Cam brg question:

[MOTORHEAD]

A friend of mine is restoring a '58 MGA, 1500cc stock engine. Had machine work and cam bearings replaced by a guy with his own shop who has been building engines for more than 50 years! From vw's to blown drag engines, Complete machine shop plus engine dyno. He replaced one cam brg with one he machined out of BRASS !! Friend called me & asked if I thought it would be ok. I told him that for that engine I thought it would work, although I've never seen or heard of that being done before, as my experience doesn't go back that far.
Anyone seen brass as a cam brg ?

[Rick Parker]

Nope, but MGA cam bearings are readily available. Have your friend purchase another set and replace the one in question. Shop guy probably damaged one while. Installing it.

[MOTORHEAD]

Yup, that's exactly what transpired ! Don't know why he just didn't get a new one and save his time on the lathe. There was no time constraints to complete the job.

[Gaz64]

Brass?

A lot of engines these days run their cams straight in the alloy.

Why didn't he make it out of aluminium?

Brass is one of the most difficult metals to machine, and no doubt it would have been a squeaky bearing.

[Turbonut48]

Maybe the brass had carbon impregnated in it.

The Nut