Is pinning the cams really rocket science?

[SHOBrad]

I'm planning on either TIG welding (my dad is a welder) or pinning the cams myself over Christmas break and I was wondering why pinning makes everyone so nervous? It seems as long as you set the drilling operation up correctly to penetrate straight thought the middle on the sprocket collar and cam and drowned the whole assembly in coolant to keep the heat buildup minimal that making the hole would not be so hard. After that it would simply be reaming it to size, pressing the pin in and tacking both ends with a welder (preferably TIG). Seems pretty straight forward. What type and diameter of pin is used? I assume just a standard hardened steel pin of 1/4" diameter or so. These are pretty damn strong.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Brad

P.S. I mean no offense to the good companies that offer this service.

<small>[ November 29, 2002, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: SHOBrad ]</small>

 

[Ian Macoomb]

A lot of this has been discussed on the mailing list. Some of it should be posted over on V8SHO.com I believe.

Anyway, the way I see it, there's no real benifit to pinning the cams. Welding will do just as good of job if not better and it's much easier to do without screwing up.

 

[SHODWN]

Pinning in the car cant really be done, the metal shavnigs will scatter all over the place. Besides putting a pin through a spot that has gripping power weakens the gripping power. Pining should not be done IMHO.

if the cam walks, while pinned the only thing that will hold it is the pin, if the pin is softer it too will wear and shear off, if it is harder it will cause damage and oblonging (sp?) to the hollow shaft and or solid gear eventaully snapping.

Welding also has its flaws but is a better solution, have a decent welder get in and out not making the shaft/sproket too hot causing distortion. to cold of a weld wont hold either.

odds of warping a cam are very low, 100 times the amount of cams have been welded to being pinned. Plus the cost of pinning is not very nice to your wallett. what used to be 600 is now 1000 and your labor to remove and reinstall the cams will be at a min 15hrs plus the cost of gaskets (cheap) and re timing the motor which can be tough if you dont have the manual and or cd.

 

[Buford]

You may have read this but just in case you have not

http://www.v8sho.com/SHO/CamshaftHardnessTesting.htm

I would never have them pinned in the car, nor try the machine work my self. I know enough good machinests to know my limits.

 

[stephen newberg]

Great information there. Thanks Tim.

pax, smn