Camshaft cap

[daren]

Does anyone have a camshaft cap from an aby that they'd like to be relieved of?
it's the thin one that sits at the front of the inlet cam, Mine has decided it would rather be in two pieces

Thanks,
Daren

[AndyP]

You can't just swap individual caps as they are all line bored on the head. You will need to find a replacement and get them all re-bored or find a new head. Sorry

[daren]

You will need to find a replacement and get them all re-bored or find a new head

That's what i'm hoping to do, the head is at the machine shop now waiting for a cap to play with..

[AndyP]

In that case, I think I have one. Let me go and have a look in the garage.

[hoffer76]

I have cam caps and a friend runs an engine shop in Poole,Dorset if you get stuck he will can fix cheaply.

[AndyP]

Found it, if you want it, PM me your address and I'll put it it the post

[daren]

Andy, pm sent..

Thanks Daren

[UrS4boy]

Does anyone have a camshaft cap from an aby that they'd like to be relieved of?it's the thin one that sits at the front of the inlet cam, Mine has decided it would rather be in two pieces Thanks,Daren

As AndyP has pointed out, the camshaft caps were rifle bored with that particular head and are, in theory, unique to that head.

Two things:

1. How did you break it? (Confession time). This will be a service to the UrS community because we will know what not to do. (Sorry)

2. This is a real flyer (no garantee): I *wonder* if the cap can be welded (on the top and sides (perhaps) while secure in place in the head. Serious precautions to prevent splatter and a very high aluminium welding skill set will be required.

[daren]

How did you break it? (Confession time). This will be a service to the UrS community because we will know what not to do

Nothing to hide really, removed cams to have valves reground refitted cams making sure i spread the tension over all the caps, didn't get to torque tightness and it broke, The cap also has a small crack coming from one of the stud holes, I'm getting the feeling that the cap isn't the correct one for the head.

Hopefully Andy is sending me one to play with i can use this as a template to make a blank that can be machined to put the hole in the correct place or can be filled with weld and bored again. I'll let you know how it works out.

[AndyP]

It'll be in the post tomorrow.

[UrS4boy]

Cam Cap Tightening Procedure

Daren: I wonder whether you *might* have had the cam bearing cap flipped end for end. When you stand on the exhaust side of the head, the numbers are upside down. From the inlet side, they are right side up, as per the diagram below. If you flip a cam cap, end for end, it will be misaligned, potentially causing it to crack and break.

[JP]

The small one isn't stamped with a number, however if you look you'll see they have a recess on one corner of all the caps, make sure these are all facing the same direction.

[UrS4boy]

The small one isn't stamped with a number, however if you look you'll see they have a recess on one corner of all the caps, make sure these are all facing the same direction.

If we are talking the "cap" at the very front of the exhaust cam, the one that holds the cam seal in place, then I am guessing that one from another car will very likely fit OR you could try welding it (on the outside surfaces) since it is not really taking much stress, just enough to keep the camshaft seal in place and not leaking.

[daren]

Andyp,
The cap arrived today, many thanks, let me know if you want anything for it...

UrS4boy, Interesting diagrams.
I replaced the caps in the same position as they were removed (this is a secondhand engine) I noticed that caps 6 and 9 were on the wrong place, having had a play this morning they are infact interchangable.

Maybe i got lucky and didn't get a friday afternoon head

Thanks all for your help.

[AndyP]

Pretty good service from Royal Snail!!

I don't want anything for it, the head it was on is scrap so it's no good to me. Let me know if you manage to save it.