Camshaft caps

[x Spades x]

Hey Fellas,

Does anyone know if the camshaft caps are "married" to the engine (like rod bearing journals)?

I'm redoing my head and the journals are an off color. Thinking of just getting a row of 6 (whole exhaust side), but didn't know if there would be an issue when fitted?

Kareem

[WestBankM4]

You can clean them so they look new. I wouldn't suggest cleaning the surface that touches the cam journals though.

I can't comment if they're married to the head, but I don't remember reading they were on my rebuild.



P.S. Don't comment on the dark oil stains, it wasn't me! The PO obviously didn't do diligent oil changes, I found it like this when completing the head gasket.



Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[maupineda]

ideally they should go back only to the matching cam. i guess it not the end of the world, but if not too expensive, get the new.

[x Spades x]

ideally they should go back only to the matching cam. i guess it not the end of the world, but if not too expensive, get the new.

Aaaah ok.
I have 288/280 cams and I can take the caps that match with them. I was just concerned that the caps won't match the head and therefor create some kind of imbalance. So you are saying all of the caps are the same (new or used) and it's more important to keep the inside wear of the caps with the cams?

[x Spades x]

You can clean them so they look new. I wouldn't suggest cleaning the surface that touches the cam journals though.

I can't comment if they're married to the head, but I don't remember reading they were on my rebuild.



P.S. Don't comment on the dark oil stains, it wasn't me! The PO obviously didn't do diligent oil changes, I found it like this when completing the head gasket.



Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

WOW, those look awesome. What did you use to clean them?

[maupineda]

Aaaah ok.
I have 288/280 cams and I can take the caps that match with them. I was just concerned that the caps won't match the head and therefor create some kind of imbalance. So you are saying all of the caps are the same (new or used) and it's more important to keep the inside wear of the caps with the cams?

Correct, as they area bearing surfaces broken in to the cams journals that met them.

[Syfon]

Technically they are married to the each cam journal, however you can use old cam caps with new camshafts. The cam journal just spins around on a film of oil. It doesn't have any pressure upon it like the rod bearings (as they spin in the same plane).

Even if you screwed up and mismatched cam caps to the incorrect journal it wouldn't cause an issue (not that I suggest doing it lol).

If you take note, the underside surface of the cam caps are not machined perfectly smooth; they are quite rough. They're not smooth like crank journals or similar

[sapote]

I'm redoing my head and the journals are an off color.

You posted the wrong side of the caps -- doesn't show the journals.

No, caps cannot be swapped. Factory bolted down the new caps to the head, then line bored the two together so they should always be together.

[WestBankM4]

x Spades x

I used a plastic tub filled with parts/brake cleaner essentially. Used a rag and stiff bristle brush to clean them (NOT the surface area that touches the cam journals) and then let them sit overnight in the concoction. Next morning, they were brand spanking new.

[x Spades x]

You posted the wrong side of the caps -- doesn't show the journals.

No, caps cannot be swapped. Factory bolted down the new caps to the head, then line bored the two together so they should always be together.

I meant the caps, apologies.

So you are saying if I take the caps that have been with my cams and bring them both and put them on a new head, thats bad?

If so, how should I transfer my 288/280 cams from one engine, to the other?

[Icecream]

I meant the caps, apologies.

So you are saying if I take the caps that have been with my cams and bring them both and put them on a new head, thats bad?

If so, how should I transfer my 288/280 cams from one engine, to the other?

I wouldn't change caps, use what came on the head. I think the followers are more important. They are not numbered so you will have to keep track of those but I think they should go with the cam to the new head.

[digger]

The caps are matched to the head. You can’t change caps without remachining them which means cutting the caps down a bit and alignhoning them.

To transfer used cams to new head you don’t take caps with them. Caps stay with the head they came from

[x Spades x]

The caps are matched to the head. You can’t change caps without remachining them which means cutting the caps down a bit and alignhoning them.

To transfer used cams to new head you don’t take caps with them. Caps stay with the head they came from

Got it!
Now, is there any way to get them silver again? They were, but then I used simple green in a dark pot and now they are darkened. I'm thinking I need to spray/paint them?

[Icecream]

Got it!
Now, is there any way to get them silver again? They were, but then I used simple green in a dark pot and now they are darkened. I'm thinking I need to spray/paint them?

Don't paint them! The discoloration may be relatively permanent if the simple green caused it. I think it does that to aluminum iirc.

[heinzboehmer]

Yeah aluminum does not like simple green. Maybe an aluminum polish can help, but I would probably just leave them alone. Don't want to mess up the bearing surfaces.

https://simplegreen.com/faqs/15/