I had a valve job done on and can't figure out how to re-install cams.

[adammethner05]

Hi everyone, this is probably something that is very simple but for some reason I'm having a hard time figuring it out. I've tried searching, and reading the hayne's manual that's guided me through my headgasket project, but neither has come up with any results. While I had my head off of my '95 talon N/T to get magnafluxed and inspected, I had a valve job done. Nothing special just had normal valves done, no angles or anything like that. I had the motor turned to TDC like I was supposed to when I took the head off, so some valves were open and some were closed correct? So the cams set in there perfectly and the caps went back on fine the way the valves were when I took the head off, but now that I had the valve job done the cams don't seem to sit in there correctly and the caps don't seem to slip on around the cams like they should. I'm wondering if I have to just sit the cams in there and line up the timing marks on the sprockets and just torque down the caps around the cams and the valves will adjust themselves to the motor being at TDC, or do I have to turn the motor? The hayne's manual says to turn the crankshaft to 3 degrees BTDC (before top dead center), but I'm unsure whether this would even help me out because it doesn't mention having a valve job done before doing this. Any help would be much appreciated, as this is the only major thing holding me back from getting my car back to running.

 

[dr1665]

I would set the cams into place as best as I could get them. Meaning, rather than TDC, I would want to reduce stress on the cap bolts, which are known for shearing under too much pressure. (They only get like 13ft-lbs or something.) Set the caps in place and slowly crank them down - get this one started, then work your way down the line - constantly tighten them all a little bit at a time. You don't want to use one cap bolt to pull the cam into place.

Gotta remember, the cam is what opens the valves. Those lobes will have to push some valves open here and there. You're not really in too much trouble when doing things by hand because you will know if you run into interference. If you crank the motor over and feel it stop, then you need to rethink things.

 

[jinxltd]

Hey man I am in the process of doing the same thing & am 2 steps ahead of you right now, first i know what you mean about the caps (they dont seem to fit) however they do, it is tight so lube the ends & then line the caps up & slide them on, you have to do it evenly or they wont go. & then it is 3 teeth BTDC not 3 degrees, so roll the crankshaft back 3 teeth so you can count like this 1,2,3, TDCmark. you will move it back later. than there is a spacific order to tighten the bearing caps down only the inside ones not the first set witch is a double or the last, just the inside ones & make sure you follow that to ensure you dont distort the cams & torque them @ 107 inch-lbs = 8.9ft=lbs. this should press the cams inplace & you will end up rolling them to TDC maks on the cam gears after. hope this helps.

 

[Focker420]

Also all the slack of the belt sould be on the left side where the tensioner is so it dosen't move the timing marks when you pull the pin on the tensioner. This is taken up between the exhast cam and the crank timing sproket.

 

[adammethner05]

Hey everyone thanks a lot for your replies. I'm gonna try to tackle this mess sometime this morning and will hopefully have the car up and running later today, which would be wonderful. I miss my slow talon! . If I have anymore questions, I guess I know where to look. Thanks

 

[adammethner05]

I got my cams back in no problem thanks to your replies. The car is almost done FINALLY! All I have to do is bolt the intake and exhaust manifolds and the power steering pump back on and it's time to start the car and realize I screwed something up . Thanks a lot to those who replied, I was dumbfounded when I got to that part since I've never done that before (only other motor worked on is my buick 455), but now I'll know how to do it in the future.

 

[Focker420]

What part did u forget about?

 

[adammethner05]

I meant I was dumbfounded when it came to re-installing my cams ...my bad