Help! Damaged lifter, rocker arm and cam shaft...?
08-14-2012, 11:45 AM
#11
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Maui
Posts: 4,752
I have trouble-shot and rebuilt a lot of engines over the years, and I am an Engineer by trade. I rebuilt my first engine when I was 14 y.o. Learning mostly from popular car magazines at that time.
That was 4 decades ago. Iv'e successfully built many circle-track engines and many, many more street engines. I am very good at de-bugging engine failures.
If I could not figure out EXACTLY WHY an engine failed, I would not consider it for rebuild. Iv'e seen lots of engines blow (not mine) shortly after rebuild due to hidden issues that were not considered/discovered. That gets incredibly expensive rather quickly.
Usually, when an OHC cam brg fails, it is due to lack of lubrication. The Cam Brg is the farthest point away from the oil pump. This can be caused by poor oil quality (cheap or too thin), poor oil shear/film strength, poor oil flow for the revs seen (over revving), failing oil pump, etc. The exact cause can usually not be determined unless the engine is majored.
I would not consider the OP's engine rebuild-able unless the block was hot tanked & all the oil galleries flushed properly. The potential for hidden damage is too great.
This kind of engine build can get quite expensive and I doubt that the car is worth the investment, but only the OP can say if it is worth it to him.
In most cases like this, the best scenario is to buy a used engine or buy a rebuilt long block so the OP is not risking another engine failure soon. This is absolutely NOT a guess, it comes from 40 years of hands-on experience.
That was 4 decades ago. Iv'e successfully built many circle-track engines and many, many more street engines. I am very good at de-bugging engine failures.
If I could not figure out EXACTLY WHY an engine failed, I would not consider it for rebuild. Iv'e seen lots of engines blow (not mine) shortly after rebuild due to hidden issues that were not considered/discovered. That gets incredibly expensive rather quickly.
Usually, when an OHC cam brg fails, it is due to lack of lubrication. The Cam Brg is the farthest point away from the oil pump. This can be caused by poor oil quality (cheap or too thin), poor oil shear/film strength, poor oil flow for the revs seen (over revving), failing oil pump, etc. The exact cause can usually not be determined unless the engine is majored.
I would not consider the OP's engine rebuild-able unless the block was hot tanked & all the oil galleries flushed properly. The potential for hidden damage is too great.
This kind of engine build can get quite expensive and I doubt that the car is worth the investment, but only the OP can say if it is worth it to him.
In most cases like this, the best scenario is to buy a used engine or buy a rebuilt long block so the OP is not risking another engine failure soon. This is absolutely NOT a guess, it comes from 40 years of hands-on experience.
^^^ this. Sorry about your issues OP. Bad luck sucks.
08-14-2012, 07:18 PM
#12
Great reference, thank you.
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KingRando
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