whats the diference between iron and steel camshafts?

[alapimba]

Hello
I'm gonna buy a 35/75 camshaft for my 126 engine but i have one doubt.
The cheaper i found was 100€ iron or 150€ steel on the 500mania.it website.
Whats the diference between iron and steel?
It's bad if i buy the iron one?

Anyone knows any place with better prices?

Thanks

[Rusty's Uncle]

I would say that for regular fast road use the nitro cast iron should be OK . Not a material spec I am familiar with but it suggests that it is a carbon controlled steel alloy to give greater strength. The nitrided steel one could well be the same shaft but has been case hardened & core refined to give better wear & durability  [-/

[hudsonhenry]

The iron one would be made from a cast iron blank (rough profile suitable for a range of finished specs) that is then ground to a final profile.

The steel cam is turned (ground) from a blank steel billet then nitrided for strength. This is a more complex process and suited more to one-off production and therefore more expensive.

The cast iron one despite being cheaper should wear better in the long term.

[alapimba]

The iron one would be made from a cast iron blank (rough profile suitable for a range of finished specs) that is then ground to a final profile.

The steel cam is turned (ground) from a blank steel billet then nitrided for strength. This is a more complex process and suited more to one-off production and therefore more expensive.

The cast iron one despite being cheaper should wear better in the long term.

so in your opinion i should buy the one made of cast iron?

[hudsonhenry]

If they are the same profile I think would go with the cast (in fact before I converted to four cylinder in my 500 I did have a cast 40/80). I would however out of curiosity ask the retailer why the two types and see what he says.

I notice that the steel ones are not in stock so would, I guess, be made to order. There is also a chance that one manufacturers 40/80 is not exactly the same as another. It is also possible to get an original cast cam re-profiled to certain specs. a re-profile however can affect the overall size of the lobes which then needs to be made up with bigger shims or more adjustment on the tappets.