D.I.Y Camshaft replacement - how hard and long ?

[dellyend1]

Morning Gents,

I'm after any views from those that have undertaken the replacement of a camshaft and all ancillaries that go with this as to how hard they found it and how many hours it took. The reason I am asking is that I am thinking of this as the winter project, but having been on the RPI engineering website I have scared myself sh*tl*ss with what is required and difficulties / problems. I'm not inferring any negative comments on the RPI site as it is very informative , more about some help in deciphering what they are saying.

I'm assuming at present that the cam can be removed with the engine in situ ?

I will need to replace the cam, cam chain, rocker shafts and tappets. I'm not sure about the pre-loading of the tappets as advised on the website ?

Please excuse the perceived levels of naivety, but we all have to start somewhere

Many Thanks

Jeremy

[TJC46]

I did mine earlier this year, and although mechanically very savvy, i too was a little concerned before i started.

The RPI website is a mine of info and very useful too.

It can be done with the engine still in the car but

I removed the engine, and left the gearbox in situ, as i wanted to change the clutch at the same time.

Doing the cam change on the bench was pretty straight forward, and i contacted TVR Power concerning preloads etc.

Their reply was if it is a standard 4.0 ltr Tvr cam, and you intend to change it like for like, then you should not need to set the preload. They are the same so the tolerances should be within limits.

Its when you start fitting higher lift cams, that the preloads need to be changed.

I purchased everything from TVR Power, they do a camshaft kit which includes followers, gaskets, and seals etc.

Important point is to have the distributer in the correct position, and to mark its position exactly, before you remove it. This makes the rebuild easy, and as in my case, the car starts first time as the timing is the same. Again keeping the timing the

same, assumes it was correct in the first place, and that you are again, just swapping like for like. Some of the wilder cams need the timing either advancing or retarding slightly, to enable them to perform as they should.

Good luck if you go ahead and tackle this job, and if you need any advice or pointers etc, just ask. There is plenty of knowledge on this forum.

Edited by TJC46 on Friday 17th July 17:43

[QBee]

I have watched my TVR guy strip out a damaged cam with the engine in the car. I didn't see him fit the new one, but assume that he would have removed the engine first if that was required.

[sheel]

Good advice from TJC, one thing to be very careful about is removing the old cam thro the bearing shells, it is easy to drop the shaft as you withdraw it and damage the bearings with the sharp cam lobes, I know I did it and had to replace the bearings, apart from that its all pretty straight forward, watch out when lifting the manifold and valley gasket for crud dropping into the V
Rich

[Harlan_Koavcs]

I've bought a TVR! I've joined Pistonheads!

1. lifegoals win.

Now I've just found out I may need a new camshaft for my Chim450 and I'm looking for a specialist recommendation. While I'm pretty mechanically savvy, I'm not sure I want to undertake this job myself in a single garage. I've never worked on a car where the camshaft is in a V. Totally new ground for me.

I'm in Hampshire but can travel if there are good recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

Mark

[Engineer1949]

if you fancy getting in amongst it yourself i am willing to steer you through the job and do as much as you would like me to do, downside is i am in norfolk but its not a long job so long as everything goes according to plan so you could book a b and b locally just a thought.


john

[QBee]

John is a top engineer, and you will get the satisfaction of doing it yourself without the risk of getting it wrong. He won’t let you cock it up make a mess of anything. I have watched him working in the pits at Snetterton when a mutual friend’s brand new cam proved faulty. The two of them worked at speed, stripping down the top of the engine, with hardly a word needed. Deep respect.

Oh, and he has a variety of TVR projects to look over.

[Yex 450]

Another vote for John based on the threads he has posted on here

I can also suggest Dan Taylor at Taylor TVR in Aylesford Kent. Dan has looked after my 450 for a while now and also fitted a new camshaft to it last year that transformed the car driving wise.

[ukMatt]

Harlan_Koavcs said:

I've bought a TVR! I've joined Pistonheads!

1. lifegoals win.

Now I've just found out I may need a new camshaft for my Chim450 and I'm looking for a specialist recommendation. While I'm pretty mechanically savvy, I'm not sure I want to undertake this job myself in a single garage. I've never worked on a car where the camshaft is in a V. Totally new ground for me.

I'm in Hampshire but can travel if there are good recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

Mark

Hi I can highly recommend Southways in Fareham, TVR specialists great to deal with and treat your car as if it were their own.

[mk1fan]

Southways, John (Engineer1949) and Mat Smith all get my vote.

I have used Taylor TVR on a couple of occasions (and am due back there in two weeks for some pre TD checks) without complaint too.

If you want to stay in Hamps then Southways would be my choice.

[mk1fan]

Oh and 'how hard and long?' where are all the childish comments??

[black_potato]

How long do you think it would take to do a cam swap & what else would you do, i.e. rockers. Is it a realistic to complete it in a days work with somebody like john ?

[QBee]

mk1fan said:

Southways, John (Engineer1949) and Mat Smith all get my vote.

I have used Taylor TVR on a couple of occasions (and am due back there in two weeks for some pre TD checks) without complaint too.

If you want to stay in Hamps then Southways would be my choice.

Couldn't have put it better myself.
Don't know if Southways will give you ramp/workshop space and hold your hand or not.
John Halstead certainly will do as he offered.
Mat Smith probably would if a) he isn't choccablock with work and cars and b) there is a ramp available.

[Litcoat]

You know what you need John, a nice holiday in the Lake district, I just live on the edge of this beautiful place, you could maybe fetch a super charger kit and any other bits and bobs that may be required and stick them on my car, the wife may even do b& b, just a thought;)

Mark

[Classic Chim]

If it’s not really going to save you any money then just let the pro do the work and watch what he does, if he doesn’t mind. I’d be doing so many checks and measurements it would take me three days, let alone put someone else off with daft questions.
As with any mechanical task it’s a process of removing and undoing things in a precise order that give you access to the Cam. It’s a lot of work for one day I reckon but having never done it I’d not know.

I’m a bit like this mind,
At that stage where I want to take Engine apart just to put it back together
Just so I know I can if stuck in France one day

Film it maybe, speed it up, John working like a navvi
Sorry John, total respect sir.

You’ll always be able to refer to it then

[Engineer1949]

great idea mr. classic chim well up for how to videos so long as someone does the filming not my thing.


john

[Boosted LS1]

On the brinell scale it's pretty hard and almost 2 ft long. :-)

[Boosted LS1]

mk1fan said:

Oh and 'how hard and long?' where are all the childish comments??

Mine's above. I hadn't seen your post.

[Classic Chim]

Engineer1949 said:

great idea mr. classic chim well up for how to videos so long as someone does the filming not my thing.


john

Many years ago I was looking at a Challenger Jag to build, I was loaned a VHS video of the build and it looked all so easy
Kids came along and we moved on to Volvo instead

It’s got to be worth doing a pucker job and selling them online or something as your giving away many skills for free otherwise.
Loads of people do it I suppose but a complete resto etc, really difficult if you need a cameraman every day.
So a TV series then
Series one
chimeara build in 7 shows
You might be photogenic
Talk to Channel 4

Ok back to the point,
Cam change
If your handy with the spanner’s another pair of hands can only help

Edited by Classic Chim on Friday 2nd February 20:51

[mk1fan]

I copyright this.

'Road to Griffith'

A series of programs leading up to the release of the new TVR where a model is stripped down. Made good. And rebuilt. Say 2 one-hour shows per car. Bit of background info on the model and focus in on the models mechanical foibles.