Complaint Review: Holley Performance Products Lunati Cams Holley.com - Bolling Green Kentucky

 Defects in profusely happens all the time. It not a ripoff, though. Had they taken your money and failed to deliver product or delivered a product of lesser value, then you'd have a ripoff. But defective parts is defective parts. Thinking they're going to cover labor, twice, is ridiculous. You apparently didn't have much experience in the automotive aftermarket at that time. Norma procedure is to replace the parts that were damaged and sometimes they'll 3ven cover any part of yours that were damaged by their failure.

First off, as a 32 year experienced ASE Certified Master Tech, I'd like to see or know the qualifications of the installing technician. Secondly, I would also like to know if the installing technician followed all the instructions that were supplied by the cam manufacturer. Third, I would be very interested to know what lubricants were used for camshaft break-in. It is a fairly well known fact among professional performance technicians that the great majority of today's motor oils do NOT contain the necessary extreme pressure lubricants to successfully break-in any flat tappet cam, regardless of manufacturer. I have successfully broken in hundreds of cams and lifters during my career, and for the last few years, I have always recommended (and used) Shell Rotella T motor oil and either General Motors E.O.S. engine oil supplement or Comp Cams Break In Lube for camshaft break-in. This combination of lubricants brings the level or quantity of extreme pressure lubricants in the oil up enough to prevent catastrophic wear during the critical first 15~20 minutes of run time on the new cam and lifters. Lunati is NOT the only manufacturer having had problem with premature cam and lifter damage, but in my opinion it's not a problem with their products so much as a lubricant problem. I AM of the opinion that every flat tappet camshaft and lifter manufacturer should be including a warning to "USE PROPER LUBRICANTS" for camshaft and lifter break-in, or premature damage WILL occur. I hope this helps shed some light on a potential cause of the problem, (probable cause, in my knowledgeable yet humble opinion).

Just reading the rebuttals would make me think these two individuals have some relationship with Holley. I have been building performance engines for over 20 years and in the past 2 years have had 4 cams go bad in break-in due to soft cam shafts. I had 2 Comp cams and 2 Lunati's go bad and it had nothing to do with the installation. At least Comp admitted to the problem. As far as reading the warranty--when you purchase these products from people like Jegs and Summit--where in their catalog do you see this written? Then the comment about being able to spot a soft cam by looking at it is very interesting--really would like to know how that is done. My solution to the the problem is I no longer use off the shelf flat tappet cams--only rollers. I purchase all my flat tappet cams/lifters from a custom cam manufacturer and have not had one issue since.

How did you break the cam in? What grade of oil did you install for the break in period? How did you adjust the valves for the new cam?

Read the warranty that Holley/Lunati offers... They specifically state that they will *NOT* pay for *ANY* labor incurred... They also know that 99.9% of cam failures during the break in period (which if you know anything is the first 15 minutes of running with the new cam) are caused by IMPROPER INSTALLATION. A good mechanic would have seen a soft cam as the appearance of the lobes would have given it away. Next time hire a reputable mechanic to do the work.