left cam not spinning easy
 

Hello,
I am following Wayne's book and I am at the point of installing the cams in the cam towers on my 3.0 80 SC engine. The right cam spins very, very easy. The left cam is harder to turn. I loosened all the nuts and the cam still is not spinning real free? I then re torqued everything and the cam spins with the same force. I read several posts covering this matter and it pointed to the cylinder gaskets. And all problems seem to be on the left cam. Since it doesn't matter if the towers are torqued or not could this be something else? Anythng I am over looking? I am planning on taking apart the left side in the morning and redoing it.....

Thank you for your help!
Alan

1. left cam not easy to spin/can still spin buy hand
2. It doesn't matter whether the tower or heads are torqued?
3. I put motor oil on the cam and it turned about the same.
4. The cam binds up completely when I push it all the way in. If I back it off a mm it spins but not like the right one???

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1277778114.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1277778198.jpg

Have you tried to temporarily install the left cam in the right carrier and vice-versa? That way you can at least isolate whether it's the camshaft or the carrier that's the problem... Just a suggestion.

Hello, Great idea! I'll try that in the morning. Such a simple thing and my brain totally overlooked that one. :)

thanks!
Alan

Swamps and Alligators...

OK, I took the left cam housing off. Cleaned it again put the cam in and it turnes better but still not like the right one? Yes you can spin it with your hand but still has more friction than the right one? i interchange cams and it is definently the cam tower..... Looking for advise? Should I proceed? Or get another used cam tower?

thank you!
Alan

Just wanted to let everyone know i figured it out. I had the head stud nuts torqued too tight on the left side. Thanks for any help provided :)
Alan

Yes, that is why it is a good idea to have the cams in when doing the initial head stud torquing: if it starts binding, loosen and start over.