Discussion
Engine stripped down, camshaft out and as far as I can see the front cam-bearing is quite scored and has a deep scratch around the top of the bearing, not across. The others appear ok. Any idea’s of how I can remove and replace the front cam-bearing without engine out or purchasing the professional tool?
Any suggestions greatfully received!
Tvr Chimaera 450 1998.
Any suggestions greatfully received!
Tvr Chimaera 450 1998.
Tyre Smoke said:
It's a bog standard Rover engine. Any workshop should be able to get that out for you.
Not so 
you will struggle with the block in situ 
and getting a split cam bearing out is one thing but fitting the superior solid 360 degree style back needs a correct tool to draw the bearings into position unless you dont mind frigging up the block bearing housing of course , I would never ever renew just one cam bearing on the RV8 
one thing that strikes me as strange is wear is usually concentrated to the lower 90 degrees of the bearings as this is wear all the load is 
if the bearing is damaged at the top I can only imagine someone previously as fluffed up 
Thank you Sardonicus. The main wear is on the bottom of the front cam-bearing, the scratch which I can feel with my nail is at the top and only seen with a small mirror. The others look new. I know what you are saying is right but was just hoping I could get away with replacing the front bearing and not having to get the car towed away and repaired.
Thank you too Tyre Smoke
Thank you too Tyre Smoke
Thank you Sardonicus. The main wear is on the bottom of the front cam-bearing, the scratch which I can feel with my nail is at the top and only seen with a small mirror. The others look new. I know what you are saying is right but was just hoping I could get away with replacing the front bearing and not having to get the car towed away and repaired.
Thank you too Tyre Smoke
Thank you too Tyre Smoke
These aren’t high-tech engines. If there is just a little visual wear, the remainder seems okay and the engine is still in the car then I would be inclined to leave it as the mileage is so low.
Others may disagree but if you strip any engine you will find a little wear here and there especially on these low-tech engines.
I think you should look at the whole picture and have a best guess at what the condition is throughout the engine.
We don’t know what you have done to date, fill us in?
Others may disagree but if you strip any engine you will find a little wear here and there especially on these low-tech engines.
I think you should look at the whole picture and have a best guess at what the condition is throughout the engine.
We don’t know what you have done to date, fill us in?
Thank you phazed.
My problems started in Oct 2016. Had a 12000 mile service with a well known Tvr garage and on the way home developed a really loud tapping noise. Traced the noise to n/s bank. There was some make of helicoil in the head, that wasn’t in there before. Contacted garage with photos of helicoil in head, and on removal of rocker cover I saw that a push rod was bent, and a rocker a shed half a pad. Decided to remove both heads. Needless to say the garage wanted nothing to do with it!
The cam seemed worn so stripped it all down.
Unfortunately had no time to further the work until now.
Removed the cam, that needs changing. After reading all the threads on PH have gone for a Kent cam 885 spec. That’s when I saw the wear on the front cam bearing and posted the thread.
Still haven’t found the half of the rocker pad. Hope it’s in the sump.
My problems started in Oct 2016. Had a 12000 mile service with a well known Tvr garage and on the way home developed a really loud tapping noise. Traced the noise to n/s bank. There was some make of helicoil in the head, that wasn’t in there before. Contacted garage with photos of helicoil in head, and on removal of rocker cover I saw that a push rod was bent, and a rocker a shed half a pad. Decided to remove both heads. Needless to say the garage wanted nothing to do with it!
The cam seemed worn so stripped it all down.
Unfortunately had no time to further the work until now.
Removed the cam, that needs changing. After reading all the threads on PH have gone for a Kent cam 885 spec. That’s when I saw the wear on the front cam bearing and posted the thread.
Still haven’t found the half of the rocker pad. Hope it’s in the sump.
That seems unbelievable.
What would a garage due to your engine that could have gone wrong while carrying out a service?
It seems your preloads were well out, hence your bent push rod.
Putting them all behind you the most important thing is to find the missing rocker pad and that could have only gone into the sump.
I would remove the sump and carefully go through it and see what you find. Hopefully you have a magnetic sump plug and the missing pad will be there.
If there was evidence of a lot of swarf then I would carefully remove a couple of big end caps and check the condition of your shells.
If there is and even if not I would be inclined to pull the engine, strip it down and have it professionally flushed through and start from scratch.
Not what you want to hear but that's the best solution.
What would a garage due to your engine that could have gone wrong while carrying out a service?
It seems your preloads were well out, hence your bent push rod.
Putting them all behind you the most important thing is to find the missing rocker pad and that could have only gone into the sump.
I would remove the sump and carefully go through it and see what you find. Hopefully you have a magnetic sump plug and the missing pad will be there.
If there was evidence of a lot of swarf then I would carefully remove a couple of big end caps and check the condition of your shells.
If there is and even if not I would be inclined to pull the engine, strip it down and have it professionally flushed through and start from scratch.
Not what you want to hear but that's the best solution.
Any wear in the cam bearing will be in the lower half so a scratch or mark in the upper half has likely been there from day one. Just make sure you assemble using cam lube when you fit the new cam.
Broken pad on a rocker can happen any time and in fairness to the garage they would not have been anywhere near that during a 12000 service.
Steve
Broken pad on a rocker can happen any time and in fairness to the garage they would not have been anywhere near that during a 12000 service.
Steve
I have heard that starting a V8 and high rev it when cold is not good for the engine phazed?The helicoil is also a puzzle. I bought the car when it was a few years old with very low mileage, so probably the pre-loads would have been set by the factory. And the car was running beautifully before I put it in for the service.
I would have thought that if the car was running badly then hook it up to a machine and it might indicate a problem.
Thank you both for the positive advice
I would have thought that if the car was running badly then hook it up to a machine and it might indicate a problem.
Thank you both for the positive advice
This all sounds a bit odd.
Did you take pictures of helicoil.
I can’t see why a garage would be doing heliciols on a 12,000 mile service on an otherwise (as far as we know) un worked engine.
What oil was used at this service.
Hi reving any engine cold is a very bad idea especially an RV8 with its loose tolerances that need heat to minimise.
Is this a pre serp.
Did you take pictures of helicoil.
I can’t see why a garage would be doing heliciols on a 12,000 mile service on an otherwise (as far as we know) un worked engine.
What oil was used at this service.
Hi reving any engine cold is a very bad idea especially an RV8 with its loose tolerances that need heat to minimise.
Is this a pre serp.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff