cam cap dilema

[Ineedboostman]

I have 2g head off my fiends carthat is mint. No warping or anything. My head is warped bad so im not even gonna bother with it. Only problem is he doesnt remeber where the cam caps are for the good head. So i put the junk head caps on the good head and they all matched up nice. I cant feel any seems or even catch my nail on it. Am i good to go or is this a bad idea? Anyone ever have to do this before?

 

[delta448]

If you are going to transplant caps from another head and do it properly, you should have the cam journals align honed. However we both know you probably won't. So, just be cautious as you install the cams, torque the head bolts/studs to spec, assembly-lube the cams well and make sure there is no grinding or change in resistance when you spin the cam. If there is, don't try to use them.

 

[1992awdlaser]

If you are going to transplant caps from another head and do it properly, you should have the cam journals align honed. However we both know you probably won't. So, just be cautious as you install the cams, torque the head bolts/studs to spec, assembly-lube the cams well and make sure there is no grinding or change in resistance when you spin the cam. If there is, don't try to use them.

Agreed 100%. Make sure you try to turn them when the head is off the engine to make sure they are turning smoothly.

 

[Squirrel8811]

also plastigauge it. That will tell you more then "this feels ok".

 

[delta448]

Plastiguage is rudimentary at best in measuring bearing clearances. I'm sure you might be able to carefully use it in 90 degree increments with some success here, but since the head is subject to more twisting distortion when properly torqued to the block, the measurements probably aren't even as accurate as regular plastiguage bearing measurements anyway. Using a fine increment dial torque wrench on the cam sprockets to measure resistance will give you more info about how distorted the cam journals are under stress. Personally I haven't found enough justification to own a dial torque wrench that accurately measures single digit inch-pounds, I imagine the majority of the rest don't own one either.

I don't condemn or condone measuring cam journal clearance with plastiguage, but it's not the best method IMO. If it works for you, I'm glad.

 

[BogusSVO]

the chances are not good that you can swap cam caps from one head to another

but if you must... pop the followers and HLAs out, install just the cam and torque the caps and see if the cams will spin by hand good and smooth ( I doubt it)

How bad it the other head warped?