Hey all. I have bin doing my research and talk to a lot of people that I would call true exports in Hi-Performance engine building. I wondering if anyone knows were I can get studs and nuts to replace the stock bolts for the cam caps? Having those when doing the cam installations would reduce the chances of having cam/lifter oiling issues when installing new cams. The thought process with is would be to a line the cam caps much better when installing cams and to have equal distribution throw the caps for the cams. The bigger lobed cams produce more force on the cam caps and I’m also thinking the stock bolts might stretch more because they were designed for the stock cams with less duration.

Let here your view points.

Thank you
Eric

 

The stock bolts are stronger than they need to be. The torque spec calls for 14flbs. ,that goes to show you that the stress/tension/compression is minimal. If problems were common with these bolts we wouldve already heard about it, at least that's my opinion.

 

I was also concerned about the low torque I had just replaced the cams.

I had always figured that the torque was low because we are screwing into aluminum (or AL-LU-MIN-IUM for our UK readers).

 

Absolutely makes perfect sense. But and here is the big but would it not be better to have a stud instead of a bolt? To be able to hold down a cap with a nut instead of a bolt for a better distribution of torque? I know it’s only 14.5lb of TQ needed to tighten them.

Eric

 

Eric, very good question ! we are working on that, and with out a doubt a stud with a nice "shoulder" will be much much better off locating the cap !

 

Tommy,

Yes I will let you guess who gave me that Idea. I talked to APR and they can make it for us if I give them the specs. Maybe you can help me out with that.

Thank you sir.

Eric

PS I'm good friends with Rich B. and I was talking in lenth with Jorge on Sunday at the Turbotrix for Vishnu's dyno day.

Please keep me in the loop of your findings.

 

Eric, yeah wish I could have been there but ..was doing a little ferrari 360 challenge racing in sunny sears point california ! ! just have to get some measurements of the diameter of the cap, the length .. we have a guy at arp that can make us anything ! !
-Tommy-

 

Awsome please order a extra set for me. I can't blame you I would have rather done that as well

 

Well kind off topic, you might want to start a new thread. It's apples and oranges Kind off sorta??

 

Tommy Don't forget to make sure to include the head deeped so you can screw in the stud all the way and still clear the caps to snug the bolt down.

 

Ummm... cam caps on 4G63 motors are precisely located by a sleeve that is pressed into the head. No shoulder stud necessary. The torque is low so that you dont mash the aluminum cap. If you over torque them you smash the cap and kill the oiling. In 15 years of 4G63 motors and over 10 years of 600+ hp 4G63 power, the exact same design of cam cap bolt design has not been broken. I wouldnt stress too much on fixing it myself. But hey, every day people buy grounding cables so what do I know.

Mike W

 

Mike that was what I was waiting to hear. The crushing of the cap is what is making the oil not get throw. Now it makes sence.

The ticking is from the Lifter not getting enough oil to it and the reason the oil is not getting there is because the cam is closing the hole were the oil is coming from.

Hey Mike know of any company that makes better caps?

 

The "crushing of the caps " .. what I see happening is that the caps get overtorqued and they become "out of round" meaning that the oil clearances are too great, causing a reduction in oil pressure due to "sloppy or exssesive" clearance .. in some cases I have personally seen .004 to .006 clearance ! ! .. way way to much for a shaft of only 1.222 diameter .. if you had a stud with a shoulder that ran the height of the cap .. with a "slight interference fit .... you would greatly reduce the chance of distortion. . . -my two cents-


oh one more thing ... not using a even sequence of installing and torquing the caps can also cause damage ! just something to think about the next time you get one of your "15 minute cam installs done !"

 

Now do you see advantage to replacing the factory caps with soming else?

Eric

 

You could get crazy .. and have a cap made out of billet . . maybe increase the thickness or something along those lines .. provided there is enough room under the valve cover !