Chimaera cam and top end techie advise please
Chimaera cam and top end techie advise please
Author
Discussion

smeggie

Original Poster:

6 posts

181 months

Thursday 25th September 2014
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Dear all, I'm slowly, no, very slowly rebuilding a battered old Chim I acquired about 6 years ago. Its been sitting around, but work is now progressing every time I manage get back to UK from overseas. Couple of questions for you techie experts if I may, and please excuse my ignorance.
I have replaced the 51 cam like for like, as the old one had two literally round lobes! Everything has gone together nicely on my engine stand, but there are two items which are bugging me. Firstly what holds the cam in place? I see some websites sell a lovely little cam plate which bolts into the block, but my block being a very early 4.0 one has no such fittings? It seems as though the thing just floats and is maybe trapped in place once the cover is fitted over the chain. Secondly there only seems to be one oil feed into the rocker at one end? I would have expected one at either end and the head gaskets have holes for them. Again is this an early standard design which maybe explains the rounded lobes previously mentioned. Appreciate your advice as I don't want to go any further with the engine rebuild until I know I haven't dropped a clanger somewhere!

phazed

22,471 posts

233 months

Friday 26th September 2014
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Come on guys, give the man some info!

IIRC, the precat cam was held in place by the distributor.

You will need the retaining plate if you are converting to MS, Emerald or similar and losing the distributer.

As for the oil feed, haven't a clue.......

carsy

3,019 posts

194 months

Friday 26th September 2014
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You cant loose the dizzy if its a pre serp as it drives the oil pump.

Yes you are right, on the earlier engines all that holds the cam in place is the dizzy and timing cover probably with a bit off help from the timing chain as well, if its still tight that is.

phazed

22,471 posts

233 months

Friday 26th September 2014
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Oil pump, doh, I knew that!

smeggie

Original Poster:

6 posts

181 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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Appreciate your advice with the cam which settles my doubts and I'll carry on with the rebuild as planned. The oil feed still bothers me. Its not so much a heads issue as you rightly point out has two feeds; but the block only has one which matches up with one of the head and gasket holes? Thanks guys. Wait 'til I get stuck into the wiring loom! If anyone has a contact for a new loom I'd be grateful. The original is nearly 25 years old now and, due to the long storage and moving about, all my carefully placed labels have fallen off.

NZ fan

312 posts

163 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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I think you will find the heads have an oil feed each end so they can be used on either side of the engine (both heads identical)

smeggie

Original Poster:

6 posts

181 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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Ah, now that makes sense. So there is only one feed and hole feeding each head; the other is surplus. Excellent.