engine or camshaft

[clarehutch]

My brothers Corsa C 05 plate just snapped its camshaft the other day. Would it be cheaper putting an engine in or a camshaft ? Any advice would be great thanks.

[Defcon5]

Has it caused any other damage?

[clarehutch]

Its the exhaust cam thats snapped, trying to get hold of a cam to try it. Got the chance of a 1.2 cam out of a 51 plate sxi, hoping this will fit my 1.4 sri. Been told it should.

[Defcon5]

It would be a lot better to get on of the same engine - the dutations will be different.

There will be plenty of Z14XE engines in scrapyards, get one from there

[duncancallum]

I'd be asking why has it snapped first.

They're prone to timing chain failure. But I have never heard of a cam failing.

[Pumaracing]

duncancallum said:

I'd be asking why has it snapped first.

They're prone to timing chain failure. But I have never heard of a cam failing.

Tends to be quite common on 2v diesels when the valves hit the pistons hard but diesels have vertical valves which can impart a right old whack to the cam. Isn't so common on 4v engines. The valves bend easily.

Anyway if the cam snapped then a bunch of valves must have hit the pistons too so the cam is likely to be the least of the OP's worries.

[GavinPearson]

Realistically the only way to tell is to pull the head off and take a look. If the valves are still in one piece, and the pistons are still serviceable, then it may be possible to clean up the head and salvage the engine.

In my experience, 'getting away' with the above is highly unlikely. Start getting quotes on a replacement engine - whether secondhand or remanufactured.

[Defcon5]

duncancallum said:

They're prone to timing chain failure.

Its a belt on the 1.4

[stevieturbo]

Think I read ages ago that some Vauxhall engines are prone to some of the cam carrier bolts coming loose.

Guess that could lead to failure.

[duncancallum]

If its a belt driven one then the cam from a 1.2 chain drive wont work.

The only time I have seen cams break is when the cambelt or chains failed. At that point its a big expense.

I just don't get the cam failing all on its own.