Installed a turbo cam into a n/t, now it hardly runs!

[Novablue454]

I was reading in the upgrade path section for a n/t and it said that putting a turbo intake cam into a n/t car was a good mod to do if you want a slightly larger cam without needing bigger injectors.

I currently drive a 1990 Galant n/t, but it does have the 4g63 engine. I was in the process of replacing the valve cover and then decided to pull the cam out of my 90 turbo talon (has bad rings) and put it in the galant.

I went by the HKS cam install instructions found on VFAQ (Installing Cams into a 4G63 - My Pro Street).

I followed it all exactly except for the point where you use the special tool to relieve timing belt tension. I just simply unbolted the cam gear from the cam (after it was zip tied very securely) and let it sit there. When It came time to put it on the new cam, it went on the dowel with just a little coaxing.


Now it starts and runs, but it idles way lower then it used to, it barely accelerates, and stutters. It sounds like a misfire, but I replaced all the plugs and all the wires are firing. It almost seems like the MAF is unplugged, but i triple checked that its plugged in and working.

any ideas?

 

[nobgsx]

check your timing again- it sounds like it may be off a tooth

 

[Novablue454]

when the two whitemarks on the cam gears align, cyl #1 isnt at tdc, its close, but not quite there.

 

[92awddsm]

You need to remove the lifters and bleed them. Anytime you remove a cam, you should always bleed the lifters. Not doing so can result in bent valves.

 

[Novablue454]

I did bleed the lifters (at least I tried to). Its done by inserting a straightened paperclip into the small hole in the top correct?

 

[93_tsi_fwd]

I did bleed the lifters (at least I tried to). Its done by inserting a straightened paperclip into the small hole in the top correct?

Correct, and did you pump all the oil in the lifter's out?

 

[silver bullit]

nt and turbo cams have different lift, and duration then each other what worls for one dont work fo the other.

Your most likely losing power to this. Take is out and see if they make a na cam.

Check your timing and from the sound of it you did not bleed the lifters.

Do a compression test correctly, or have a shop do it if you dont know how.

 

[Novablue454]

how do you pump the oil out of the lifters?

 

[spoonman]

nt and turbo cams have different lift, and duration then each other what worls for one dont work fo the other.

Your most likely losing power to this. Take is out and see if they make a na cam.

Check your timing and from the sound of it you did not bleed the lifters.

Do a compression test correctly, or have a shop do it if you dont know how.

The intake cam in a N/T head will work, I have done it and it works great, giving a little extra power in in the upper rpm's.


There is a video on Youtube called Bleeding 4g63 lifters (I can not make it link correctly), It is of someone bleeding 3g lifters, yours are very similar.

 

[Novablue454]

does anyone know where the pin you have to ground out before checking the timing is on a galant? I cant find it to save my life?

 

[Novablue454]

ok according to that video i definetly did not bleed them right. How likely is it that my valves are bent?

 

[DSM1G90]

does anyone know where the pin you have to ground

Look above the fuel filter and there will be a wrapped wire harness above the filter (which is in the DSM's), and within this wire harness, you'll see a plug with a cap over it just hanging there.

Take the cap off and inside the plug should be a single male pin connector inside the plug. This is where you attach the grounding wire to do your base timing.

Good luck - DSM

 

[Novablue454]

the compression test results are as follows. Cyl 4 = 180, Cyl 3 = 170, Cyl 2 = 155, cyl 1 = 165.

According to my Haynes, these are all within the service limit, however the maximum difference between cylinders is 14, and mines about 25.

So im not thinking i bent any valves.

 

[interex]

I find it highly unlikely that you bent any valves.

 

[93_tsi_fwd]

how do you pump the oil out of the lifters?

insert the paper clip in the hole and just pust the top of the lifter down and just keep on pumping it until you see all the oil in it out.

the compression test results are as follows. Cyl 4 = 180, Cyl 3 = 170, Cyl 2 = 155, cyl 1 = 165.

According to my Haynes, these are all within the service limit, however the maximum difference between cylinders is 14, and mines about 25.

So im not thinking i bent any valves.

You might have a leaky head gasket or might need new ring.

 

[silver bullit]

The intake cam in a N/T head will work, I have done it and it works great, giving a little extra power in in the upper rpm's.


There is a video on Youtube called Bleeding 4g63 lifters (I can not make it link correctly), It is of someone bleeding 3g lifters, yours are very similar.

Thats irrelevant, hes putting turbo cams in a nt motor, sure the cam will bolt in on all the 90-99 4g63 but the 97-99 need the cas modified.

 

[ArticNemesis]

when the two whitemarks on the cam gears align, cyl #1 isnt at tdc, its close, but not quite there.

You're timing is off. Rotate cylinder #1 to TDC, and fix it. When you rotate it to TDC, your cam timing marks are going to move away from each other. Trying to troubleshoot a problem when you don't have a good baseline isn't going to fix anything.

 

[nobgsx]

youre timing is off- some of the valves are overlapping and letting some of the compression out too soon. this and the possibility of the lifters not being bled fully are causing the compression test to be off. if you had bent valves it would be worse.

it doesnt matter about the cas as he is putting the cam in a 1990 and not a 1997 and up car.

did you take the head off? if you didnt and it was running before i dont see how the headgasket could be popped.

 

[Novablue454]

no, the head didnt come off. I went to check the timing with a light and the car doesnt have the lower timing cover on it. Awesome.

 

[silver bullit]

no, the head didnt come off. I went to check the timing with a light and the car doesnt have the lower timing cover on it. Awesome.

Head did not have to come off.



You switched cams only? You still have to take the timing belt off.