Opinions on Camshaft Damage

"Stang70Fastback" (Stang70Fastback)
04/13/2014 at 12:22 • Filed to: None

So I'm posting this here because I figured I'd get some more varied answers. This is the only major issue that has been discovered while doing the head gaskets on my 98 Outback. It seems like it's been broken for a while because the head was scoured a bit, but it should be OK to reuse. I'm trying to do this on a shoestring budget. Does anyone think it will be the end of the world if we sand down the exposed surface and re-install it as is? The broken part is less than half the circumference, so there won't be any play when we re-install it, but I don't know what other issues it might create. Don't really want to have to buy an entire replacement head from a junkyard (since it's hard to get just the camshaft) if I don't need to. The car has 280k on it already... I'm kind of OCD, so I don't like leaving it, but at this point every dollar counts. I dunno how badly it will upset the balance. Also dunno how much load that part takes, although it seems like more of a guide than anything. The car also needs to be finished my next weekend, so if a local yard doesn't have a head, that will be its own problem.

DISCUSSION (18)

gc8foreva > Stang70Fastback
04/13/2014 at 12:30

I wouldn't reuse anything in a rotating assembly with that kind of damage. You're better off finding a replacement head, although if you know any Subaru specialty shops, they might have a camshaft lying around.

Disclaimer: I work part time in a Subaru specialty shop.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Stang70Fastback
04/13/2014 at 12:30

Less rotating mass! Colin chapman would be proud.

(Do not take engine rebuild advice from me, I'm just trying to be funny.)

Stang70Fastback > vdub_nut: scooter snob
04/13/2014 at 12:31

Heh, that's exactly what I said. 0.000002 HP gained!

Stang70Fastback > gc8foreva
04/13/2014 at 12:32

Are you trying to give me a hint? Do YOU have a camshaft lying around? Lol.

I'm also trying to figure out how the hell this happened to begin with. Seems like an odd thing to happen. But yeah, not really keen on reusing it, but finding the parts in this short a time-frame is going to be a PITA.

Slave2anMG > Stang70Fastback
04/13/2014 at 12:44

As a big a PITA as it will be to rebuild the damn thing again in six months?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Stang70Fastback
04/13/2014 at 12:46

Do not reuse it the cam. Take the heads to a machine shop and ask their opinion.

Bad Idea Hat > Stang70Fastback
04/13/2014 at 13:21

It's a 16 year old car, odd things are going to happen. A lot.

Stang70Fastback > Bad Idea Hat
04/13/2014 at 13:23

Yeah, it just seems like an odd part to break, but it's not like I know much about it anyway. I know they are hardened steel and are brittle, but I still don't see that part breaking easily given it's job.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Stang70Fastback
04/13/2014 at 13:43

Good question. That part seems to carry no stress on it at all. I thought it's purpose was maybe to shield the camshaft seal from the full force of oil spray?

I agree with the others - don't use it or ask a machine shop - opinion value of 0.01$ coming from a non subaru or anything else mechanic. I know money is tight but a new oem camshaft is $163 from subarugenuineparts.com. Or the incredibly numerous Subaru forums - I read posts mentioning extra engines and parts lying around and someone might sell you a camshaft cheap - although you're on that time limit.

I'm doing similar - head gaskets, timing belt, water pump, gazillion seals, clutch, both front axles. Did you notice that your pistons are positioned slightly asymmetric in the bores? Slightly more space between the piston and cylinder wall on the upper side than on the lower side? I'm assuming this is normal for a boxer and just gravity?

Stang70Fastback > VincentMalamute-Kim
04/13/2014 at 15:31

I avoid that problem by rotating my engine every other oil change. Helps keep things nice and even :P

Honestly, I don't know the answer to your question. I just started a new job 650 miles away, which is how it came to be that I needed to do the gaskets in my car, but I didn't have time to do them before moving, so my friend is doing them, and I'm going back in a week to pick up the car assuming he gets it done. I would imagine gravity might cause some uneven wear in a horizontally opposed engine. Makes sense, anyway.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Stang70Fastback
04/13/2014 at 16:13

Smart ass! ;) You're not the banned REX8 on the nasioc forums, are you? That's almost a word for word response he gave to the same question. Good luck with the car. I just came back in from the garage to celebrate removing a broken off exhaust stud on my 98 Forester after trying for about 4 hours trying to weld a nut that would stick onto the stud.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Stang70Fastback > VincentMalamute-Kim
04/13/2014 at 16:52

Bahaha, no that's not me, but that IS pretty funny.

Yeah, I'm not sure what kind of miracle voodoo magic surrounds my car, but both my friend and I feared that there would be too many rusted/frozen/broken bolts when he started taking it apart - particularly the studs on the exhaust manifold. And yet, everything has come apart mostly without issue - he's surprised by how well everything has gone for being a 16-year-old car with 280k miles.

Congrats on your exhaust stud removal! I'm just glad it was you and not me :P

gc8foreva > Stang70Fastback
04/14/2014 at 01:38

Ironically, I have an EJ18 lying around in my garage!

I would rather find heads, because camshafts do get worn over time(surprise surprise!), and chances are if you find a used camshaft lying around, something happened with that head. With complete heads, just get them resurfaced and slap those babies on with the new gaskets, assuming they don't have anything wrong with them. Heck, you can even throw on EJ25 heads and run a turbo setup with the lower compression!

gc8foreva > VincentMalamute-Kim
04/14/2014 at 01:45

Normally your rings will do a pretty good job of holding the pistons in the center. But how slight are we talking and how many miles are on your block? You'll eventually get "shadow," which is wear from the piston skirts just rubbing on your cylinder walls. These are positioned on the pistons exactly where you perceived the asymmetry to be. With the additional wear, I could see gravity causing the piston to rest in a lower than center position.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Stang70Fastback
05/01/2014 at 12:53

I believe I found the answer to the purpose of that part. It keeps the camshaft in place - prevents it from moving too far forward or backward.

Stang70Fastback > VincentMalamute-Kim
05/01/2014 at 15:35

Thanks for the follow up! I kind of figured that's what it was.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Stang70Fastback
05/01/2014 at 17:46

ah, you're smarter than I am. Someone else had to tell me what it's purpose was.

Stang70Fastback > VincentMalamute-Kim
05/01/2014 at 17:56

Lol, well it's nice to have confirmation, as opposed to just guessing.