Boxster does its best Exxon Valdez imitation

[woodsman]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

To insure the problem doesn't reoccur tap the end of the camshaft & seal with a pipe plug. I believe 3/8" pipe thread is best. This requires the camshafts be removed from the head. I'm sure the varioCam wear pads need replacing anyway. We're talking $50 parts but $800+ labor & maybe + tools cost also.

Tap a hardened surface with a hardened tap? I don't think that'll work.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by woodsman

Tap a hardened surface with a hardened tap? I don't think that'll work.

Standard procedure on all JR flat6 engine builds. I believe only the camshaft lobes are hardened chilled iron.

[Jamesp]

Other than making sure the engine was not contaminated with chips from cutting the threads, it seems like a threaded plug could be installed with the camshaft in the engine, and perhaps with the engine in the car depending on clearance. The trick would be to make sure none of the chips generated by cutting threads into the camshaft remained in the engine. Capturing them in thick grease during cutting, and then using a wet dry vac with a vacuum hose to remove the grease and chips might do the trick. It would be very bad for the engine to leave any chips behind, but from where you are now it might be worth a shot to see if it is feasible. Worst case you're back to taking the cams out.

[davedeck]

OWhat should I expect as a cost to pull the camshafts doctored them up and replace using an Indies garage in the Midwest?