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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: Rock3tman on January 16, 2012, 12:54:10 pm

Title: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: Rock3tman on January 16, 2012, 12:54:10 pm
...What is my choice for a replacement camshaft for a 1983 CY turbodiesel - it has mechanical lifters.  The original german one has worn lobe ramps and journals.

thanks
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on January 16, 2012, 01:05:20 pm
...What is my choice for a replacement camshaft for a 1983 CY turbodiesel - it has mechanical lifters.  The original german one has worn lobe ramps and journals.

thanks

the only replacement im aware of is another solid lifter VW diesel cam.. either from a 1.5D, or a 1.6 n/a or TD..

dont even try, or think about dropping a gasser cam in there, it wont ever work. the snout is wrong, along with the grind.. the valves would be in constant contact with the pistons..
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: wdkingery on January 16, 2012, 03:25:34 pm
...What is my choice for a replacement camshaft for a 1983 CY turbodiesel - it has mechanical lifters.  The original german one has worn lobe ramps and journals.

thanks

the only replacement im aware of is another solid lifter VW diesel cam.. either from a 1.5D, or a 1.6 n/a or TD..

dont even try, or think about dropping a gasser cam in there, it wont ever work. the snout is wrong, along with the grind.. the valves would be in constant contact with the pistons..
Booooo you mean you cannot get a more aggressive / aftermarket cam? People are always posting crazy links.. Maybe this could be the cam thread.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on January 16, 2012, 03:29:43 pm
...What is my choice for a replacement camshaft for a 1983 CY turbodiesel - it has mechanical lifters.  The original german one has worn lobe ramps and journals.

thanks

the only replacement im aware of is another solid lifter VW diesel cam.. either from a 1.5D, or a 1.6 n/a or TD..

dont even try, or think about dropping a gasser cam in there, it wont ever work. the snout is wrong, along with the grind.. the valves would be in constant contact with the pistons..
Booooo you mean you cannot get a more aggressive / aftermarket cam? People are always posting crazy links.. Maybe this could be the cam thread.

you can get a giles cam, or something like that, but i dont think they offer a model for the solid lifter head..

an aftermarket cam should be pretty much LAST on your list of mods.. installing one on a completely stock engine wont yield nearly as much power gain as if you installed it in a heavily modified engine..

like, after a giles pump, and bigger turbo, or compound setup, and on and on.. then its time to upgrade the cam.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: 8v-of-fury on January 16, 2012, 03:37:45 pm
Not only that but these are diesel engines.. there is not much to be had in the ways of doing a camshaft.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on January 17, 2012, 07:58:44 am
Not only that but these are diesel engines.. there is not much to be had in the ways of doing a camshaft.

like i said, it should be the LAST upgrade.. when you are all out of other options, and need to squeeze every single .01hp out of your engine..
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: 8v-of-fury on January 17, 2012, 08:07:16 am
Not only that but these are diesel engines.. there is not much to be had in the ways of doing a camshaft.

like i said, it should be the LAST upgrade.. when you are all out of other options, and need to squeeze every single .01hp out of your engine..

Yes, if you re-read what I posted I was agreeing with your statement. ;)

The pistons literally chase the valves back up into the head on the exhaust stroke, and the valve chases the piston down on an intake stroke. There is only a few thou clearance, and it is why stuff gets SMA#$@#%SHED when the timing belt slips or breaks.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on January 17, 2012, 08:28:35 am
i was not saying you were not agreeing...

i know you were.. you dont disagree with me just to argue about something, i know that much. you may like the debate, but not a pointless one  ;)
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: 8v-of-fury on January 17, 2012, 08:31:36 am
you may like the debate, but not a pointless one  ;)

I love debating, from debating comes understanding. Thank-you for the great mind-stimulation ;) :-* lol
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: UnderPSI on January 17, 2012, 09:06:03 am
A guy was making a custom grind in Canada a few years ago.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: MJF on January 17, 2012, 10:16:30 am
Adjusting valve lash is a little problem with regrinded mech cam.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: UnderPSI on January 18, 2012, 02:40:31 pm
Adjusting valve lash is a little problem with regrinded mech cam.

Lash caps.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: MJF on January 19, 2012, 02:36:21 am
Yep. Cam grinder have to know lash cap thickness before grinding, so he can grind base circle to correct dimension.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: UnderPSI on January 19, 2012, 06:46:41 pm
Yep. Cam grinder have to know lash cap thickness before grinding, so he can grind base circle to correct dimension.

uh... that's a negative. Grind the lash cap to the thickness you desire.
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: MJF on January 19, 2012, 09:10:41 pm
Oh yeah, that could be easier. Didnīt think of that ;D
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: RabbitJockey on January 20, 2012, 04:19:45 am
if ur talking about what i think you're talking about, many just take material off the top of the valve
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: Rock3tman on January 21, 2012, 06:46:44 pm
Thanks for the inputs guys.   I had the bottom end done & head rebuilt about 6months ago here in Seattle, but not started yet due to turbo build complexity and a health issue.   I seem to recall that the machine shop said that they used a "TDI cam" and made the changes necessary for use in a mechanical lifter engine - - is this even possible?   Maybe I should do a check of valve lash, can I check each cylinder at TDC with a feeler gauge or how is it done?

The crank turns over very easy when rotated by the sprocket bolt clockwise, except for normal cylinder compression action.  Since it's been stored ~ 6 months in a dry garage, do I need to lube the cylinders before initial start after rebuild?

Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: RabbitJockey on January 22, 2012, 06:28:00 am
From what I understand the tdi cams are not as good
Title: Re: camshaft question - 1.6 mechanical head
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on January 24, 2012, 05:39:18 am
From what I understand the tdi cams are not as good

out of all the diesel cams, the 1.6TD has the hottest stock grind.