Cam install woes! :( HELP Please!
Cam install woes! :( HELP Please! Had my cam installed over the weekend by a pretty reputable shop. ( i thought)
Went in there this morning to have my car custom tuned and saw that my oil pressure was below 20 psi.
It never came up, actuaaly @ idle it dropped below that.
I had a TR 220/220 .553 .553 @ 112+4 installed along with comp 918 blue stripes, new LS6 oil pump, timing chain, ASP pulley etc....
The guy told me that everything went smooth, the cam came out easy & it went in easily.
He says when he test drove it yesterday that the oil pressure was normal. ?
but i go in there today & the car is still on the lift?
HE states that it could be a faulty oil pump.?
"it's brand new!"
i mentioned the "pinched" "torn" o-ring... He immediately dismisses this as he has done over 200 cam installs on the LS1's.
He said the only other thing he could think of would be the cam bearings.?
My car has 160K on it but i have had it since it was new & gradually added to it.
It has never been to the track & always meticulously maintained.
Man, i hope it was the o-ring or a faulty pump.....
What do you think?
Good or bad.... give it to me!
The guy will take out the oil pump today & replace it with a new one, he also said he would shim it?
i'll know by 9pm tonight.
sorry so long.......
i'm bummed!!
Went in there this morning to have my car custom tuned and saw that my oil pressure was below 20 psi.
It never came up, actuaaly @ idle it dropped below that.
I had a TR 220/220 .553 .553 @ 112+4 installed along with comp 918 blue stripes, new LS6 oil pump, timing chain, ASP pulley etc....
The guy told me that everything went smooth, the cam came out easy & it went in easily.
He says when he test drove it yesterday that the oil pressure was normal. ?
but i go in there today & the car is still on the lift?
HE states that it could be a faulty oil pump.?
"it's brand new!"
i mentioned the "pinched" "torn" o-ring... He immediately dismisses this as he has done over 200 cam installs on the LS1's.
He said the only other thing he could think of would be the cam bearings.?
My car has 160K on it but i have had it since it was new & gradually added to it.
It has never been to the track & always meticulously maintained.
Man, i hope it was the o-ring or a faulty pump.....
What do you think?
Good or bad.... give it to me!
The guy will take out the oil pump today & replace it with a new one, he also said he would shim it?
i'll know by 9pm tonight.
sorry so long.......
i'm bummed!!
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, Arizona
I'm betting it's a pinched O-ring. It had good oil pressure before the swap, so it's not cam bearings. I've heard of a few having sticky regulators, so it could be that. I know a guy here at work that has done a dozen cam swaps and he always shims the regulator, even on new pumps.
It took me three tries to get the O-ring not to pinch. I had to use the spacers for the double roller chain and it was a biotch trying to get the pick-up tube in. I don't care how many you've done, it's hard to get the o-ring in place. The first time it was sticking out the front and I didn't notice it until I got the oil pan bolted back up (I'm an old fart and I didn't have my reading glasses on!). Second time I thought every thing was fine until I got a small mirror on a stick and sure enough that darn blue o-ring was sticking out the back. Third time was a charm and oil pressure was over 40 at idle upon start-up. Funny thing was, the old o-ring looked like it was pinched at the factory because a sliver came off of it when I removed it.
It took me three tries to get the O-ring not to pinch. I had to use the spacers for the double roller chain and it was a biotch trying to get the pick-up tube in. I don't care how many you've done, it's hard to get the o-ring in place. The first time it was sticking out the front and I didn't notice it until I got the oil pan bolted back up (I'm an old fart and I didn't have my reading glasses on!). Second time I thought every thing was fine until I got a small mirror on a stick and sure enough that darn blue o-ring was sticking out the back. Third time was a charm and oil pressure was over 40 at idle upon start-up. Funny thing was, the old o-ring looked like it was pinched at the factory because a sliver came off of it when I removed it.
What timing chain did you get? If you have a DR timing chain you need to shim it, and if he didn't then it would rub on the chain.
Also, the pinched oring is probably whats wrong, either that or he may not have put anything on the spacer that oil passes through when installing it (I did both sides).
Also, the pinched oring is probably whats wrong, either that or he may not have put anything on the spacer that oil passes through when installing it (I did both sides).
Thanks guys!!
This makes me feel somewhat better.
I used a factory replacement 02 LS6 timing chain.
& yes the pressure was fine before the install.
No engine noise whatsover. Car sounds awesome!
man i am on pins & needles!!!
i'll let you all know what haapens when i know.
I too am an old fart. ( 40)
Thanks again guys!!
This makes me feel somewhat better.
I used a factory replacement 02 LS6 timing chain.
& yes the pressure was fine before the install.
No engine noise whatsover. Car sounds awesome!
man i am on pins & needles!!!
i'll let you all know what haapens when i know.
I too am an old fart. ( 40)
Thanks again guys!!
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The oil pump was changed out again last night and still, my oil pressure does not go past 20 psi while driving.
& lower than that @ idle.
Here is what i am being told.
Fact: my car has 160K on the clock.( all Hwy, Never raced! @ a track.)
oil & filter changed religiously with mobil 1 Q 5K.
I am told that my factory cam had some wear on the journals of the cam itself that were shiny in some areas. ( i visually saw this today)
The guy says that i could have driven another 50K or so on the stock cam because it had a pattern over time.
Once the new cam was introduced, the cam bearings had shown some wear and did not properly seat to the new cam.
this is the best way that i can describe what he was telling me.?
someone help me out here. What do you think?
Car runs / sounds great but i have not been able to go to WOT yet.
Other than the oil pressure, all is well.?
& lower than that @ idle.
Here is what i am being told.
Fact: my car has 160K on the clock.( all Hwy, Never raced! @ a track.)
oil & filter changed religiously with mobil 1 Q 5K.
I am told that my factory cam had some wear on the journals of the cam itself that were shiny in some areas. ( i visually saw this today)
The guy says that i could have driven another 50K or so on the stock cam because it had a pattern over time.
Once the new cam was introduced, the cam bearings had shown some wear and did not properly seat to the new cam.
this is the best way that i can describe what he was telling me.?
someone help me out here. What do you think?
Car runs / sounds great but i have not been able to go to WOT yet.
Other than the oil pressure, all is well.?