s13 cam caps - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

James Padua · 09-12-2013, 10:21 PM

I am putting together another ka24de motor and installed the cams. I was wondering if I can use the cam caps from another ka24de motor since the other head did not come with original cam caps? Any info would really help me out TY

Mikester · 09-13-2013, 06:50 AM

If you are referring to the caps that serve as the upper cam journals, you may want to measure per the FSM and go from there... but you will probably be able to get away with it. However, I am not a certified mechanic and you may want to wait to see what someone who really knows would have to say before listening to me lol.

shogun! · 09-13-2013, 06:58 AM

No. This is a bad idea since the cam use them as bearings. The caps are ground together with the head in a perfect circle. If you use caps from another head, they will for sure either clamp the cam or be too loose. They also have to be installed in correct order and not rotated.

Edit:
Photo added

James Padua · 09-13-2013, 07:16 AM

Yupp that's exactly what I was told. I guess I'm fucked I have a head with missing can caps. But TY guys for the info appreciate it

shogun! · 09-13-2013, 07:55 AM

You could use caps from another engine but you have to bring them and head to a engine work shop to have them grind down the caps a bit and line hone them in situ. Would bring you back a bit but is doable and cheaper than a new head,

zurud · 09-13-2013, 03:26 PM

You can't grind them down. Noboby make bearing for them. Find a good cam cap or buy new one from Nissan

James Padua · 09-13-2013, 08:39 PM

Zurud what do you mean find "good" can caps? Mine are just from another head and I was told each cam cap is mated for a "specific" head therefore not interchangeable between heads

jr_ss · 09-13-2013, 10:11 PM

You "could" run them. However, you need to have them line honed by a reputable machine shop.

cotbu · 09-14-2013, 03:59 AM

If they bolt on, without cross threading the bolts, move on to the condition of the journal. is it scored, does it have any rough edges? apply cam lube, bolt the caps down spin the engine over without fuel or spark, remove the caps, examine cams and caps. is there any scoring? or any thing that looks odd? if NO run them.

The cam will wear into the caps true, if they bolt on correctly your good.
it doesn't hurt to be a lil paranoid, but....

waxball88 · 09-14-2013, 11:33 AM

You should be fine with caps from a different engine, people do exhaust cam swaps into the intake all the time, people put CAMS in their motors all the time, i cant think of reading a single person that did cams and had the caps redone by a machine shop

shogun! · 09-14-2013, 02:50 PM

Cams are all the same in the bearing area and produced within a tolerance. Hence no problem to exchange cams. it is a different issue with changing caps. If using caps from a different engine, you have no guarantee of the circle being true (line boring).

09-12-2013, 10:21 PM	#1
James Padua Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: guam Age: 32 Posts: 3 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	s13 cam caps I am putting together another ka24de motor and installed the cams. I was wondering if I can use the cam caps from another ka24de motor since the other head did not come with original cam caps? Any info would really help me out TY

09-13-2013, 06:50 AM	#2
Mikester Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kathleen, GA Age: 52 Posts: 1,956 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you are referring to the caps that serve as the upper cam journals, you may want to measure per the FSM and go from there... but you will probably be able to get away with it. However, I am not a certified mechanic and you may want to wait to see what someone who really knows would have to say before listening to me lol. __________________

09-13-2013, 06:58 AM	#3
shogun! Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 367 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	No. This is a bad idea since the cam use them as bearings. The caps are ground together with the head in a perfect circle. If you use caps from another head, they will for sure either clamp the cam or be too loose. They also have to be installed in correct order and not rotated. Edit: Photo added __________________ My +700hp RS13

09-13-2013, 07:55 AM	#5
shogun! Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 367 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You could use caps from another engine but you have to bring them and head to a engine work shop to have them grind down the caps a bit and line hone them in situ. Would bring you back a bit but is doable and cheaper than a new head, __________________ My +700hp RS13

09-13-2013, 10:11 PM	#8
jr_ss Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pa Posts: 6,412 Trader Rating: (35) Feedback Score: 35 reviews	You "could" run them. However, you need to have them line honed by a reputable machine shop. __________________ My SR20VET Does your VTC gear rattle in your S14/15 SR? PM me.

09-13-2013, 07:16 AM	#4
James Padua Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: guam Age: 32 Posts: 3 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yupp that's exactly what I was told. I guess I'm fucked I have a head with missing can caps. But TY guys for the info appreciate it

09-13-2013, 03:26 PM	#6
zurud Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: evansville, in Posts: 391 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	You can't grind them down. Noboby make bearing for them. Find a good cam cap or buy new one from Nissan

09-13-2013, 08:39 PM	#7
James Padua Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: guam Age: 32 Posts: 3 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Zurud what do you mean find "good" can caps? Mine are just from another head and I was told each cam cap is mated for a "specific" head therefore not interchangeable between heads

09-14-2013, 03:59 AM	#9
cotbu Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SWFL Age: 49 Posts: 3,318 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	If they bolt on, without cross threading the bolts, move on to the condition of the journal. is it scored, does it have any rough edges? apply cam lube, bolt the caps down spin the engine over without fuel or spark, remove the caps, examine cams and caps. is there any scoring? or any thing that looks odd? if NO run them. The cam will wear into the caps true, if they bolt on correctly your good. it doesn't hurt to be a lil paranoid, but.... __________________ LoverTechnologies "Half Broken Things!"

09-14-2013, 11:33 AM	#10
waxball88 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gainesville Posts: 1,061 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	You should be fine with caps from a different engine, people do exhaust cam swaps into the intake all the time, people put CAMS in their motors all the time, i cant think of reading a single person that did cams and had the caps redone by a machine shop

09-14-2013, 02:50 PM	#11
shogun! Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 367 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Cams are all the same in the bearing area and produced within a tolerance. Hence no problem to exchange cams. it is a different issue with changing caps. If using caps from a different engine, you have no guarantee of the circle being true (line boring). __________________ My +700hp RS13