Cams, power steering

[TheOddV8]

I recently bought a 98 Sho but after purchasing it I found out they have a tendancy for spinning cams. The car was sluggish and power steering fluid gets sucked out and pumped into the antifreeze, which I thought had something to do with why it was slow. I took the valve covers off and found that the cams don't look spun and one coil was split in half and was full of oil. Also the back wires were melted to the valve cover.

So heres the questions:
1. Will a compression check verify the cams have not spun and worth my time to take them out and get them welded?

2. Would one bad coil and semi-melted wires make the car sluggish (no check engine lights)?

3. Where does the power steering fluid and antifreeze share similar compartments? Is it only at the radiator or is it at the power steering pump too? Would a pressure check at the radiator find this leak?

 

[stephen newberg]

1. Will a compression check verify the cams have not spun and worth my time to take them out and get them welded?

If damage has already been done to the values, yes, it would show up on a compression check, but otherwise, no. You do not have to take the cams out for them to be welded, most are welded while still in the engine. And as per it being worth the effort, so far as can be determined, all of the cam sprockets eventually spin, though when it happens is simply not something that can be pre-determined. So if you want to keep the engine, yes, you need to get them welded.

2. Would one bad coil and semi-melted wires make the car sluggish (no check engine lights)?

Certainly could.

3. Where does the power steering fluid and antifreeze share similar compartments? Is it only at the radiator or is it at the power steering pump too? Would a pressure check at the radiator find this leak?

That one I have no idea on. I had not heard of this happening before, short of someone putting the wrong thing in a filler. Anyone else have any idea as to an ongoing cross connect here?

pax, smn

 

[SHOgun_it]

Get your cams welded. Your cams will spin later if they haven't already, it's just a fact about our cars. I'm getting mine done Sept. 2nd, I can't wait! Also, after researching, most camweld procedures change the coils and wires. So, I would say that camwelds would be a great investment for you.

 

[SHO#7]

Are you sure it is power steering fluid and not Transmission oil... Have you had to add power steering fluid.

The only way I see power steering oil getting in the radiator is if someone switched the external cooler lines. They have the transmission oil going through the bar only, and the power steering oil hooked up to the other cooler that also goes through the cooler in the radiator. If that is the setup and the internal cooler in the radiator went bad, you could get PS oil in the coolant.

But that is a long shot.

Mike

 

[TheOddV8]

It's really weird. I have not torn it down or followed any hoses yet, but I fill it up and leave the cap open and watch it run through all the power steering fluid in less the a minute.