You are human after all!
cam install help!@#$%
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 328
Likes: 12
From: frankfort new york
cam install help!@#$%
ok here is the deal i rebuilt my engine re-installed every thing hooked up then i had cam position senor bad code did all sorts and come to the conclusion that the cam is not in the correct depth it is to far to the rear??? i didn't even think this was possible???? anyone able to help me figure out how this happened? is the timing gear offset? so it can be reversed? but the dot was visible when i set the timing???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 199
From: Valencia CA
I don't think depth is your problem.
It is common for the the lifters to not be centered on the lobes as in your picture in some engines. I havent looked at an LS1 apart in alot of years, so my memory is sketchy.
Did you buy the cam new or used?
What is the code #?
What have you checked?
It is common for the the lifters to not be centered on the lobes as in your picture in some engines. I havent looked at an LS1 apart in alot of years, so my memory is sketchy.
Did you buy the cam new or used?
What is the code #?
What have you checked?
Corvette Cowboy
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 23
From: Cen-Cal Broke A$$ Kalifornia
I am just starting this project right now as my Motor ate my cam because a lifter failed. Here is the How to file I found to do mine I will give you a link to it to see if it will help you at all. Please post your findings I see that your cam is looks to far back. I dont know if this is relevent or not but I was searching the web looking for new Lifters and Rockers and I saw sets of offset lifters and some that are dead center to round part of lifter I hope this helps
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Pops
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Pops
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 905
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I did a heads/cam swap back in '02 on mine and the new cam stopped dead-center on the lifters before I bolted the cam retainer plate back in place. Here are a couple of shots of lifters on the cam when I swapped in the Z06 valley cover later. Mine's an '02 LS1.
Last edited by Patches; Sep 1, 2014 at 11:02 AM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 328
Likes: 12
From: frankfort new york
ok got the front of the motor off timing chain gears are offset... but how do i get the cam to come forward and stay there??? won't the cam retainer push the cam back into the block????
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
So, you of course, changed the cam, but did you change either of the sprockets? It might be worthwhile to check dimensions on them. I had a Cloyes cam sprocket for a 2nd gen LT1 that was supposedly "within spec", but when I tightened it to the nose of the cam, it would contact the block, and lock up. I know that's not quite the same as your situation, but you never know these days, how closely shops control their part tolerances...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Cam plate establishes the position that the chain sprocket will pull it to. There is a clearance cutout on the front of the cam to establish the correct clearance. Cam position might be off due to the way the cam is ground (improper). I have seen this happen to several guys over the years. If you still have the stock cam, you can compare the forward journal length of the original to the new and see if the cam has an issue.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
Cam plate establishes the position that the chain sprocket will pull it to. There is a clearance cutout on the front of the cam to establish the correct clearance. Cam position might be off due to the way the cam is ground (improper). I have seen this happen to several guys over the years. If you still have the stock cam, you can compare the forward journal length of the original to the new and see if the cam has an issue.
OR, just for grins, pull the cam plate, re-install the cam gear and timing chain, and see if the tension of the timing chain pulls the cam forward. That too, might indicate the nose cut of the cam is incorrect.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Remove the CAM SENSOR and look down into the sensor hole. Move the cam IN & OUT and see where it lines up properly in the sensor hole. Compare that position to where the cam normally sets.
We can go from there.
We can go from there.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 328
Likes: 12
From: frankfort new york
ok pulled the cam plate released the lifters and just pushed the cam forward...
what a **** poor design!@#$% i figured me mistake out when i installed the timing gear i pushed the cam in while tightening the timing gear!@#$% and as i didn't realize it the first time i installed the timing gear there is nothing stopping the cam from moving approx 1/4"!!! so this time after setting the timing i just grabbed the cam gear forward and when tightening the lifters made sure the cam stayed in place... now just hoping that the cam doesn't walk!@#$%^
what a **** poor design!@#$% i figured me mistake out when i installed the timing gear i pushed the cam in while tightening the timing gear!@#$% and as i didn't realize it the first time i installed the timing gear there is nothing stopping the cam from moving approx 1/4"!!! so this time after setting the timing i just grabbed the cam gear forward and when tightening the lifters made sure the cam stayed in place... now just hoping that the cam doesn't walk!@#$%^
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
It doesn't sound like the sprocket was sitting down onto the cam, or put another way, the end of the cam was fit within the sprocket. Otherwise, not sure I understand what you found.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 328
Likes: 12
From: frankfort new york
no the camgear was sitting on the cam just fine what happend was a noobie mistake..
when putting it all together when tightening the cam timing gear i pushed the cam into the motor (deeper) when that happend i didnt notice it this time when tightening the bolts on the cam timing gear after all was tight i pulled the cam out of the motor as much as the retainer plate would let me hence the 1/4" that it had gone into the motor... so now it should be located where it is supposed to be...
only concern now is since there is no real mechanical reason for the cam not to on it's own walk (while the engine is running) that 1/4" to the rear of the motor..... seems only fear stops the cam from moving reward or forward in the cam journels...
when putting it all together when tightening the cam timing gear i pushed the cam into the motor (deeper) when that happend i didnt notice it this time when tightening the bolts on the cam timing gear after all was tight i pulled the cam out of the motor as much as the retainer plate would let me hence the 1/4" that it had gone into the motor... so now it should be located where it is supposed to be...
only concern now is since there is no real mechanical reason for the cam not to on it's own walk (while the engine is running) that 1/4" to the rear of the motor..... seems only fear stops the cam from moving reward or forward in the cam journels...
Uneducated autodidact
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,407
Likes: 249
From: West of the Sabine, Texas
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 328
Likes: 12
From: frankfort new york
exactly??? if there is no tension on the cam ie.. the valve springs tension..
then i can move the cam forward and back (in and out) approx 1/4"!!!! and that is with the timing set...
then i can move the cam forward and back (in and out) approx 1/4"!!!! and that is with the timing set...