How do you know if a camshaft is wearing ??
How do you know if a camshaft is wearing ??
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Discussion

simonb9

Original Poster:

13,017 posts

258 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
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I've heard that the camshaft can wear at around 50,000 miles on the RV8, what are the tell tale signs that one is wearing or already needs replacing ?? What tests can you do there and then if you go to view a car privately ??

jonnyb

2,590 posts

282 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
quotequote all
An annoying ticking noise from the engine is usualy a sign. But as I found out this can be caused by other factors. Also being down on power and/or rough running. But again both these can be caused by other things.

Advice would be to check for regular servicing, take the oil cap off and have a look into the engine, if its black, this is bad. It should be a light brown colour if its been looked after. But again there is no guarantee.

captiv8ed

822 posts

241 months

Monday 26th March 2007
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As previously said, ticking sounds are often to be heard. Also, listen to the tappets on overrun. They dump their oil when worn and you'll hear them clattering as the engine settles at tickover. My cam is almost certainly shot. I have one og the stethoscope thingies (RS Components £not much) and I can hear it ticking like a good un around the tappets close to the oil filler cap. I'm told you can also tell with a heat sensing gun which some dealers have. Apparently, they'll read each exhaust header and there will be differnces where the lobes are worn. After that though, you need to remove the plenum, inlet and rockers to see the top of the cam.

simonb9

Original Poster:

13,017 posts

258 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies. Thought I could hear a bit of a ticking noise ona car I looked but maybe I'm just a bit paraniod about things when I stick my head into an engine bay !! Will have to ask for a second opinion I think before I take the plunge.......

TVR Pablo

79 posts

256 months

Monday 26th March 2007
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I could tell mine was going when the power started to drop off at the top end and there was almost like a misfire. Initially at 6k rpm, but then gradually worked down towards 5k as it got more worn.

cloggy

4,959 posts

239 months

Monday 26th March 2007
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So what is the cost of having a new one put in or is this a complete engine rebuild and what phone numbers are we talking then?

simonb9

Original Poster:

13,017 posts

258 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
cloggy said:
So what is the cost of having a new one put in or is this a complete engine rebuild and what phone numbers are we talking then?


Thought I had heard about 600 quid at an independant TVR place but could be wrong.......

jonnyb

2,590 posts

282 months

Tuesday 27th March 2007
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A new cam shaft with lifters, timing chain and sprockets, new push rods, and valve springs. Supplied and fitted with all gaskets and bolts is about £1k from V8D. The kit itself is about £500-600 and then the rest is labour. As Im fitting mine I can vouch that the labour cost is quite reasonable.

jonathant

880 posts

314 months

Tuesday 27th March 2007
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FWIW that's about how much I paid for mine (all in) when it went.

TVR Pablo

79 posts

256 months

Tuesday 27th March 2007
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The real question now is which one to upgrade to...