328 camshaft locking after cams have been out | FerrariChat
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328 camshaft locking after cams have been out

Discussion in '308/328' started by Freddie328, Feb 25, 2024.

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  1. Freddie328

    Freddie328 Formula Junior

    Jul 29, 2013
    385
    Herts, UK
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #1 Freddie328, Feb 25, 2024
    Hi All
    What is the best way to hold the camshafts in their correct positions against the timing marks whilst reinstalling?
    Its almost like this is a two person job. One to hold the cams in position whilst he other puts a locking tool onto them.
    Surely must be an easier way?
    Also, i understand that the front/left bank pistons are mid way up the bores when crank is at TDC mark, so safe for some cam movement.
    Not so for the rear /right bank. How much cam movement of the cams away from their timing marks would cause a valve/piston collision?
     
  2. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,184
    Kingsport, TN
    Full Name:
    Lawrence A. Coppari
    #2 Lawrence Coppari, Feb 25, 2024
    I had the cams out of my 328 years ago. One of my cams wanted to move away from its correct position. The other would remain in its correct position. I used two pieces of wood cut into trapezoids with a bolt through them to lock the cams.
    As I said, one cam would stay put, but other would not. I put a wrench on the cam, moved it to correct position, and held it in position while I tightened the wing nut on the bolt that squeezes the wood blocks into the pulleys with the other hand. I imagine that you could remove the little hockey pucks (after numbering them) on the offending cam to stop the rotation tendency. I did not do that.
     
  3. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,769
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    Brian Crall
    #3 Rifledriver, Feb 25, 2024
    In over 45 years I have not once found any need to lock V8 cams for any reason other than torquing the sprocket bolts and I'd never trust any of the sprocket holding tools to hold while torquing.
     
  4. Freddie328

    Freddie328 Formula Junior

    Jul 29, 2013
    385
    Herts, UK
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #4 Freddie328, Feb 25, 2024
    Ah, if only one tends to move that makes it easier. I certainly saw the inlet cam move away from the correct position. I can correct this by turning the cam with a socket on the cam wheel nut whilst I lock the cams.
     
  5. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    #5 Rifledriver, Feb 26, 2024
    If you are going though the gymnastics of holding a cam with one hand while tightening the cam lock with the other, why not skip a step and hold the cam with one hand and slip the belt on with the other?
     
  6. waymar

    waymar Formula 3

    Sep 2, 2008
    1,354
    Northeast, PA - USA
    Full Name:
    Wayne Martin
    #6 waymar, Feb 26, 2024
    The GTSi cams have a hex on them. I use that to hold the cam shaft for either torquing or putting the belt on…
     
  7. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,184
    Kingsport, TN
    Full Name:
    Lawrence A. Coppari
    #7 Lawrence Coppari, Feb 26, 2024
    I have never been able to slip the belt on with one hand.
     
  8. kcabpilot

    kcabpilot Formula 3

    Apr 17, 2014
    1,597
    California SF bay area
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    Paul
    #8 kcabpilot, Feb 26, 2024
    If you're installing the cams you can put a bit of paper or business card under one of the journal caps and snug it down. That will keep it from turning.
     
    Freddie328 likes this.
  9. Freddie328

    Freddie328 Formula Junior

    Jul 29, 2013
    385
    Herts, UK
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #9 Freddie328, Feb 26, 2024
    Yes, I can see that would work. Just thought it would be easier to have the cams locked in place whilst placing the belt on, so its easier to get the tension side of belt fully taught.
    In the past i locked the cam belt gears together with a small G clamp before removing the belts. Very simple and inexpensive tool, and makes changing the belts easy.
    Re my other question, is it ok to rotate the camshafts with crank timing mark at TDC, one cam out, on front bank?
    I think on the rear bank i need to rotate the crank 90 deg to get No1 piston away from TDC?
     
  10. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    #10 Rifledriver, Feb 26, 2024
    If it was easier I would have been doing that for the last 45 years.

    Why would you want to?

    I do things kind of like you describe all the time. I can also look a a single cam lobe position and tell you the location of every piston in the engine.
    You start doing that and it is only a matter of time before you get something wrong and bend valves.
     

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