One extra step I would do if it is a used cam is to install the camshaft without the followers and make sure it is not bent. It should turn evenly without binding.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] said: > David, > I have seen this quite a few times working at the dealer and everyone > broke > in the same exact place, between the intake and exhaust lobe of the #1 > cylinder. > > While I haven't seen it in a few years because of the decline of the 2.2 > and > 2.5 powered cars every once and a while it will pop up. > > A cam swap was all that was needed and the cars went back on the road. The > first one got a new cam but after that they would come to me for a deal on > a > used cam for the car. You don't even need to change the followers, just > the cam > and you on your way. > > Hope this helps. > > Cliff Ramsdell > > In a message dated 4/4/2006 9:15:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > >> Last year my sister had her high mileage car break down for good and she >> was >> in need of a new daily driver. A local friend knew of a good deal on a >> 2.5 >> powered minivan so I thought it would be a dependable vehicle for her. I >> use >> one myself for m company minivan and it's been quite good with me. >> >> It's been pretty reliable thus far but recently she's been had an >> unusual >> problem that's been making her feel that it may be headed for a serious >> and >> expensive engine repair (which she can't afford since she was laid off >> recently). >> >> Last month without any prior warning signs it stalled out and wouldn't >> restart. I went to take a quick look at it for her and discovered it was >> a >> pretty simple problem, the timing belt had broken. Well that was common >> enough >> and it wasn't complicated or expensive to repair so I didn't feel it was >> an >> unusual. >> >> The repairs went fine and it was back on the road and running fine >> within >> days >> but what happened next I thought was real unusual. Again it stalled out >> and >> wouldn't restart. I pulled the inspection plug from the upper timing >> belt >> cover and the upper cam gear was turning so I knew the timing belt was >> turning. >> >> She had it towed to a shop where their immediate diagnosis was a blown >> head >> gasket. This made little sense to me since there was no warning signs >> and it >> had no history of or sudden last minute overheating or smoking. They >> said >> they >> ran a compression check and two cylinders were getting little to no >> pressure. >> >> I didn't feel that was the right diagnosis so she had a mechanic friend >> of >> hers work on it at his house. He somewhat agreed with their theory but >> when >> the head was pulled the head gasket looked perfect. Upon further >> inspection >> (which should have noticed once the valve cover was removed) he >> discovered >> that the roller cam had snapped between the area around the last 2 >> lobes. >> >> In a regular stock setup without extreme driving conditions I don't seem >> to >> recall seeing camshafts breaking like that. I supplied a decent 2.5 used >> roller cam that he reinstalled the head gasket &cam and it's back to >> running >> normally. >> >> Someone told her that this was a sign that the bottom end of the motor >> would >> be going out soon and the engine was on borrowed time. I was thinking >> that >> the >> cam breakage was just a fluke and possibly due to stress caused by the >> timing >> belt breaking and wouldn't have a direct influence on the lower end of >> the >> engine. Has anybody had any experiences with camshafts snapping under >> routine >> driving? If so are they having other engine problems later? >> >> David Salamone >> Positive Impressions >> Jacksonville, Florida >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> 1982 Rampage (dual carb ongoing &taking forever project show car) >> 1987 Shelby CSX #172 (awaiting front end bodywork, but with low miles) >> 1994 Voyager 2.5 (the company minivan, alive once again with another >> 2.5) >> 1979 Dodge Omni 1.7 (backup getaround car when other stuff breaks) > > -----------------------REMOVE-FOOTER-WHEN-REPLYING---------------------------- > Questions? Visit http://www.sdml.org/ > > To be removed, visit http://www.sdml.org/pages/leave.html > Thanks, Russ -----------------------REMOVE-FOOTER-WHEN-REPLYING---------------------------- Questions? Visit http://www.sdml.org/ To be removed, visit http://www.sdml.org/pages/leave.html
