Camshaft cracks?

[k2speeder]

Hi all! I recently bought a used 98 MGM at 78,000 the had the common intake gasket leak. I was told by the owner that the vehicle had been unused for about 3 years since the leak happend. When I bought it I immediately got to work! Dorman intake, Motorcraft thermostat, radiator hoses, water pump, 4 bad coils, heater return pipe, plugs, egr, idler pulley, belt, battery, oil pressure switch, fuel filter, and other misc things. I got the car running and did several oil changes to clean out the engine. I hade a persistan miss/ knock the I couldn't pinpoint! I was ready to throw in the towel. I started to thing that maybe it was the cam followers the were possibly gunk-ed up like the oil pressure switch. Started the car and oil flow was good to the timing chain and followers and they seemed fine. Stopped engine and I saw this. Anyone ever seen this? I will consider the whole engine junk at this point as I have no idea what else could be bad internally.

[gadget73]

The rust is probably just condensation from sitting, but WTF on the cracked cam lobe. can't say I've even heard of that one before.

[grandpaslincoln]

Manufacturing defect maybe? Are those lobes pressed onto the shaft, they don't look welded or cast as one piece like a pushrod cam is.

[k2speeder]

Manufacturing defect maybe? Are those lobes pressed onto the shaft, they don't look welded or cast as one piece like a pushrod cam is.

I was thinking the same thing, they look pressed on. How they did it and got the correct angle I have no idea. This must have been a more "cost effective" way for manufacturing the cam? I rotated the cam about 90 degrees and all lobes look to have the same issue. I imagine the passenger side is the same. Good call on the rust gadget73. Could you picture this grenadine at highway speeds? Nasty! Here is a closer look.

[k2speeder]

Check this out. Learn something new everyday. Found on google books. I have no idea how.

[cld783]

all that rust from condensation? u sure you didn't pull the head from the bottom of the river?

[SVT98t]

Well, it definitely has water in it. And by definitely, I mean tons.
I like the puddle of water above the lifter.
The cam lobes on my 06 CVPI motor don't look remotely close to those ones.
And that motor is junk.

-ryan s.

[k2speeder]

Yea, not happy about it. I wouldn't have never guessed it was that bad. But then again it was sitting for quite awhile just leaking water. I'm surprised this engine even turns over and fires. I agree Ryan it's junk no doubt. The repair momentum I had is spent. I'll be weighing my options on what to do with it this week.

[turbo2256b]

Yes the cam lobes are pressed on and are made of powdered metal. Either the pressure of running the ball through and or pressure from the folower could cause the crack. Most likely the powered metal could have imperfections (air pockets) could cause it over time. Years ago did a lot of research for a company I worked for that looked into powered metal. Even sent me to PA were a lot powered metal parts are manufactured. One way to describe it is say cut wood planks would be like ordenary steel or cast steel. Powered metal would be more like partical board. Its a rough analogy but you get the idea.

[sly]

new cams and rockers and run it till it lunches itself (which may well be eons after you're done with it).

[grandpaslincoln]

I would drain the oil and see what comes out. Probably a lot of water. I once had a Chevy C10 that someone had swapped an absolutely worn out 283 into, every once in a while all the lifters would tap, and then quit. It ended up having about a quart of antifreeze in the pan that the pump was sucking through the system.

[cld783]

someone drove it with the leak until it made noise. then it sat for a while.

probably a woman

[jaywish]

The article indicated that the cracked lobes could exhibit no symptoms. I would not worry about them, is the water in the oil that looks bad.

I suggest another used motor and have done with it.

[k2speeder]

When I first took delivery it had at least 10+ quarts of "fluid" in it that I drained (see below). After the intake swap everything seemed to be good leak wise. Still had engine tick though. A leak seems like it reoccurred the other day while trying to bleed the cooling system. Took the valve covers off yesterday inspecting the valve-train and heard a water leak hiss from the lower timing chain cover area. Tell you what that little timing chain oil squirter is one strong SOB. Oil all over me and the fender while tying to get a closer look at the cam followers. LOL. I was thinking about hitting the pick-n-pull to grab some cylinder head guts. Would be alot cheaper.

[Lincolnmania]

put a used motor in it.......the 01+ ones have more oomph