Frozen camshaft, how big of deal is it?

My skill has been changing a belt (not damaged but servicing) on a v6 pathfinder and a head gasket on a 6cyl cressida 79. Now my cressida 86 double ohc (freerunning engine) died and I new it was the timing belt from the sound. Getting it all apart, the belt was sheared off its teeth and the exhaut cam is very hard to turn relative to the over and the lobes had slight rust. I just changed the oil, a heavier wieght. Is the problem sovled if I can rotate it with a little 10 40 or its major like a head change and all that. I winning cause this is the third car about to be totaled in two years and I ran out of money. First car caught fire because of a small power steering drip, the second car (ca) was always kicked out of smug tests before completion and now this really sucks with this third car with the belt that was maintained for all quotes there is an equally opposite quote

Reply to
Askari
Loading thread data ...

Bummer. If teeth are missing off the belt & one cam is much harder to turn, chances are very good that you bent some valve stems. It sounds like you have the skills to remove the head. I would do this at the minimum. If you're lucky, the pistons/rods/crank are OK. I would not try to run without checking the valves, or you run the risk of totally munching what is left of the engine.

If you want to try something a little easier, remove the suspect cam and pull the valve springs. Check out easy the valves are to move up & down. Twirl them to see if the stem is bent. You'll need some wire around the stem, or air pressure in the cylinder to keep the valves from falling into the cylinder when you remove the springs.

Good luck.

-Jeff Deeney-

Reply to
Jeff Deeney

I checked with a mechanic and he said its unlikely the valve and pistons are damaged because its a non interferience type engine. I can get the cam to turn now but it still hard and squeiks. I don,t think it loose enough for the the belt to turn it yet. for all quotes there is an equally opposite quote

Reply to
Askari

Did you run it out of oil? Did the oil pressure light come on? It sounds like you had an oiling problem of some sort. Bob

Reply to
Bob

Seems like there is some problem with the bearing/bushing surfaces the cam is mounted on.

Reply to
Brent P

Yes, if the head warped, the cam journals would no longer be true and cause the cam to bind.

Bob

Reply to
BOB URZ

the freeze occured while the engin was cold and no oil light came on but I had added a stop leak product which was thick. The cams were slightly rusted on the stiff side. I read up on this and think Bob is right ( warped head) . the cam sits directly in the block made of alluminum. I got my answer, it will be costly from here on. Any engin replacements short of new has its own risks. the car is not worth a new engin. for all quotes there is an equally opposite quote

Reply to
Askari

after reading some new info about overhead cams and how they sit directly in the aluminum block, I agree with you. And it will cost alot. I don,t know if its worth it since their are all the other things that are old to. for all quotes there is an equally opposite quote

Reply to
Askari

If the head is warped it's possible a good engine shop can fix it. There is such a shop here in SE PA. L&M Engines

215-675-8485
Reply to
Chas Hurst

If your doing the work yourself, take the head off and find a recommendation for a good machine shop. You can try to have the warp straightened, and then the journals trued up. No guarantee you can do this, but it might be worth a shot. Also check for some local junkyards or autoparts shops that may sell rebuilt heads and take your core in trade. A buddy of mine works at a machine shop and i have seem some heads he has revived. You would be surprised.

Bob

Reply to
BOB URZ

I would have to take the head of and apart for warp checking. Then also check the cam journals and seats. ON this head there is not much room for shaving. for all quotes there is an equally opposite quote

Reply to
Askari

I am down now from to much car issues in a short time ( read my other topic on they kicked me out of smog) This is the third car with near total loss damage. The day before I just installed a new cooling system complete before the belt got sheared. I am afraid more will go wrong based on my experience.

Reply to
David Askari

Get a complete head assembly from a junkyard. Try to pick a car that was wrecked from the side or rear end, if possible.

Reply to
Steve

Thanks, but I am at the end of it. I bunch of car issues before make it so. for all quotes there is an equally opposite quote

Reply to
Askari

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.