Swapping engines

[elgyqc]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

The pads in this engine are made of a brown material, which I understood is the new, improved material, replacing black pads made of the softer, more wear-prone material. That, and the apparent lack of wear, leads me to wonder whether they've been replaced. I didn't see any signs that someone's been in there before, but perhaps they were extremely careful.

Here is a slightly fuzzy picture of the pads from my 3.2 S engine,



You will notice that one is almost like new and the other, on the right side, is worn to the point where the roller part of the chain is wearing away the pad between the lines where the links run. All the pads I've changed are this colour, like yours, and the new pads are more beige/white colour.

[Homeoboxter]

Apart from the pads, since now you have good access to these parts, I would carefully inspect the variocam units for rubber debris coming from the internal O-rings. They tend to fail in cars been sitting for a long time. You can take the solenoid off, pull the small piston out and look in there with a flash light. If you end up removing the camshafts to see the lower pads you can also test the variocam by blowing air into it and see how it operates. Good luck!

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by Homeoboxter

Apart from the pads, since now you have good access to these parts, I would carefully inspect the variocam units for rubber debris coming from the internal O-rings. They tend to fail in cars been sitting for a long time. You can take the solenoid off, pull the small piston out and look in there with a flash light. If you end up removing the camshafts to see the lower pads you can also test the variocam by blowing air into it and see how it operates. Good luck!

Appreciate the suggestions, Homeoboxter. I bought a couple o-rings for the VarioCams on JFP's advice. Are those the internal o-rings you're referring to?

[Homeoboxter]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

Appreciate the suggestions, Homeoboxter. I bought a couple o-rings for the VarioCams on JFP's advice. Are those the internal o-rings you're referring to?

No problem. Not sure which O-rings JFP suggested, I meant the internal O-ring within the variocam unit that disintegrates over time scattering green rubber debris all around the engine. If you dropped the sump, inspected the oil filter and found no signs of this, probably you are good to go. Just keep an eye for it because if it started to fail this is a good time to service it. These O-rings are over 20 years old and have gotten brittle by now. As far as I know they usually fail in cars that are not used for years perhaps because they get dried out...

Check out this thread:
https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/77949-green-rubber-2.html

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by Homeoboxter

No problem. Not sure which O-rings JFP suggested, I meant the internal O-ring within the variocam unit that disintegrates over time scattering green rubber debris all around the engine. If you dropped the sump, inspected the oil filter and found no signs of this, probably you are good to go. Just keep an eye for it because if it started to fail this is a good time to service it. These O-rings are over 20 years old and have gotten brittle by now. As far as I know they usually fail in cars that are not used for years perhaps because they get dried out...

Check out this thread:
https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/77949-green-rubber-2.html

Maybe they were seals, rather than o-rings. The parts are out in the shop. I'll look tomorrow.

[LoneWolfGal]

A little Sunday interlude to discuss raising the car. Problem: My supposedly low-profile floor jack isn't quite low profile enough to fit under either the front or back, a common and aggravating problem. My makeshift fix has been to run the car up on two 2x8s under each wheel. They provide enough clearance for the floor jack, but wood tends to slide on concrete, a PITA. Solution: these ramps at $27.69 per pair:



https://www.amazon.com/MAXXHAUL-50699-Capacity-Profile-2-Count/dp/B0BMQYKLYJ/

The maximum height for my four jack stands is 19.5", which raises the car high enough to work underneath without it being claustrophobically tight. That will have to do until I can get a 2-post lift:



https://www.amazon.com/APlusLift-HW-9KFL-000LB-2-Post-Floor/dp/B07F6591TR/

And then what a happy world this will be!

[LoneWolfGal]

The bank 1 cams are out. Removal was easy and, for the most part, peasy. The exhaust cam lifters wanted to slide out, but I had a helper standing by to prevent it. I removed the lifters one by one and arranged them in order on the worktable. The cam caps and all the bolts are in labeled baggies. Without the compression tool to loosen the cam chain I can't inspect the condition of the bottom pad, but the top pad is more accessible and looks almost new. So there you have it.

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by elgyqc

Here is a slightly fuzzy picture of the pads from my 3.2 S engine,



You will notice that one is almost like new and the other, on the right side, is worn to the point where the roller part of the chain is wearing away the pad between the lines where the links run. All the pads I've changed are this colour, like yours, and the new pads are more beige/white colour.

Thanks, Grant. The solenoid compressor tool is supposed to arrive tomorrow and then I'll take the cams out, remove the pads, and snap a photo of them. The new pads are a lighter color, as you point out. I note the pads from your 3.2L engine look almost black.