Broken Camshaft
LoMbArD
05-25-2011, 10:33 PM
OK, so my motor started missing. Changed plugs, changed a couple of the coils, still no go. Took it to a shop and they said it was a headgasket. So I drove it home and started digging into it. Well. . .I got it "almost" home. It died right before I got to my house.
Anyway, I got it in my garage and started taking it apart and when I got the passengers side valve cover off the camshaft was broken in half. The back half (cyl. 6 and 8) is seized up, one of the bearings is black and it will not rotate at all. I'm thinking that is why the cam broke. I am blessed because all the valves were in the closed position when it broke. I'll find out for sure when I get the head off tomorrow night, but I don't think I am going to find any damage to the pistons. At least not on 6, and 8. Thinking it was bad electric or a head gasket (what the mechanic said) I drove it sparingly, and never heard any kind of metallic banging/knocking/tapping whatsoever. Until right before I got it home. I found out tonight it was because the front half of the camshaft broke out and sheared the bolts holding the camshaft in place. When I got the valve cover off the rockers and everything else was sitting in a pile at the bottom. Hopefully all those valves stayed closed the whole time as well.
Anyway, on to the questions.
What do I need to do as far as timing is concerned? I think the front half is in time, it's still attached to the chain and all that.
Praying that I don't have damage to my pistons (or even if I do) where can I buy parts like that? Autozone only offers performance cams. Any suggestions for internal engine parts?
Thanks!
-Lombard
Anyway, I got it in my garage and started taking it apart and when I got the passengers side valve cover off the camshaft was broken in half. The back half (cyl. 6 and 8) is seized up, one of the bearings is black and it will not rotate at all. I'm thinking that is why the cam broke. I am blessed because all the valves were in the closed position when it broke. I'll find out for sure when I get the head off tomorrow night, but I don't think I am going to find any damage to the pistons. At least not on 6, and 8. Thinking it was bad electric or a head gasket (what the mechanic said) I drove it sparingly, and never heard any kind of metallic banging/knocking/tapping whatsoever. Until right before I got it home. I found out tonight it was because the front half of the camshaft broke out and sheared the bolts holding the camshaft in place. When I got the valve cover off the rockers and everything else was sitting in a pile at the bottom. Hopefully all those valves stayed closed the whole time as well.
Anyway, on to the questions.
What do I need to do as far as timing is concerned? I think the front half is in time, it's still attached to the chain and all that.
Praying that I don't have damage to my pistons (or even if I do) where can I buy parts like that? Autozone only offers performance cams. Any suggestions for internal engine parts?
Thanks!
-Lombard
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