Had a fun one today. I did a cam on a Cooper: my first on the NA car. When I was placing the Schrick in the journals, on a lark, I spun it half-consciously before re-assembling the rocker train. To my amazement, the higher exhaust lobe for cylinder number 1 was hitting the coolant plug in the bowl of the head. There was probably 2mm of interference. What a pisser. Had I just reassebled the car as usual, there would have been some nasty smashing of bits the valve train.

The problem was easily solved. I consulted JLM, and just removed the plug, cleaned up the threads, and put new silicone sealant on it. about two more turns into the bore and presto, no interference. Well, almost no interference. Turns out that another lobe just barely touched one of the spark plug tubes. Nothing a careful whack from a hammer can't solve. Yup, that's helix workmanship: done with a hammer.

The moral of the story is if any of you Cooper folks are doing a cam on your car, give it a spin to make sure you don't scattervalvone (a common Italian malady) all over the inside of your motor.

 

I've done several Camshaft installs - no coolant plug interference yet, but on every one I've had to flat-spot the spark-plug tubes, as they were interfering with the higher lift exhaust lobes.

 

We did have a scary clattering problem after fitting a cam, but it was just the chain tensioner taking its time to pump up.

when assembling engine components we are always close to the jar of moly assembly lube.

 

Moly lube, while essential for assembly, doesn't get rid of interference

 

...What? ...you mean its not like KY for engine parts?

 

well it is - but you still can't go putting things where there's no provision for it

 

Wallace and Gromit

 

I always love to hear "bigger" hammer solutions

 

thought we would just add another cam install tip. no other logical connection intended.

 

I've done several on MCSs, with no Interference from the spark plug tubes. Wierd. Did you install Schrick cams? I wonder if there is that much manufacture variation from the Brazilians (maybe only the Monday mornings after Ronaldo connects with Cafu for four goals).

 

or too many caiparinas on the beach

 

 

yeah eric,

both cams we got from you. one was cooper, one was cooper s, and both had to have flat spots done in the spark plug tubes. everything was golden after a bit of tapping.

 

Yes Schrick cams. Interference that would hinder rotation on at least one tube every time. The other tubes may range from a brush against to barely clearing. I'd guess the tube install tolerances are about as accurate as their installation (which is with a hammer)

 

I do like a bit of Gorgonzola

 

Hey, thats my car you're talking about! Oh Well, No big deal. But hey! It rocks! for a CVT Cooper, now, my plans are mixed. I really do want a Cooper S, but then I have this ticking idea in my head. I'm not giving this one away unless Misfitoy gets to my thought proccesses again.