crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

Im looking to get some opinions, I dont want to trash the head, its got EVERYTHING done to it, i ordered a set of GSC T1 camshafts and started prepping for the install when I came across this. To the touch, it's very light, it doesnt catch my finger nail either. Can I take this to the machine shop and have this align honed? Or would it be ok to run this? I dont want to ruin a brand new set of cams. This is the last journal on the gear side. So Im turning to you guys!!

joe b

I would take it to a machine shop at the very least . It very well could be ok with some light touch up . This should be done by a pro though .

Turbo-LS

iTrader: (4)

Looks like you've been making your timing belt a bit to tight there. Its not horrible I've seen and ran in much worse condition without issues. I would clean it up with soem emory cloth and nto put the belt so tight

crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

so some light grit emory would do the trick?

Turbo-LS

iTrader: (4)

very light grit and just a little bit on there dont go crazy trying to get it all smooth because you'll end up takng away to much material

SwappedTURBOegg

i would run that and not think twice.

wantboost

iTrader: (2)

Go over it with 0000 steel wool very lightly just to knock the rough areas down a bit.

Almost every single vtec head I've seen usually has journal scarring to some degree and it's always the last journal before the cam gears due to improper timing belt tension

Can you feel anything with your fingernails? If so it could be an oil starvation issue (although I see no heat checking or material transfer so it would be mild starvation at worst) or a problem with proper oil filtration leading to debris circulating through the oiling system

If your fingernails do catch in places use the 0000 wool with some sort of lubrication agent (not wd40) and apply light, even pressure and make consistent passes over the journal. If you can still catch you nail on it you might want to have a machine shop look at the head.

Or do the steel wool and go over it with a micro polishing cloth. That's about as good as you'll get it

crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

I can feel a little, some areas may catch my nail, but ever so slightly though

nealnanoHX

That is very normal nearly every head I have seen has that on at least 1 cam journel. I would just run it as it is but you can do the 0000 steel wool just do take off much, all you want to do is polish it up a bit.

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

Do you add extra tension to the tbelt tensioner?

crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

I purchased this head online, and upon recieving it, I found this. It looks like they may have.


Machine shop said they same, it's nothing major, but i could clean it up.

blackeg

i use grey colored scotchbrite pads on that. just a bit it smooths out fine. i think you have up to .006" cam to journal clearance to stay in service limit so you can smooth it out a tiny bit. for what its worth most of the bvtec heads ive used have had some scoring on those journals

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

I wish the cam journals just had bearings you could replace.

crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

This!!



My eyes almost popped out of my socket when I saw that! lol

m4xwellmurd3r

I grew up around old 60s vws so seeing these engines (and other engines) with no cam bearings actually freaked me out. I kept thinking, well how the **** do you fix that if it goes bad?

I guess the forces involved for the cams just isnt geat enough to necessitate the use of cam bearings, vs the cost to design and manufacture them.


Posted from Honda-tech.com App for Android

wantboost

iTrader: (2)

Exactly.

That's why I like working on our ls7. When we did the new cam we just had to use new bearings. No chance of anything like journal scoring lol. Although we put some pretty trick ceramic roller bearings on our cam. Made a noticeable difference

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

This guy had his machine shop install cam journal bearings.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/all-motor-naturally-aspirated-44/insert-bearings-into-cam-journals-3082763/

crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

That is super legit!!!!

crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

Ruh roh

lostforawhile

Hondas use oil pressure instead of cam bearings, thats why the pressure is higher then most small engines, the oil is supposed to keep the cam from touching the journal, the other issue and most people dont realize this, is since the zinc was removed from the oil, you are going to see more wear, the zinc was a sacrificial item that protected the wear surface of the journal,and the flap tappets that operate the rockers, there was always some zinc left on the journals after shutdown, and it helped protect the surface until oil pressure came up

crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

Good stuff!

lostforawhile

Everything in the valvetrain from the metaluragy to the load on the rockers was designed with the expectation that an oil with zinc phosphates would be used, that was the standard, when you remove something critical from the oil,that was calculated in during the design process, bad things happen, I'm convinnced there is more to its removal then converters, everyone from the car companies to the tree huggers making nonsense emissions laws, want older cars off the road, this is an insidious way of destroying engines from the inside out, combine this with ethanol damage,and there is no telling how many good cars went to the scrap yard

Turbo-LS

iTrader: (4)

Which is why a high quality racing oil like joe Gibbs or brad penn should be run. At the bare minimum should run some valvoline vr1 synthetic

lostforawhile

You can buy the zinc phosphate additive to put back in the oil, but I would also rather run brad penn oil , most non car people don't understand this, and dump whatever is on sale in, not realizing the damage being done, I was lucky enough with the 90 lincoln,that it had roller rockers, and the truck is 2002, but the 86 will nothing but brad penn

crxtc_vtec

iTrader: (2)

Good info!! I was actually planning on running Brad Penn once I get everything back together!!!