[rustech]

This is a pose from my balance shaft belt being defiant! So much for an excuse to drop in an LS motor. (also...the tensioner was not leaking, but when removed, would not expand).





Here's a couple pictures of my cams, overall, I'm real happy with their condition. Susanna had to hold my hand as I peaked under the cover (last time was a couple years ago).







Is this (inside green o-ring) the check valve? Am I missing parts? Was something suppose to pop out at me? Am I suppose to be able to press on the top of the chain and release pressure from the variocam unit? Out of the 20 cam journal bolts to be removed, two refused and I ended up stripping them, time to get physical!





Here's the front of the engine disassembled.





Here's a view inside the new water pump.





Here's what the prop looks like inside the new water pump.





Here's what the prop looks like inside the old water pump.

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[apex]

rus - great pics! thanks....

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[BruceWard]

Did you remove what I assume is the oil pickup tube from above the green o ring?



This is what mine looked like with the tube in place.

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[BruceWard]

The tensioner moves very slowly even new ones. There is a spec in the service manual for how slowly to compress it. Not saying that yours does not need replaced only that it might not.



What kind of oil filter are you using? The bolt on top would make changes much easier.

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[rustech]

Did you remove what I assume is the oil pickup tube from above the green o ring?

Yes, but I recall others stating "beware the check valve, as it tends to fall out", but I've seen nothing jump out.

The tensioner moves very slowly even new ones. There is a spec in the service manual for how slowly to compress it. Not saying that yours does not need replaced only that it might not.

I'm assuming you mean the cam belt tensioner...well I left it overnight to find it in the same position the next morning. It's seized for sure...I already planned to replace it and so have a new one waiting.



The variocam tensioner I recall, is able to be compressed with pressure from the top, but mine seems reluctant.

What kind of oil filter are you using? The bolt on top would make changes much easier.

K&N...it does make it alot easier. Of course the Canton racing filter assemblies make it a whole lot easier.

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[rustech]

Out of the 20 cam journal bolts to be removed, two refused and I ended up stripping them, time to get physical!

Got physical, got them out. Now to add them to the next shipment list.

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[Lemming]

Good luck with the work. I was also lucky with the cams on the engine that I bought for my track car, I now need to open the lid on my daily driver: I'm scared!

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[rustech]

Thanks Apex and Lemming for the kind words.



Here's what I had time to do today...the first hint is...

(So did we know the original chain was made by IWIS...same as the HD chain?) Is the Regular Duty chain from Pelican and Porsche also IWIS?





Isn't this pretty...





Another pic of the cam sprockets...





A pic of the cams removed...





I'm working backwards from here <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />.

Time for the hard part of reassembly.

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[Greimann]

Nice documentation. Take lots of pictures! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



So your cams are original and they are looking good? The teeth look healthy by the pictures. How about the lobes?

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[rustech]

Yes Sir, so far I'm very happy with the condition of the cams for having 96k on them. The lobes are smooth and shiny. It doesn't appear as though anyone has been in there before (per the bolts, pads, chain, cams).



The water pump (which was also a rebuilt) on the other hand...someone forgot to torque down all the bolts, and so now I know why I was always smelling a coolant odor, but could never find a trace.



I have to order two cam journal bolts tomorrow (and wait for arrival) before I can assemble the cams.

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[BruceWard]

So did we know the original chain was made by IWIS...same as the HD chain?) Is the Regular Duty chain from Pelican and Porsche also IWIS?

I believe all of the chains are made by IWIS, even the custom one ordered by the club sport guy from 968.net.



How many miles are on your 968?



Thanks for posting the pictures. They will be helpful for the rest of us when we open up our variocams.

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[Harvey]

That broken belt in your first foto is enough to give a person nightmares! You're lucky.



Harvey

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[rustech]

96k on this car. Something I forgot to mention, but has been mentioned by others prior...the upper pad was just mildly grooved, while the bottom pad...well, you see the picture. Moral is don't judge the condition of the pads by the upper pad, just count the miles and replace.



FYI, I have in my possession a Heavy Duty chain from pelican (IWIS Racing) as a replacement (wasn't a hard decision, RD $15, HD $30



Harvey, yeah tell me about it, it's a good thing I keep that pressed 4-leaf in my wallet next to my trojan. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Just kidding of course, I outgrew that stage.

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[ds968]

[quote name='rustech' date='Oct 1 2005, 08:40 AM']Something I forgot to mention, but has been mentioned by others prior...the upper pad was just mildly grooved, while the bottom pad...well, you see the picture.  Moral is don't judge the condition of the pads by the upper pad, just count the miles and replace.

[right][post="10555"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Good to know - I had the thing opened at 75k miles because I needed the cam cover gasket, so it was a good time to visually inspect the variocam - everything looked perfect to the naked eye, and the top pad seemed almost new- had no grooves in it, but given the above... I'll have the pads and all the other stuff changed at around 100k miles.

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