Anyone ever have to replace just one cam cap?

[little-razcal]

I just purchased a 1g head that has extensive porting and polishing done but the only thing that is wrong is that it is missing 1 cam cap. The rest of the caps are from the original head and are all there. I unfortunetly made the rookie mistake of purchaseing something before doing as much research as I could do. I since have read up and found it is not a wise to swap a diff. cam cap from that of the original head. My questions..I only need to replace just one cam cap and wanted to know what type of work has to be done to make it work? Do I need to get work on all the rest of the caps to match the work on the newer cap? How much is it to align a new cam cap? Do I get a new O.E.M. cap and align that?

I will be running all new BC springs, retainers, 272's ect... and really don't want to mess my new cams up or the head itself. Has anyone ever have to replace just one cam cap? I know it would be better just to go ahead and get a new base head with new caps, but this head has big bucks in work done allready and I don't want to have to drop more money to get the same work done to a new head. Peace.....

 

[whe3ls]

id take it to a machinist with another cam cap and see if he can help. personly id say away for BC springs.

 

[joe sobo]

i think the head will have to be dis-assebled, and then have that cam side "line-bored". so technically, you will have to have all of the cam caps checked and possibly some removed from them to make the bore straight again

 

[little-razcal]

Yea..I think I will stay away from the BC parts..I just found a bunch of neg. info on them.. As for the info on the cam caps........ I plan on bringing it to the machine shop but was just wondering how big a deal this was. I read a couple posts on this forum about it saying you need the originals because it costs big cake to have a shop align them.....Im hoping because it needs just the one that it won't be that bad...Should I get a new o.e.m cap or would a used cap from another 6 bolt be ok? How much u guys think this is going to cost me? Thanks

 

[whe3ls]

im not sure on cost but it needs to be line honed to make sure every thing is the same diameter. if you have one it should be fine to use. you can always ask the machinist. just make sure the machinist understands what needs to happen. also make use to bring a cam and tell them that it cant get bigger in diameter than the journals

 

[BogusSVO]

the valves, springs will have to be removed from at a min, that one side, then the cam caps will be cut just a little, then installed and torqued to spec and lined honed.

it will cost about $120-$150 to have done, Thats just my best guess on the price

I doubt you can get a "new" OEM cap... you will need to take one or tow from a junk head