Snapped a camshaft bearing cap!

[Steve_B]

Replaced the oil seal on the camshaft as i noticed there was a lot of oil on the head around that area. Anyway, was tightening up the nuts for the bearing caps when one of them snapped in half!
Was thinking about other stuff that needed doing and wasn't paying attention like an @rse, and this happened. So, where can i get some replacements from, and have i done any damage to the camshaft itself?

Steve

[sidecarphil]

if i'm not to much mistaken they are only available new with a new head as they are line bored at production

maybe try a local scrappys but might not be ok 

[xcore]

a guy from club polo did this, as the caps are shapped over time from the camshaft and head, he replaced the cap and it snapped his camshaft

[danny_p]

sorry to say this  but the head is pritty much f**ked.   tho the cam will be ok

as sidecarphil said they are  line / tunnel bored at production then cracked off,   so each cap is pritty much unique.   if you can find 20 or 30 caps it's sometimes possible to find one thats close enough to save the head.  

you need to take all the tappets out put penty of oil light grease on the journals and put a cap on at ether end.  and spin the cam,  then put a cap on the offending journal  and do the nuts up gently spin the cam to feel if it's trying to bind then torque it down and repeat.  then remove the cap and look for shiney streaks.   repeat repeat and repeat again untill you find one or two that are ok.  then check clearances with plastigadgue

you can tighten them up if needed by rubbing the mateing faces of the cap on wet and dry.

i has a load of caps for situations like this  that you can borrow but it is a sod of a job

[Steve_B]

It's not sounding good 
So I can borrow some caps then danny? Whereabouts are you fella?
Might have to take some time off work for this, really don't want to pay for a new head atm, especially when mine's been fine so far.

[DarnPB]

Exactly what Danny said I'm afraid. You might be in for a new head though. What caused the cap to snap? There must have been something very wrong for that to happen.

[Steve_B]

Not sure what happened tbh. Made sure the numbers on the caps matched up, then started thinking about another job that needed doing whilst tightening them up. Next thing i knew one of em snapped. Feel a bit of a spastic now for losing concentration  :embarassed:

Anyone got a 8v head for sale then?

[Wayne]

As above your going to need a head really.

[danny_p]

i'm in herefordshire  so proably have to post them.   

[Steve_B]

Yeah, can pm you my address if that's ok.
So I take the tappets out, then oil all the journals. Torque down the caps on either end. Select a cap, tighten it up and see if the cam spins freely, then torque that.  If it does, look for streaks on the cap. How do i check the clearances?

Cheers
Steve