Hey guys, I am new to this board.. but would like to ask a question of you. I have a 2g NT Talon, 420A motor of course. My exhaust camshaft has broken in two because the caps came loose. I need a new camshaft, and I have a guy offering me a set of cams from a Dodge Stratus 2.4L. Are they the same shafts, or am I going to have to look elsewhere? What other cars would have the same shafts?

Different head... different camshafts. You can't use the cams from a 2.4L Stratus.

You'll only be able to use camshafts from other cars with identical heads to ours. The only car I know of that meets this criteria is the 1995-???? 2.0L Dodge Avenger.

You could always look for stock cams from other N/T Eclipses both in the classifieds section here and on eBay.

Welcome to 2GNT, Erik.

To answer your question, you can not use the 2.4L cams. You will need stockers. A set of upgraded cams will run you around $400-$500, depending on where you buy them, but you can likely find a set of stockers for far, far less money.

I'm curious, though, what cause the cam to break. We're talking about a serious piece of steel, here. I've never heard of one breaking. Are you certain you don't also have other problems or need some kind of machine work to save that motor?

Thought I would throw this in there as well.

http://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=32&topic_id=91&mesg_id=91&page=

It is stickied at the top of the Adv. Tuning sect., and should help in choosing camshafts if you decide to upgrade. If not, find some stockers. I'm also curious to know how that cam broke.

Also being that the cam caps came loose and the cam broke, obviously the motor was running when that happened, it's possible that some of the valves kissed the pistons, no? If it were me, I'd check the whole head out. You could hae some bent exhaust valves.

Welcome to the elite 2gnt site.

Good day to you Eric. Welcome to the site.

Geez, first post and look at the attention you are getting! Gotta tell me more about the broken camshaft. Snapped in half? Loose cam caps? I think there is more than meets the eye. I haven't seen a camshaft break in half and have the caps come loose. I strongly suspect that you have valve damage.

Do tell,

MB

i got a set of stock cams with stock gears i can sale ya make an offer and there yours

I have seen a cam snap once before on a DOHC motor. The cause was that cam caps were not properly torqued down when the headgasket was replaced. As the engine ran it loosened and backed out the bolts in the cam caps as the cam rotated the spring pressure on the cam lobes stressed the camshaft and the stress fracture caused the cam to break in two pieces.

Jason is right here on the fact that there is most likely valvetrane damage. You can expect to pay about $250-$400 (depending on how many valves are toasted) to get the head back in operation.

As for cams I have 3 extra stock sets. I'll send you a set with cam gears for cost of shipping. If you want to save some money on your head I have a spare good head you can have for $125 +shipping.

-Kevin

Just for the record I'd like to see a pic of the carnage, I bet a couple others would like to see the fubared cam. Welcome Eric.


http://www.dsmregistry.com/detail.php?carid=1185

Originally posted by xcasbonx
Just for the record I'd like to see a pic of the carnage, I bet a couple others would like to see the fubared cam. Welcome Eric.

2x

I'd expect the whole head might need to be replaced. Its possible the journals for the cam that broke is scared or something? Check that out for sure.

Thanks for the welcome guys. The reason the cam snapped was that the caps were so loose i could remove them by hand without the use of tools. Not torqued down to spec. I suspect. I pulled the head, and all of the valves appear to be okay.. lucky me! I'm going to have a further inspection when I have the head resurfaced and ported..As for pictures, I am nowhere near my car now, so here is what I have:

Holy crap that's awesome, in a sad way.

I spy snapped headbolt.

Originally posted by djtrickee
I spy snapped headbolt.

x2.

Remember that alot of times you won't be able to tell if you bent a valve just by looking.

Originally posted by cc8balla

Originally posted by djtrickee I spy snapped headbolt.

x2. Remember that alot of times you won't be able to tell if you bent a valve just by looking.

x3 I have to agree on that bent valves are not easy to see in the head.

-Kevin

Take the head, as is, to the shop and have them flow test it. This will tell you exactly what is fo0-shik'd on it. You may need new valves, seals, and all that.

