Stupid hypothetical question

Got a really dumb question. Been fighting with my alignment and broken cam bolts, had to order new bolts and tabs.

Of course, after ordering SPC cams, I read that aftermarket cams tend to slip and not hold alignment well. Would like to avoid paying $$$ for the OEM cams.

So I was wondering...would it be a horrible idea to zap a few small tack welds on the cams after it's been aligned and torqued, to help shore them up and keep it in place? I'm talking little spot welds that can easily be removed and smoothed with a dremel if needed, making sure not to obscure any markings of course. Just as added cheap insurance

Or does anyone have any other tricks to help keep them in place? I'm hesitant to slather it in loctite being that it'll be a bitch to ever adjust again, given their propensity to rust solid.

Fully prepared to get flamed and trolled, just thought I'd ask. I thought it was a really dumb idea at first but the more I pondered, it kinda seems dumb enough to work well

 

Not a dumb idea at all. if you dont wanna get OEM cams, just put a little tack on it. ive heard of people doing that here

 

Could get taco tabs and be done

 

Taco Tabs Front Alignment Kit

 

As you may already know, a bare unpainted weld will immediately rust once moisture hits it. I’m no alignment expert. I believe hitting a pot hole hard or smacking a curb can put your alignment off. If you’re willing to grind the tack weld and get the nut free prior to taking it in for an alignment, that should be ok. I don’t think an alignment shop would even have a grinder. If you go with lock tight, red or blue, red being considered permanent, it just takes a little heat to get it free, like from a small soldering torch.

Thinking outside the box is never a bad idea in my opinion. As long as you’re prepared for the naysayers criticism, which sounds like you are.

 

Lots of people do this. Weld the alignment bolt to the cam while you're at it. There's definitely some slop there.

 

Okay, this is a much better response than I thought I’d get lol. Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

I live in a pretty remote area so I put a lotta miles on, would rather not have to have it realigned every oil change. This will give me at least some piece of mind.

 

I also highly recommend welding a bead behind each cam tab on the frame. They tend to get flattened very easily, and is another common way to go out of alignment. Welding a bead is a cheap alternative to the total chaos cam tab gussets

 

Wish I had thought of that before buying the new tabs lol, bending tabs is where my problems all started. I still may do that though, if I run outta time before my appointment. Thanks

 

Can't recommend this enough. You can buy a cheap flux core welder at HF and weld them yourself after a little practice on some mild steel. This is right up there with greasing your bed bolts, the uni-filter mod, spraying your steering shaft u-joint with Fluid Film, etc., and should be compulsory PM if you own a Taco and do anything other than pavement.

Of all the folks on this forum that have said they've done this, none that I know of have ever had another problem with them.
If you're lifted and you beat the crap out of your truck, you may have problems with them still, but I doubt it. They feel and look pretty solid when done well.