). I do have a set of stock springs if I need to change them out for break in.
I hope someone chimes in on this.
Rowen

Rowen
55CV
Woodland, Ca