Looking at a gen3 (technical help)

[Jonny Cash]

Today my cousin and I were looking at a 98 Black over gray w/ 90k. Guy wants 3 grand. The body is so-so. Couple nice scratches, and a couple dings with average interior. More or less what Id expect from a 98 with a 3500$ asking price..

When I opened the hood, it was making a funny, slight knocking kind of noise from the accesory part of the top end. Kinda like a bad bearing noise would sound. It kinda reminded me of a timing belt/chain tensioner gone bad. I heard a similar noise to what my old 93 was making.

Anyone ever heard a similar noise coming from the top like that? Would that be a symptom of cam failure?

 

[ScotSHO]

Yes that is probably a symptom.

Buford has a video floating around of a cam failure just before one of the sprockets let go. Sounds like a lot of top end clatter.

Here's a link to a few videos:

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

If you really want the car, offer about $2500. Tell him it needs the cams welded or it won't make it to 91k! If you do buy it, don't drive it AT ALL!!! Trailer it right to Kirk's.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Yup.

 

[Jonny Cash]

Thanks.

 

[lndshark]

Chris, if a car is making the "cam failure imminent" noise, but hasnt totally failed yet, is there the possibility of engine damage already. I guess to rephrase, can a sliped sprocket damage the engine before it has technically "failled"

Just curious.

have a good day all

 

[Jonny Cash]

I was gonna ask the same thing. He was calling me today...I kinda stalled on him.

I think Im gonna call him and tell him not to drive it before its really too late.

 

[Mr. SHO]

The cam failure usually begins with the sprocket walking back and forth on the splines of the cam tube. After a while, it will slip (rotationally) and the cam lobes on the failed cam will be out of time with the crank and pistons. If you hear a tapping/clicking it may be just the sound of the sprocket walking. This doesn't mean that any damage has occurred except to the cam and/or sprocket. This could go on indefinitely but common sense and also observation shows us that it isn't long before the sprocket and cam completely let go of each other. This makes the pistons and valves collide and usually that means several thousand dollars have just been flushed forever.

So in other words, there isn't really any way to tell just how much damage has been done, but if the car runs properly other than the excessive noise, it's probably safe to say that the engine can be saved just by correcting the cam/sprocket union. Usually, if the cam has slipped out of sync, the car won't hold an idle b/c the valves are opening out of time and killing compression.

 

[Jonny Cash]

So this guy calls me today with the update on what his "mechanic" said the noise was. I wish you guys could hear this guy.....

" Umm, my guy told me because the V8 is so powerful, that they all make that noise. Its not the cams, or anything like that. This car runs perfect" The mechanic said: " He has the V6, not the V8 thats why he dosent know what hes talking about, theres nothing wrong with this car. " ( exact words )

I just calmly said to him: Dont drive that car.... You will regret it if you do. No offense but your guy is wrong, and he obviously dosent have any SHO knowledge telling you that. And if and when you do drive it.... Give me a call when it breaks, and Ill give you 700 bucks for it..haha

He was so ghetto, and stubborn too. I hope it breaks on him before he sells it to some sorry kid who thinks he just bought a hot rod. I hope its on 95 during rush hour too..