Author Topic: Mechanical Cam on hydraulic head (Read 3023 times)

Rat407 · « **on:** July 14, 2008, 06:05:21 am »

What problems would arise if one put a mechanical cam on a hydraulic head on the 1.6L?

Also when installing the intake onto the head, what side of the intake gasket do you put toward the head, the metal side of the gasket or the material side. For them to fit properly two go metal facing the head and two go material facing the head.
Thanks.

Fisher · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2008, 09:33:45 am »

I put an early Mechanical Engine Cam in an 86 Hydraulic Engine I completely rebuilt. Worked very well and ran perfectly.

1.5 years later car is driven daily and running very well.

FWD.MOTION · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2008, 03:49:49 pm »

im interested to hear anymore input on this topic here...

if anyone has any experiences with this please share....

Do you have both cams? try an match numbers on the vernia calpers

vanagonturbo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2008, 08:43:49 pm »

Power gain? I would think the lift difference would lead to smashed valve guide seals, but if it worked then wow!

vanagonturbo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2008, 08:44:04 pm »

Power gain? I would think the lift difference would lead to smashed valve guide seals, but if it worked then wow!

Dakotakid · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2008, 08:09:37 am »

My Volks. of America trained mechanic friend is in agreement with Fisher. I will be doing this next week on assembly of another N/A rebuild. All my hyd. cams are of inferior hard finish/heat treatment.

They were produced in Mex. and they appear as though blindfolds and boxing gloves were mandatory for the fellows employed as machinists to wear on each shift.

I recently purchased an expensive rebuilt head from a rebuilder who you are all familiar with, and he sent me a hyd. cam which I simply sent back to him with my core. It was just as bad as my junkers....and he was sending it out to customers. I was more than a bit surprised/displeased.

rabbitpower · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2008, 09:06:34 am »

I am facing the same dilemma. I have a bunch of mech cams laying around that look fantastic. One thing i noticed was that Hydraulic cams have more surface area ( Width) to the lobes. The mechaical cams are much thinner. I will use one if I can't find a good hydro cam

I have never seen a "Good" looking hydraulic cam, no matter how many miles. They all looked pitted, scuffed and generally discolored, while many mechanical cams I see still have the original grind marks in the from being made. What gives?

Dakotakid · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2008, 09:20:02 am »

The heat treatment/carbon diffusion process was not performed properly. Either the temperature was not high enough or was not kept high enough, long enough to allow the carbon molecules to find their way into the surface of the steel. Or, there was not enough carbon molecules being "drifted" across the exposed surface at the right time during the process. OR, a combination of the 3!!!!!

In other words, they did not achieve a deep enough hard surface on the steel camshaft when they were supposed to. THAT is why they scuff and why they chip/fragment on the surface.

So much of metallurgy is dependent upon the process and adherence to the rules. America is in a hurry.

Grab a good German solid cam and bolt it in and go.

Dakotakid · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2008, 10:43:03 am »

ATOMS...not molecules. I would have been thrown out of school for that!!

FWD.MOTION · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2008, 11:53:40 am »

so id be doing fine if i could locate a hyd. cam and put it into my 1.5N/A solid lifter head?