Cost of Cam & Clutch
Discussion
My second post in the TVR forum as my quest for a good car goes on.
The car I am looking at has just over 60k miles. I can't see any evidence of a clutch receipt, but I do have an observation form a service in 2010 thath No. 5 cam looks worn.
Based on the general view that seems to be clutch 30k miles & cam 50k miles, what potential costs (or bargaining chip) could I be facing?
Grateful as ever.
The car I am looking at has just over 60k miles. I can't see any evidence of a clutch receipt, but I do have an observation form a service in 2010 thath No. 5 cam looks worn.
Based on the general view that seems to be clutch 30k miles & cam 50k miles, what potential costs (or bargaining chip) could I be facing?
Grateful as ever.
Torquemada said:
Maybe not much help to you, but just for the record I am still on the original clutch and cam at 70,000 miles.
and to be even less helpful, my cam was changed at 28K and clutch at 55K. I think costs were about £1100-1200 and £500-600 respectively, or in that ballpark.Just out of curiosity - how would you check for wear on the cam during a service?
I thought there were only really two ways:
1. Remove the inlet manifold (not a service task - unless the gasket needed replacing), which isn't a small job really. Inspect the lobes visually, and if they're very worn yo umay be able to tell??
2. Remove the rocker covers and the rockers, to check with a dial gauge. Am I correct in thinking with the rockers in place the valve springs will push up on the rocker and down on the pushrod consequently compressing the lifter - and you won't get an accurate reading??? Unless you have solid lifters??
Maybe, there is an easy way....
I thought there were only really two ways:
1. Remove the inlet manifold (not a service task - unless the gasket needed replacing), which isn't a small job really. Inspect the lobes visually, and if they're very worn yo umay be able to tell??
2. Remove the rocker covers and the rockers, to check with a dial gauge. Am I correct in thinking with the rockers in place the valve springs will push up on the rocker and down on the pushrod consequently compressing the lifter - and you won't get an accurate reading??? Unless you have solid lifters??
Maybe, there is an easy way....
I was first alerted to the possibility of cam wear following a disappointing rolling road run.
Measuring cam wear using a DTI on the rockers is not ideal given the hydraulic followers.
However it can give you a general idea of cam condition.
Here are my measurements using the DTI method.
To me they seemed to indicate it was worth pulling the cam.
And here is what the cam looked like when it came out.
Confirming the DTI method still has it's merits even in an engine with hydraulic followers.
Measuring cam wear using a DTI on the rockers is not ideal given the hydraulic followers.
However it can give you a general idea of cam condition.
Here are my measurements using the DTI method.
To me they seemed to indicate it was worth pulling the cam.
And here is what the cam looked like when it came out.
Confirming the DTI method still has it's merits even in an engine with hydraulic followers.
jeboa said:
Chimpman, that's pretty conclusive - good to know that it could be checked that way - certainly simpler than removing the inlet manifold or rockers.
I'd still be curious how it was identified on a service though....
Yep, DTI measurements followed the lobe measurements once the cam was pulled.I'd still be curious how it was identified on a service though....
My old cam wasn't that bad actually but the exhaust lobe on cylinder no 3 cylinder was dead with others following (excuse the punn), this was exactly as my DTI measurements had indicated.
I wouldn't say the DT measurement method is perfect, far from it, but as an indicator of cam wear it worked for me.
Of cause the main reason I chose to do it this way was convenience, given all the other methods are quite invasive and time consuming I think measuring this way definitely has it's place.
I didn't actually fit the cam myself, it was done by Rob Robertson, when the valley gasket came off his comment was that the cam really didn't look bad at all.
He even kindly offered to abort the job based on the initial visual inspection, but to me it made sense to press on & fit the Stealth cam I was looking forward to.
It wasn't until the cam was fully extracted that you could reliably see the wear, the followers were also dished.
My point is, even after taking half the top of the engine off its not always immediately obvious how worn the cam is based on a visual inspection.
The DTI method was quick and easy and proved to accurately locate the worn lobes, so if you suspect your cam is on the way out I would certainly recommend the method.
Just remember, although it worked perfectly in my case, I still wouldn't say it's infallible given the hydraulic lifters.
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