Brandon Boomhauer

iTrader: (10)

F14 cam, stock lifters, manley springs, stock heads
fms pushrods
cam install at 55k, motor go byebye at 69xxx
I'm thinking more along the lines of the lifters went south and then ate the cam up.
I think maybe 1 lifter was good looking, the rest were shot. The cam only has 3 lobes damaged, one with around an 1/8" lip on it...

6spdpewterZ

It seems like you want us to tell you what you want to hear. I would tear the engine down and inspect it ASAP. Unless you have the money to get another one.

robertbartsch

I bought new lifters, rockers, push rods, double springs, etc... for my H/c mods...

I guess there is no way to tell when hard parts start to tear up.... sort of like watching the news about a bad hurricane heading your way..... by this time it is too late, your house is already gone...

marine02ss

iTrader: (3)

That's premature bearing failure Watch out or engine failure could result in ignoring
it

GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

Im going to throw caution to the wind and say that you simply can not determine that to be the case. As he said, the cam had walked backwards and when it did so, theres a good chance that the reluctor groove could have taken a few shavings off the edge of the bearing effectively giving him a smaller (not as wide) bearing. If this were the case - hypothetically - it would not pose any significant harm to continue running the motor now that the cam was tightened back into place. The unfortunate news is that theres really no way to check this without tearing the motor apart and having a look up close an personal. I guess if you pulled the cam and took a look with a long borescope you could probably check the bearings condition and where exactly the shaving came from. But saying that its premature bearing wear is ignoring the fact that the cam walked.

In the end though you probably have a lot of work to do. The people who suggest that you tear down the motor to inspect and replace that cam bearing are giving you the best advice. I only offer the possibility that when you do get there, it may still be in reasonable condition. If you were going to take your chances and run the car anyway, I would still pull the cam and try and get a look inside witha bore scope. If thats not possible, at the very least drain your oil every couple days and look for more shavings. You can reuse the oil after you inspect it. Just be sure that you understand that youre taking your motor's life into your own hands as theres a very real possibility it may eventually go boom.

99whitews6

iTrader: (2)

Alright, I figure I need to do this the right way. This will be an project for over the winter. What can I use from the engine to rebuild? I might as well just start from scratch and get it done right. Money wont be available for a month or so but I can start planning now. Block(car) only has 23K and the cam has only been in for 2K miles. When I put the cam in the motor also received new headers, pump, chain, and valve springs. What can I save? What should go?

Sorry Steel Chicken about being retarted. I was just in denial that this would happen to the motor so fast. WHen I pulled the motor apart last night I found that all three Cam bolts were VERY loose (loc-tite was used). Anyways, whats my best route as far as rebuild?

GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

****, at 23K I wouldnt touch a thing except the cam bearings. Take it apart, but make sure each component goes back in the same location. Piston one back into bore number one. You can reuse the rings as long as theyre in the same order and location too. A 23K motor is barely broken in. Far too young to require a total rebuild.

robertbartsch

I don't think it has been established that the cam has walked..... For all we know, it could be the main crank bearings

GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

It was a good possibility the cam had walked.
Now its a certainty.

But to be fair, I guess it could be something unrelated like a main or rod bearing.

Steel Chicken

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the apology. Dont go jumping to conclusions though, you might not need a rebuild.
In order to make the best decision, you need all the facts. Before you starting planning on rebuilds and spending money, take it apart. See whats wrong with it first. You very well *might* get lucky and not need a rebuild. Or, as others have mentioned, it might not be the cam. Who knows? Check it out. Get the facts first, THEN make a decision, in that order.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

This is disturbing, did you thoroughly clean the threads prior to using the Loctite?

99whitews6

iTrader: (2)

Sounds good. I have never determined status of Cam bearings or rod bearing by visual inspection so I will post pics once I tear the motor apart/

robertbartsch

If I was doing this in my driveway, I would take the heads off and pull the short block out from the top.

Most here will argue that dropping it from the bottom is easier but I think that assumes you have a lift...

GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

Many folks use the engine hoist to lift the car off the motor by the radiator mount (chain under a 2x4 or something).

Pulling the car off the motor seems like it would just give you so much space to work with.

robertbartsch

I would love to see pictures of this.

I'm guesing you need to disconnect brake lines, power steering, K- member, and need a front end alignment when your done; right?

Do you drop both engine and tranny at the same time?

SporkLover

iTrader: (2)

Robert.....check out this thread...

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/354351-how-remove-engine-bottom.html

There are some pics of the process in there..

robertbartsch

Interesting narrative and pictures....

I notice the back wheels are on ramps.... why? ...those creepers must be super strong!

72ChevelleConv.LS1

iTrader: (5)

Steel Chicken Said it like it is, I wrench on lots of stuff and was state cert. for many years. if you don't like the truth than don't ask. If you knew what the copper was from, why post such a silly ???? you should just tightet the bolts up and go on your way. I can tell you that the only way to find the prob is to take the motor down till you find the wear. Lots of people will tell you how to get buy, but it WON'T FIX any thing. Sorry you didn't like him busting your chops, but he is the post that tells you what you should do. Old VS new? New is best. why pay me to do it twice whrn your worne out cheep fix blows up too. SORRY for the bad out look on the problem at hand but, you did ask and we did answear......