Unusual cam wear

  • danam
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Unusual cam wear

30 Jan 2026 16:35 - 30 Jan 2026 19:47
#921072
Hi guys, I have <1000 miles on my 1975 z1 rebuild and it’s smoking so I’m looking i to it. While removing the cams i saw these aluminum shards from the cam caps on #3 cylinder both intake and exhaust. If you look closely you can see the shaved pieces I found under the cams.   The lobes must have made contact with the caps? If both cams were not aligned correctly wouldn’t they all have this result?  It looks like the bearing shells are in correctly 
Last edit: 30 Jan 2026 19:47 by danam.

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  • SWest
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Re: Unusual cam wear

30 Jan 2026 19:50
#921075
You didn't have #1and #3 caps lined up with the cam guides. 
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Re: Unusual cam wear

30 Jan 2026 21:21
#921078
I'm sorry I don't understand, the caps do not have any adjustable play to align at all. They bolt on and are not movable in any way.

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Re: Unusual cam wear

30 Jan 2026 21:53
#921079
The cams have two guides  on them that fit in the caps. Easy to get the cams off just enought to cause what you see. 
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  • Wookie58
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Re: Unusual cam wear

31 Jan 2026 01:11
#921081
This area is what controls "end float" - as Steve said if the cam was slightly to one side or the cap wasn't square when bolted down it would do this. It looks like there is enough material left to hold the cams in place (check end float when you re-assemble)
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Re: Unusual cam wear

31 Jan 2026 01:52
#921082
As previous replies.
Those two caps are numbers 1 and 3 which are designed to control cam end float and you will notice they are machined differently on the underside to numbers 2 and 4 . 
The fracture marks on the caps indicate that the shaved portions of aluminium were sheared off when the caps were bolted down due to a slight misalignment of the cams and caps on assembly.
The damage is minimal and won't have any affect on their function..
 
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  • slmjim+Z1BEBE
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Re: Unusual cam wear

Yesterday 04:24
#921132
Seems like that would have been felt during initial hand cranking after assembly when the lobes contacted the caps. Something similar to a physical stop.

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Re: Unusual cam wear

Yesterday 04:30
#921134
That wasn't caused by the lobes Jim but by the cam thrust face sharp edge. Scurry in assembly not paying attention.
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