Camshaft Tech With COMP Cams’ Billy Godbold
We caught up with Billy Godbold to discuss all things camshaft.
Choosing The Right Camshaft For A Performance Engine
Choosing the “right” camshaft is not only the cornerstone of building a performance engine, but also its centerpiece. Choosing a cam can give anyone a headache – especially if they choose the wrong cam for a given application. There’s a lot of science involved in cam selection, so keep reading and we’ll help you wade through the details.
Diagnostic Solutions: Variable Camshaft Timing And Back Pressure Issues
When the topic of variable valve timing (VVT) comes up in import repair shops, few realize that the concept of increasing low- and high-speed engine torque by automatically advancing and retarding valve timing isn’t a recent development. For example, I recently discovered an old variable camshaft timing gear that I bought during the 1960s featuring a torsion spring device that retards valve timing in response to the increased rotating torque needed to turn the camshaft at higher engine speeds.
Tech Tip: Fuel Injected Engine Camshafts
For a camshaft to work in a fuel injected application, it needs to make a good vacuum signal.
Tech Tip: Top Reasons and Causes for Camshaft Failure
Cam failure is rarely caused by the cam itself. The only things that can be controlled during manufacture pertaining to cam lobe wear are lobe taper, lobe hardness and surface finish.
Tech Tip: Ford Camshaft Tick Noise
Some of the affected vehicles built Jan. 17, 2006 and later equipped with the 3.0L 4V Duratec engine with exhaust camshaft-driven water pumps may exhibit a ticking noise from the left bank cylinder head with the engine at normal operating temperature.
Tech Tip: Camshaft Installation and Break-In Tips
Most American production engines cannot accept more than .500″ lift without modifying the valve guides. When installing a cam with more than .500″ lift, it is absolutely essential that clearance between the valve spring retainer and guide be checked.
Crankshaft and Camshaft Position Sensor Diagnosis
Nothing is more frustrating than diagnosing an intermittent cranking, no-start complaint with no diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and no apparent failure pattern. Much of the time, the cranking, no-start complaint lies with a failing crankshaft or camshaft position sensor. Many of these failures can be heat-related and might require several warm-up cycles to duplicate.
Tech Tip: Why Do Camshafts Fail?
The camshaft itself is rarely to blame for cam failure. When the cam core is made at the casting foundry, all the lobes are flame hardened to a depth below the barrel of the core, allowing the cam grinder to finish grind the lobes to an acceptable shape while maintaining the correct hardness.
Tech Tip: Adjusting Mechanical Camshaft Belt Tensioner
Use the following procedure when adjusting the mechanical camshaft belt tensioner on 1998 Volvo S70/V70/C70 (B52X2/B52X4) vehicles with engine serial number 1266128-on.