Someone riddle me this (Cam spinning question)

[driven01]

I've been out of the loop for a few months (way out of the loop) so please bear with me if this has been covered ....

My 97SHO now has 72,500 miles on it. I couldn't be more paranoid at the moment. (Side note: My Service engine soon light came on today, so now my nerves are on overdrive.) oh_my

My question is this:

* Is this cam failure likely to happen on ALL V8 SHO engines? *

Or is it limited to a percentage?

By now we should be getting some idea, no?

Any insight (or opinions) are very much appreciated.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Cam failure is POSSIBLE on all V8 SHOs, doesn't neccesarily mean it will happen. Get the cams welded, as long as the engine is not ticking now, you should be safe. As far as your SES light, get the codes pulled and find out what is throwing the code

 

[driven01]

Yeah ... I was hoping to finish paying the darn thing off ... (5 more payments! Hoo Hoo!) The cam welds are scheduled as payment #6 (#7 will remove two dents from my driver door!) ).

I'm just hoping that the cams hold up for 5 more friggin months ....

Does anyone know if the failure is happening on a majority of the engines? (I guess I'm trying to nail down a percentage ... I'm not sure if one can be had ...)

Thanks again.

 

[Mac98SHO]

I am probally going to jinx myself..... 110K and still going .... Cams welds scheduled in '03 sometime.

thumbs_u

 

[woodrow]

Well I think I'm pretty lucky, my 96 SHO had the treaded sewing machine tick for about 8000 kms, before I had the thought of getting it checked. I drove it around every where getting comments from everyone that it sounded like a diesel. I finally decided to remove the valve covers and get things checked. We discovered that my front cam was loose. I counldn't belive that my engine never failed, I mean i was aware of this problem even before i bought the car, so when I first heard the tick I was pretty peaked. It is funny that the two local ford dealers wouldn't even touch it, because of the fact that never seen one before(ya thats what I call Blue Oval Certified) so five thous later my car runs beautiful. Lately I think this car was a bad investment, but I wanted one for years so hey what ya gonna do. I plan on keeping this car for as long as I can. I already sank over ten g's in it (canadian). And I parked it for the winter and plan on putting another 12 grand by summer. so after about forty grand in the car, I can only see myself in keeping this for making the ultimate sleeper.

 

[woodrow]

Oh yeah, i dunno if every Sho is affected. Theres one for sale where I live for 8 g's Canadien, it has 234,000 ks on it, i tried to offer the chick 6 grand just so i could use it as my winter beater. She refused, but you should have seen the look on her face when i told her about the cam problem, she'll crack then i'll have a motor to rig up........ since i work in a machine shop.. hahahaha

 

[driven01]

Woodrow,

That's pretty much what I am planning on doing (keeping my car forever .. or as long as practical). I've got too much into it to consider getting rid of it. (And the value hasn't held up as well as expedted either.) If anything I'll get something else to run around in and help preserve the SHO.

My immediate repair list:
- Fix whatever is causing this SES light ..
- Weld cams. I saw Doug tonight ... I'm too nervious about this so I think I'll make an appointment next week some time. (Not that I have the money now and I loath credit cards, but sometimes you have to use them I guess.)
- Fix two small dents in my driver door that's driving me nuts. (I'll call those dentless paint removal places I guess.)

Beyond that (once all this is done) Doug Lewis is going to get a lot of work from me with enhancements for SHO. Hoo Hoo ...

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

[SHODWN]

Woodrow, if your looking for one I may have another.

1996
Silver Frost
80k miles