Gnarly pictures. Good luck to you. You're in the right place for quality advice. :thumbsup

Originally posted by DR1665
Take the head, as is, to the shop and have them flow test it. This will tell you exactly what is fo0-shik'd on it. You may need new valves, seals, and all that. Gnarly pictures. Good luck to you. You're in the right place for quality advice. :thumbsup

s/flow/pressure/g

You mean pressure tested.

Some of the cam caps are on wrong

Originally posted by dmt111701
Some of the cam caps are on wrong

Oooo, good catch! They are!

That's why the sucker broke. The cam caps bound it up because #3 is on backwards. They're directional. They're also ordered, and machined specifically for the head, so they're also irreplacable.

Ouch.

Originally posted by DarkOne

Originally posted by dmt111701 Some of the cam caps are on wrong

Oooo, good catch! They are! That's why the sucker broke. The cam caps bound it up because #3 is on backwards. They're directional. They're also ordered, and machined specifically for the head, so they're also irreplacable. Ouch.

Man you guys catch everything.

Originally posted by DarkOne

Originally posted by dmt111701 Some of the cam caps are on wrong

Oooo, good catch! They are! That's why the sucker broke. The cam caps bound it up because #3 is on backwards. They're directional. They're also ordered, and machined specifically for the head, so they're also irreplacable. Ouch.

Good call. Time for a new head my friend.

This thread is going to make me cry... I just bought the car. The motor was rebuilt before I bought it, and apparently they did something violently wrong.. but I suppose that I can't do much to the company that rebuilt the motor, since I didn't own the car when it was done..

I am prepared anyway to buy the parts, but this is a kick in the head. As it sits right now, I have to buy a head, valves, and cams.. correct? I already have my gasket set, including valve seals.

Originally posted by Eric Kellar
This thread is going to make me cry... I just bought the car. The motor was rebuilt before I bought it, and apparently they did something violently wrong.. but I suppose that I can't do much to the company that rebuilt the motor, since I didn't own the car when it was done.. I am prepared anyway to buy the parts, but this is a kick in the head. As it sits right now, I have to buy a head, valves, and cams.. correct? I already have my gasket set, including valve seals.

Wow, who rebuilt that motor? If they installed cam caps backwards...wow.

Anyhow, I sold a complete stock head for $150 + shipping a couple months back, so it won't be too expensive. Search around for one, maybe have a shop look at it, and you are good to go. Hell if you are good with tools and have a FSM or Haynes handy, do the labor yourself. You will save a shitload of money doing it that way. Read around here as well, there is a wealth of info on timing belt/cylinder head. It's how I first did mine.

Originally posted by DarkOne
s/flow/pressure/g You mean pressure tested.

Dammit. You're right. :p

OK Eric,

Hey that's an interesting pic! SNAP! Yeah, the cam caps are switched which also means there is a good chance that the journals are screwed up (depending on how long it ran and how far off the bore was). Good chance the bolt holes are stripped as well. This is why cougar694u said this is worthless without pics. A picture is worth a thousand words.

I haven't seen enough of the stock cams to know better but AGX? Is that an aftermarket cam? The stock cams I have seen are a numbering system.

Sorry for your problems but at least you're getting some air time on the boards :cheers .

Good luck,

MB

Originally posted by bullettdsm
I haven't seen enough of the stock cams to know better but AGX? Is that an aftermarket cam?

Looks like it's "ABX" cast into the cam... but they look stock to me from what i can see. Hard to say, really. My Crowers didn't have *anything* cast in them from what I remember.

Originally posted by DarkOne

Originally posted by bullettdsm I haven't seen enough of the stock cams to know better but AGX? Is that an aftermarket cam?

Looks like it's "ABX" cast into the cam...

Oops, you're right ABX. Fat fingers x(

MB

Originally posted by DarkOne
My Crowers didn't have *anything* cast in them from what I remember.

Can't say mine do either. Sometimes I wonder if I've actually got C2s, since I got them used. :shrug