924Board.org

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

HI EVERYBODY HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TONIGHT!? I WOULD LIKE SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED IF YOU HAVE THE TIME.

I HAVE A 1977 924 EURO AND I NEED A CAM, SO I AM TOLD.

1. SHOULD ANYTHING ELSE BE REPLACED WITH THE CAM?
2. IS THE NORTH AMERICAN CAM INTERCHANGEABLE WITH THE EUROS? THERE IS 30 HORSEPOWER DIFFERENCE AND DIFFERENT INTERNALS, DOES THIS MATTER?
3. AND IF I DROP A CAM IN FROM A 95 HP CAR, WILL I LOSE HP?
4. WOULD ANY OF YOU EVER PUT IN A USED CAM?

WHERE DO YOU BUY CAMS FOR OUR CARS?

AND IS THERE A NEED TO REPLACE GASKETS WHEN YOU TAKE THE VALVE COVER OFF SOMEWHAT OFTEN? WHAT'S THE BALLPARK GUIDELINE FOR REPLACING THE VALVE COVER GASKET?

SORRY ABOUT THE YELLING, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF NOISE BEING MADE IN MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, CAN YOU HEAR ME!?

Stu2j · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:21 am Post subject:

I replaced a very badly worn cam with a nice used one and it has served me well for years. You should replace the followers at the same time.

If you choose a used cam and used followers (e.g. pulled from a parts car), you should mark the followers so that they can be matched up exactly the way they were in the original car. When replacing the cam it is a good idea to also replace the tensioner pulley and the belt.

I replace the valve cover gasket each time it comes off.

Did that cover them all?
_________________
-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
Click here to view them:

-nick · Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Posts: 2699 Location: Cambridge, MA

Hey Neil,

1) It's recommended to replace the cam followers when putting in a new cam. But, followers aren't cheap (around $80 each I think and you need 8 ).

I would recommend replacing the little plastic elbow on the oiler tube (about $2 or so).

2) All 924 cams are the same except the early 95hp cars. The partnumbers (stamped on the cam) for the two have been posted on the board. Just search and write them down. You really don't want the early cam. US and Euro, all are the same.

3) Yep, see above.

4) Yep, a good used cam is fine. I haven't had any problems with cam wear on either of my 924na's or on the turbo. I think cams only wear if the oiler elbow is missing or leaking. Generally, a used cam is probably fine.

Beyond all this - what makes you think you need a replacement? If you're mechanic thinks so, has he measured the lobe height and found some lobes to be worn? Just looking at it in the car doesn't always tell you everything.

You can buy a valve cover gasket kit. You might also want to replace the front cam seal and the distributor housing seal (since you'll have to pull the dizzy and housing). Smear a thin layer of hylomar on them and you can re-use all the gaskets in the future.

Did you hear me?

ps- I've never kept track of which follower came from which hole, and I've never seen any excessive wear from it.

nick

Stu2j · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:56 am Post subject:

-nick · Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Posts: 2699 Location: Cambridge, MA

Can't hurt

Paul · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:17 am Post subject:

I always keep everything in order.

Used cams are fine, a used cam with the followers is even better, just keep them in order.

A used head with the cam and followers and a valve job is the best.

The most important things to check are the oiling tube and elbow.

Make sure you (or whoever is doing the work) read the Haynes or factory manual VERY carefully as the order you remove/install the cam bearing caps is not what you would expect.

Also make sure you do not over torque them.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

Thanks Paul, I'll check into that for sure!

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

How much is a new cam? Where do I buy it and the followers and elbow for oiler tube and gasket set?

My mechanic says there isn't any more adjustment for the motor and there's a ticking. He made a few valve adjustments befor and last summer he said there isn't anything else to do but replace the cam.
I don't think he's looked at the cam but I'm not sure, I'll question him on Friday.

What else could cause ticking and a simple valve adjustment make it go away?
Perhaps that little elbow is leaking and accelerating the wear, hence the valve adjustments?
There's a valve cover gasket set? More than one gasket?

Thanks to you all. If there's a place you two could point me in terms of finding these parts it would be helpful.

Neil

Stu2j · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:27 am Post subject:

Paul · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:32 am Post subject:

Your "mechanic" needs to measure each lobe and compare it to the wear limits stated in the manual.

If the cam is within spec, all you may need is thicker valve adjustment wedges.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Paul · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:36 am Post subject:

$11.99 US at Advance Auto

www.partsamerica.com
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

endwrench · Joined: 07 Dec 2002 Posts: 1631 Location: Victor, Montana

You might also consider buying one from Integral:

http://www.integralcams.com/924.htm

They have one they call "Impoved Stock" with slightly hotter specs than stock or you could just go for one of there performance grinds for the same money, $330.

Todd

Tigger937 · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject:

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

I think the first things you need to inspect and consider are wear to the camshaft, and valve or valve guid wear.

Since the cylinder head is off, you must be having the valves and valve guides checked right? And the camshaft is being checked for lobe wear and journal wear/damage, right?

And you have already checked the lifters for wear or damage, so you know if any need to be replaced, right?

The reason that I asked is because the head must be reassembled after valve and valve guide replacement to determine whether the lifters are in tolerance, or whether they need to have the adjustment screws replaced.

That means that you need to make a decision about the camshaft, so you can detemine what needs to be done about the lifters.

So this is what I think you should do. Have the camshaft checked for wear or damage first, and decide whether you need to replace it with a reground or new (with new lifters) or good used cam (with the lifters that were used with the camshaft).

Then get the cylinder head serviced.

Now assemble the camshaft to the head to determine whether the clearances are good, or if any lifter screws need to be replaced. Check to see if any of the lifter screws that need to be replaced can be swapped with other lifter screws that you are removing to determine which size screws you need to buy.

Tigger937 · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:51 pm Post subject: