Testarossa camshaft seized | FerrariChat

Testarossa camshaft seized

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by squeeky, Jan 6, 2005.

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  1. squeeky

    squeeky Rookie

    Sep 24, 2003
    19
    Well happy New Year to all.
    I was out driving one day after a major service. I decided to take the car for a much needed run. I had gone about 250miles when I noticed a light tapping sound that came and went. After another 100miles there was a nasty sound like a belt slipping. I stopped the car and had it towed the the Ferrari Service Center.
    They took the motor out and were decidedly worried as it was only a few weeks ago that it was serviced (new cambelts, hoses ect.)
    We have since found, after the motor has been completely stripped that the people that rebuilt the water pump a few years ago had not been very careful when splitting the motor and some gasket sealant had gone into an oil gallery.
    It has taken it this long to break down and block the oil gallery to the left hand side inlet camshaft and thereby lack of oil has seized the cam and done minor damage to the head(which can be fixed) and bent four valves.
    It is very strange as it has only started to bind on number two three and four. All other areas seem to have had enough oil to be okay.
    My problem is that I can not find a source for the camshaft. Does any one know of a definite source for one?
    The engine is now being cleaned up and all areas are being looked at and no problems have been found other than a thrust bearing that will be replaced.
    Has anyone else had this happen to them?
    Needless to say the car will be out of action for at least a month.
     
  2. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
    13,748
    On a plane somewhere
    Full Name:
    Heir Butt
    Call Jeff @ Ferrari of UK 011441784486634 [email protected]
     
  3. squeeky

    squeeky Rookie

    Sep 24, 2003
    19
    I have tried ferrari.uk. Nothing in stock.
    I have been told of one available in Switzerland. Awaiting confirmation.
    Another source id europarts. I have emailed them but no reply. They have a used one on the website or 350 pounds.
     
  4. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
    BANNED

    Jul 22, 2003
    8,520
    Melbourne
    Full Name:
    Phil Hughes
    What car...US or other??

    I've just driven home for the weekend in a 550 I've repaired, that had seized the crank and one camshaft after it ran out of oil through damage.

    I repaired the camshaft and head by re line boring the head oversize and hard chromed the cam journals up to suit.

    Only added 1mm to the diameter, as cam/head was not too badly damaged, although it had snapped the cambelt.

    Got it done by a well respected engine specialist. Plenty of them around, just need a good reputation.

    Did a similar thing to the crank block journals as it had turned a main bearing in the block. Just used some other (Chev) main bearings and line bored the block to suit. New crank needed though.
     
  5. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    It happened to quite a few early TR's. The factory was using silicone on the pan rail between the motor and transmission case. The silicone would ooze into the main oil gallery on th pan rail and plug the oil passage to the head. Ferrari switched to Locktite 518 in many but not all applications for that very reason in mid year 86. I have a very hard time believing in your case that it had anything to do with a waterpump repair. In the course of that repair nothing is exposed that even if silicone is used would allow it to migrate to the oiling system after the pump/filter. Splitting the motor as you say is not required for that repair.

    I would try T Rutlands for a cam. A used one should be fine.
     
    tamburini44 likes this.
  6. squeeky

    squeeky Rookie

    Sep 24, 2003
    19
    pieces found actually look like locktite. Although the engine may not have needed to be split from the transmission that is what was done. Some of the old locktite has slipped into one of the oil galleries and broken up over time.
    The car is a 1990 Euro model
    I have had a reply from Europarts and the prices are very sharp for all original parts.
    Thanks for everyones help.
    The head is going to be rebuilt and the camshaft is beyond repair as the mechanics say it has been attacked by heat and may have damaged the integrity of it. It does look very blue compared to the other camshafts.
     
  7. asianbond

    asianbond Formula 3

    Nov 8, 2003
    1,275
    Full Name:
    Chris
    My 2 cents is the shop that did the major service caused this problem.

    It sound too conincidental that you suffer a major failure a day after the major service. I don't care how they spin it, but I think they screwed up somehow
     
  8. squeeky

    squeeky Rookie

    Sep 24, 2003
    19
    I wish that were the case. It would save me some money.
    The thing is that the only thing done was to replace belts and oil with filter and also all hoses were replaced for new silicone hose and goodrich metal braided line. The fragments found do not look like they could have come from anything that was replaced during the service. Unless when oil lines were disconnected they had some material some how get into them.
    I will say that the mechanics were very quick to look at the problem as I am sure that they thought it was something to do with the major service just done.
     
  9. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
    Consultant Professional Ferrari Technician

    Sep 18, 2002
    19,344
    The Cold North
    Full Name:
    Tom
    Here is what I think happend. First a question..Did they remove the cam covers at anytime during the service. I'm assuming so if they did the service correctly.

    When they were scrapping the old gasket off of the heads they were not careful. Gasket material fell into the head and buired itself one or more oil galleries. I have seen this on a 328. It was not a pretty sight. Just a guess but I think a fairly good one. Are you sure what they were showing you was not gasket material?
     
    tamburini44 likes this.
  10. atheyg

    atheyg Guest

    I agree with Tom, way too coincidental for this to happen just a few weeks after a major, they made a mistake.

    They are trying to say this stuff has been floating around or loose since 1990 then by chance plugs a galley a few weeks after a major? Don't let them BS you, they did something and need to take responsibility for it.
     
  11. squeeky

    squeeky Rookie

    Sep 24, 2003
    19
    cam covers were not removed at all.
    And as I mentioned earlier. The fragments that have been found do look very much like locktite.
    I did think it was a problem caused during the service but can only assume that the only place where anything out of the ordinary could enter the engine oil system wqould be through the oil filter area. Or when all hoses were replaced something got into one of the lines.
     
  12. PETE CHURCH

    PETE CHURCH Rookie

    Feb 15, 2004
    14
    #12 PETE CHURCH, Jan 8, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Sorry to here about your problem. I have a 90 TR US version and had the same problem a year ago this week. I seized the 7/12 intake cam and bent 2 valves. After checking with Ferrai I deceided to do the repair myself, took about 3 months an turned out perfectly. My biggest concern was finding out what caused the problem? With some help from one of the readers I was able to find a blocked oilfeed/dowel in the block. The piece I found in the dowel was a piece of oil filter glue that became dislodged. Iam sending a picture which should tell the story. Ferrai changed design of dowels which promted me to pull other head an change that one too.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    tamburini44 likes this.
  13. atheyg

    atheyg Guest

    What brand of oil filter?

    Wow what bad luck.
     
  14. asianbond

    asianbond Formula 3

    Nov 8, 2003
    1,275
    Full Name:
    Chris
    Again, I'm in complete agreement with the other post'er that no way was the loctite floating around for years and just so happen to clog the oil gallery right after the major.

    I know you would love to believe that and not have to blame the current shop, but the truth is they screwed up and you're paying for it. Amazing how you guys spend so much money on these major services yet don't get bend out of shape when these incidents happen, I thought that was what the major services were to prevent.

    I don't care how nice the garage is, it's their fault. People make mistakes.
     

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