Mmmm.. Maybe Wes Gets A New Car...

1324 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by 1fast97, Apr 2, 2004

dant98

Discussion Starter · Apr 1, 2004

We have happened on a '97 SHO with a broken cam for cheap. Wes wants to buy it and make it a summer project. We get some "kirked" cams and she'll be up and running again, then wes can sell his taurus and be "livin' in luxury" as it were.

Anyone know what a set of welded cams for the V8 SHO is?

-Dan

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mikehawk

· #2 · Apr 1, 2004

I thought that when the cams broke they bent valves and scratched cylinder walls and pistons and all that good stuff.

kjw86ca

· #3 · Apr 1, 2004

Yeah if the cams go usually you need a whole new engine. That's why so many people have to junk it. I know when the cams went on ours it sounded like a tractor. Never did find out what ended up happening with it. *shurg*

Dan...is Wes your b/f or what? You guys are going on vacation together, and now buying cars together? Heh...

dant98

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 1, 2004

Rereading the description I see he says that the "cam gear" is broken and that the engine turns over, but the heads aren't moving cause of the broken cam. Does that sounds right? Maybe the teeth are striped of the cam sproket?

-Dan

kjw86ca

· #5 · Apr 1, 2004

Could be. I don't know too much about it. When it happened to us the car just lost power and sounded like a tractor. It was really loud and bad!

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dant98

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 1, 2004

Originally posted by kjw86ca@Apr 1 2004, 11:33 AM
Yeah if the cams go usually you need a whole new engine. That's why so many people have to junk it. I know when the cams went on ours it sounded like a tractor. Never did find out what ended up happening with it. *shurg*

Dan...is Wes your b/f or what? You guys are going on vacation together, and now buying cars together? Heh...

Hey! The vacation is to Monterey, CA, not San Fransisco!

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kjw86ca

· #7 · Apr 1, 2004

Hey...it's close enough! I was just wondering...we would still like you Dan.

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mobiuslogic

· #8 · Apr 1, 2004

I would take the head off the block that toasted the cam and look at the cylinder and the valves. It may turn over, but the valves and the pistons are still duking it out..

Yeah, nothing but ugliness for sure.

-mobiuslogic

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Wessy

· #9 · Apr 1, 2004

ok I don't get where you guys are talking about the pistions what does that have to do w/ a cam gear??? I understand if a CAM breaks then that could send the valves into the piston but not the cam gear that's outside the motor in it's own lil case w/ the timing chain. Is it not???

zeptoplix

· #10 · Apr 1, 2004

Since the cam is not spinning the valves are remaining stationary, some up some down, and if they are down, the piston comes up and makes contact, it most cases, damage occurs depending on the design of the engine. The V8 is interference.

sixfofalcon

· #11 · Apr 1, 2004

Originally posted by Zeptoplix@Apr 1 2004, 01:59 PM
Since the cam is not spinning the valves are remaining stationary, some up some down, and if they are down, the piston comes up and makes contact, it most cases, damage occurs depending on the design of the engine. The V8 is interference.

Exactly

If the engine is cranking over but the cam(s) aren't turning, you are probably looking at replacing at least one piston, some bent valves, valve guides, and at least one cam on that head. This is at a minimum. You'd probably be well-advised to find a replacement head (fully loaded w/ cams, valves, etc.) You might also need to do the connecting rods on the affected pistons, related bearings, cylinder sleeves (I don't know if these engines can be re-sleeved or not.)

I think there is an engine or two belonging to V8SHO.com member(s) that has little smiley faces on the pistons and is still running.

I guess the head was replaced and the damaged pistons were left in as is. I wouldn't chance it, but I'm no engine rebuilder, so that wouldn't be a call I'd be willing to make for someone else. My opinion is that the lower end of the engine isn't built up for valves to be slamming into the piston face, so once that happens more parts would be damaged down there. I could be wrong though.

If you are really serious about this project, call up Kirk Doucette or Brad Hogue and find out what it will take to get you back in business.

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sixfofalcon

· #12 · Apr 1, 2004

Originally posted by dant98@Apr 1 2004, 11:34 AM
Rereading the description I see he says that the "cam gear" is broken and that the engine turns over, but the heads aren't moving cause of the broken cam. Does that sounds right? Maybe the teeth are striped of the cam sproket?

-Dan

The teeth on the cam sprocket are fine. The sprocket is probably spinning on the cam. That's how the failure starts... the sprocket "walks" from side-to-side on the cam until it is loose enough to spin independently of the cam. Then you have variable valve timing

on an engine that wasn't designed for it.

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baby sho

· #13 · Apr 1, 2004

plan on buying a new engine just to be safe, otherwise, like the above said, you have probblay killed some valves and maybe at least one piston by craniking it over.

Brad

G

· #14 · Apr 2, 2004

Most times, if the engine was stopped and not cranked any further, there is only valve damage. At that point, it's cheaper to replace the head. Usually the piston is OK, but it sounds like this guy has cranked the engine many times. Better to check it out throtoughly before buying it.

1fast97

· #15 · Apr 2, 2004

<cough>e-bay parts<cough>

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