As some of you may know, I recently broke my intake cam's retaining rod...I was really bored on sunday!!! If I missed anything please let me know.
Well I am super bored today and decided to look into what it would take to fix it. I called a local machinist, and he advised this. So I tried it. Looks like it worked good too.
Here is what I came up with Conditions: 1)Retaining Rod for cam is broken 2)Don't want to wait for new cams to arrive 3)Super bored
Ok here are the parts and tools you will need to do this 1)VS Drill 2)Super Weld, Jb Weld, or equivilant epoxy 3)1 Roll Pin (same dia. as the cam notch) A roll pin has a "slit" down it, it is compression fitted pin. It is also hardened steel. 4)Drill bits (steel) 5)Hammer (preferably a small bronze one)
First off you need to get the cam out... Next you need to get rid of the pin that is left in the shaft. Get the appropriate drill bit and drill that old one out. If your really good you can use a smaller drill bit and then "tap" the pin that is left in there. Now you need to find the appropriate size Roll Pin. (I couldn't tell you which size I got, I just took the cam down there with me and fitted it at the hardware store, make sure it is snug but not tight) After you get the Roll Pin see if it fits into your cam hole. It Probly won't. So you need to drill out the hole just a bit SMALLER than the Roll Pin. After you have your new hole drilled. Now measure the depth of the hole, and get it relitive to the leagnth of the Roll Pin so that enough of the cam catches the pin. I made mine so that it was just shy of the cam's outer edge. I also made it about 1/2 inch deep. (my Roll Pin was about 1" long) Now you need to mix up some epoxy! Make sure that the hole is clear of debris, and oil. Use some thinner on the cam to get all the oil off of it. So now you want to fill in the new hole with the epoxy. Now get your Roll Pin and gently tap it in with the Bronze hammer. (why use bronze? cause it won't fuck up the roll pin while your hammering it into place!) It will should go in awfully hard, but you will know when to stop. Now clean up all of the epoxy that came out of the hole, wait for it to cure and reinstall the cam! Your done.
Here are some pics of mine durring the repair process. (granted I had to grind off some of my Roll Pin cause I used a Death Stick to hammer it in)
Hole drilled out
Epoxy
Roll Pin
Roll Pin hammered in, you can see where I fucked up the roll pin. I had to grind it off.
Another pic of the Roll Pin before I grinded it off.
P.S. Fast420a I still want your stock cams, I was just bored to death today.
#35333, "RE: Cam Repair :101" In response to Reply # 0
I was about to ask if you still wanted them. Are you going to pay by Paypal or mail a check/money order? If paypal my address is OhShootUhh@aol.com and if check/MO I will email you my address. Just let me know.
#35335, "RE: Cam Repair :101" In response to Reply # 2
Okay now I am not looking at stock cam gears right now so I am not sure about those but I know that the AEM's have the slot for that pin on both sides from each other. You could add a second pin as a margin of safety especially since I don't know how well the jbweld stuff would be holding the pin in there and I wouldn't want to ruin an engine from a cam that slips.
#35336, "RE: Cam Repair :101" In response to Reply # 3
I highly doubt that the pin would come out as it is a compression fited part. Also the superweld is just for "peace of mind". That is kinda interesting that it has a spot on each side. Probly for the 2.4L.