[Cloud9...68]

When I removed my oil pan this morning, here's what I found in the bottom of the pan:



http://www.968forums.com/uploads/monthly..._thumb.jpg



I count nine of what looks like cam sprocket teeth, and one fragment. Ruh-roh... But this struck me as odd, because when I pulled the cams, I didn't remember seeing any sprocket teeth missing. So I looked again, and even though the two cams are still connected via the Variocam chain, I can clearly see the sprocket teeth through the openings in the chain, and every single tooth is present and accounted for. And to me, they look quite healthy and fully intact. Could these ominous looking metal pieces I found in the bottom of my oil pan be part of something else? Or could somebody previously have repaired or replaced the cams?



Also, here's a picture of the top side of my cylinder head:



http://www.968forums.com/uploads/monthly..._thumb.jpg



If you look closely at the inner wall of the head between cylinders 2 and 3, right where the Variocam unit goes, you can see a pair of vertical score marks, which look like they were caused by the chain. Any idea how common this is? I plan to get a new chain and pads, but I'm just curious as to how common this might be. Could this be evidence of an earlier pad or chain failure, possibly leading to, or even caused by, the missing sprocket teeth? 968 forensics at work...



Edit: Sorry about the double post. Moderator, please pull one of them at your earliest convenience. Thanks.

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[flash]

they sure look like cam teeth - perhaps somebody has been in there before you and done slipshod work? has the car been to jersey?

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[RS Barn]

I just threw away a bag with 21 teeth from oil pan. When teeth break off they end up in oil pan thanks to good oil circulation in 968. They usually get stuck in the oil goo in bottom of pan. We recommend replacing rod bearing at 100K. Then you get to check out what has fallen to bottom and can thank previous owner...

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[Cloud9...68]

Yeah, my theory is that somebody has been in there before. I'll get a closer look at my cams when I separate them from the Variocam unit (I want to keep the disassembly and reassembly as close together as possible, so I'm going to wait until I have the new Variocam chain and pads in hand), but the sprocket teeth sure look fine to me. I guess whoever repaired or replaced the cams didn't bother to pull the oil pan, which is somewhat understandable, considering the amount of work it is to get the thing off.



Any thoughts on the vertical scoring on the back wall of the head? Is this common?

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[RS Barn]

I've never seen scoring before. I'm guessing you won the broken teeth and chain award.

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[Cloud9...68]

Yeah, I think the two are related. Like maybe a pad failed, causing the chain to skip some teeth, shearing off a few in the process, and then along the way, either the chain snapped, or somehow hyper-extended enough to allow contact with the wall of the head. Or something like that. I'll take a very close look at the cam sprockets when I remove the Variocam unit and chain, and post pictures. They do appear to all be intact, though.

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[rl968]

hey, what's with the Jersey crack Flash?? CA is no model to be mimicking either... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[tamathumper]

Then you get to check out what has fallen to bottom and can thank previous owner...

Ain't that the truth.



Regarding the scoring, I had a top end oil pressure failure in my 944S (due to a previous owner's handiwork) and the tensioner wouldn't pump up - the chain was so slack it was "razzing" against the cover and scored that up pretty good, but I didn't have any scoring on the head itself if I remember correctly.

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