There are so many variables in answering this question. A standard v8 engine will have 16 lobes, 1 for each valve while an overhead cam engine will run 2 cams with 8 on each side.
Lobes on camshaft spaced correctly
Yes you can as long as the cam that you are calling original is a roller cam.If it is just inspect the lobes on the camshaft real good and close.
The camshaft is located above the cylinder and valves. it has solid lobes attached to the shaft, it spins in time with the engine and forces the valves down to let the fuel in/let exhaust gases escape.
The main purpose of a valve spring is to maintain pressure and ensure that the valves close properly after they have been opened by the camshaft. It helps keep the valves in contact with the camshaft lobes and prevents them from floating or bouncing at high engine speeds. Ultimately, this allows for efficient and precise control of the engine's valve timing and operation.
The camshaft(s) lobes push up on the rockers on top of the cylinders, which pushes down on the vavles, causing them to open
If the peaks of the cam lobes are all worn the camshaft needs to be replaced. It will affect the valve timing and the air intake into the engine which in turn affects the performance.
The camshaft opens the valve via its Lobes, against the valve spring, to open. The valve springs closes the valve back.
A camshaft opens/closes the intake/exhaust valves at predetermined points of the piston travel. The cam is driven by the crankshaft, the rotating cam lobes operates thru lifters/followers that ride against the lobes.
There will be a few thousandths of an inch between the lobes on the cam and the tops of the valves.
The cams on the camshaft. NEW ANSWER : Yes it is the camshaft, But it is the LOBES on it that makes the valves open and shut. Not the Cams that's on it, No such thing. Response to new answer: look up cam in a dictionary or on wikipedia. It's an irregular fitting on a camshaft that converts rotational motion to reciprocating motion. That said, the term "cam" is interchangeable with "lobe".
First of all, the camshaft's job is to open and close intake and exhaust valves. It's made up of teardrop shaped lobes, and when the lobe turns away, the valve spring closes the valve. This is precisely timed, so the lobes are aligned just so. On a radical camshaft, the lobe shape is exaggerated so the valves open wider and longer, packing more air into the intake, and letting more out the exhaust. The result is more airflow through the engine, and more power.