Cam gear bolt broken

[evasive_one]

Well, today was supposed to be victorious.. I had just gotten my new stock springs from the junkyard (previous owner cut old springs and it drove horrible) Fixed my slipping clutch. Take it out for a drive. It drives wonderful, It was the first time I had driven the car since it hasn't slipped. Everything seems to be fine. Soon as I get back in my neighborhood. The car dies. I start the car back up and manage to get it back to the house. I look under the car and notice some oil dripping from the motor somewhere. I also notice that my Cam gear bolt has snapped and my cam gear is in the wrong spot not aligned with the cam shaft. The timing belt is still on and hasn't broken.

Horrible case of events. We just got everything fixed on the car and now this.

BTW this is a 1990 eagle talon tsi awd.

I'm just wondering if I could have some damage to the head (bent valves) I'm kinda stuck right now trying to figure out how to go about fixing this.

Anyone got any ideas or experience with this problem? I think the previous owner might have over tightened the bolt causing it to snap.

Let me know if you got anything..

Thanks

 

[LazerDude]

That sux! If the bolt is bottomed out it may have to be drilled out. A machine shop can do it for you but that will mean pulling the cam. If it isn't bottomed you may be able to turn it out but I wouldn't count on it.
Mike

 

[TotalEclipse21]

As lont as the dowel pin is still in gear and shaft then I believe nothing was damaged.

 

[blackrosenova40]

He said the cam gear is no longer aligned. Something had to kill your car, your cam gear bieng off is a very good indication you smacked a valve. Sorry

 

[evasive_one]

Dowel pin broke as well. I'm screwed..

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

How the #### does that happen. Best thing to do is take the cam out and get the bolt machined out, and then pull the head. Only way you will now how bad they hit the pistons if at all. You could do a compression test, but i wouldnt mess around with it.

James

 

[evasive_one]

Well, I took the valve cover off and started to remove the clamps holding the intake cam off (the cam that has the broken dowel pin and cam gear bolt). The clamp holding the oil seal in place had a lot of wear on it and around the head. It looks like the cam just stopped in it's place and wore the head down near the oil seal.. So, now I'm looking at buying a new head, new cam shaft, new seals, etc. I was wondering if any N/T 2.0 parts can be used to save me some money? Can I just go to the junkyard and grab a camshaft from a 2.0 N/T? I searched on here but couldn't really find my answer.

Someone please help me!

I've only driven the car a few times after fixing problem after problem and now this crap happens..

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

They would bolt up the same, but i think the lift is different. I would just buy a used head. I had one but not anymore sorry. Take the head off now. Any pics?

James

 

[evasive_one]

I'm gonna take the head off tomorrow or later tonight.. . I'm putting a whole new meaning to this labor day thing. I'll try to get pics and let you guys see what I'm talking about. I'm still shocked that this even happened. Out of all the things that could've gone wrong. One bolt cost me a lot of money.

Well, I ended up getting a new intake cam and I'm going to use my old exhaust cam. 2.0 N/T heads bolt right up. I'm going to the junk yard to get a used head today. I'll post pics if I get the time.

 

[Defiant]

Is there something about swapped cam caps you aren't telling us about?

 

[evasive_one]

No bad valves in my head that I just took off. I noticed that the area where the oil seal is located has a lot of grinding where the camshaft sits. I'm going to try and take it to a cylinder head specialist and see if they can't save my head. The one we pulled at the junk yard today was toast..

 

[evasive_one]

Is there something about swapped cam caps you aren't telling us about?

I don't understand what your trying to say here.. I haven't swapped the cam caps.. but whoever did.. didn't torque them down properly. I think this is what caused the camshaft to wear the surface area on my head down AND also break the cam gear bolt.. It's a big mess because of one freaking bolt.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

Whoever did is an idiot. They have numbers on the frickin caps! Buy one of those used performance heads floating around in the classifieds for cheap!

James