Cams not turning after cam cover install

Post by **precopster** » 27 Oct 2018, 06:54

Looks like we're back at pulling the cover off. Do you still have the matching cover? Some head repair places can do amazing repair work.

Mabes101 · Post by **Mabes101** » 27 Oct 2018, 07:01

Haha oh man, I'm getting pretty good at doing that. I have the cover off right now. The original cover was left at the JY months ago. I'm thinking at this point my best and cheapest option will be to grab another head from the yard off a turbo car and keep everything the same as it was in the car I pull it from. I really appreciate your effort and responses, and if you think of anything else I'd definitely like to hear.

Cheers,

Post by **rspi** » 28 Oct 2018, 12:21

The cover has to stay with the head. They are machined together.

Post by **precopster** » 28 Oct 2018, 15:33

OP has already resigned himself to getting another head due to the head/cover mismatch as the original cover is lost.

Post by **shiloh51933** » 03 Nov 2018, 11:22

Mabes101 wrote: ↑27 Oct 2018, 07:01 Haha oh man, I'm getting pretty good at doing that. I have the cover off right now. The original cover was left at the JY months ago. I'm thinking at this point my best and cheapest option will be to grab another head from the yard off a turbo car and keep everything the same as it was in the car I pull it from. I really appreciate your effort and responses, and if you think of anything else I'd definitely like to hear.

Cheers,

Let us know what happens, I read this thread entirely and I'd like to hear about a successful head swap.

Post by **erikv11** » 03 Nov 2018, 13:57

shiloh51933 wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 11:22 ... I'd like to hear about a successful head swap.

I've done two, both on 96 NA engines. 1had a brunt valve, one had a broken valve spring. 20k - 30k ago, holding strong.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 03 Nov 2018, 14:52

I have no experience with your heads, but a few items are of concern. The lifters being the main one and the cams being the second. You need to back up.

I would start with the cams in the head correctly positioned, no lifters, try spinning the cams by hand with out the top valve cover on. First back off the crank to the appropriate mark, if it is like the newer versions there should be a mark where the pistons are down or at the correct mark they may be down. I forget. You just want to avoid any piston to valve contact for testing in later stages. Leave the belt off. Back on point - the cams should move freely. It is possible you have binding at this point. If you do it will be obvious as to why. Next put the cam cover on and see what happens. They should spin freely. After that try putting just a few lifters in and see what happens. It could be that they are bottoming out against the head.

That is all I have, but it should give you some more information.

I would try to use as many original parts to the head as possible. Mix an match unless exact part number could be an issue. The cam covers are matched for each head, but I would guess they "self" machine to the other half. They are aluminum. The initial casting, like for like part number, I would imagine is pretty much the same. This may cause oil pressure issues as the parts wore to the original parts, but that is another issue.

Mabes101 · Post by **Mabes101** » 09 Nov 2018, 06:01

Update: I installed the new head with matching cover and cams. Ran really well on startup for a day, but on maiden voyage had the car die on me and now has a misfire on 2 cylinders. Tried new plugs gapped at 0.028 but misfire continues. I'll be cleaning the injectors and inspecting wires along with checking my compression.

Mabes101 · Post by **Mabes101** » 15 Nov 2018, 06:29

Tried starting up today and she lives!!! No CEL, no misfire, running smooth. Not sure what changed other than a full charge on the battery. I'm suspect of a failing alternator, but no biggie.

Post by **erikv11** » 15 Nov 2018, 07:17

Great news!

Cams not turning after cam cover install

Re: Cams not turning after cam cover install