Cam locked up in head

[Sandm849]

Just curious if anybody else has run into this and knows why! Sheared the cam gear bolt off and cams locked up. I have a new head for it but was just wondering what everybody elses experiences have been.

[25Horseplay]

Might have an oil pressure problem, you might want to put a gauge on it when you start it with the new head to avoid repeating this on the new head.

[Pu241]

Warped head?

[chrisofna]

Just curious if anybody else has run into this and knows why! Sheared the cam gear bolt off and cams locked up. I have a new head for it but was just wondering what everybody elses experiences have been.

Aww man, you had me scared for a second, I thought that was happening with the head I gave you, lol.

[grey]

Warped head?

was my guess
Or some valve to piston interaction... I hope not

[mechanicaldj]

overheated engine

[Pu241]

was my guess
Or some valve to piston interaction... I hope not

These are non-interference engines.
So even with a broken timing belt at speed there will be no "valve to piston" contact.
But I know a warped head, from over heating, can bind the cam.

[TominMO]

Whew, for a minute there I thought the title meant Cam Waugh went off his rocker.

[JasonC]

My festiva was like this when i got it. And it broke the bolt off that held the cam gear on also. My best guess was that they ran it out of oil and starved the top end of the motor of oil. Cause when i went to take the engine apart, i drained the oil and only got about 1.5qts of oil out of it. Since then i put on a new head,rings,bearings,and all fresh gaskets. it has about 1500 miles on it now with no problems other then the temp senser on the intake gave me a fit.

[grey]

These are non-interference engines.
So even with a broken timing belt at speed there will be no "valve to piston" contact.
But I know a warped head, from over heating, can bind the cam.

That rule only applies to new engines under ideal conditions. It does not factor in carbon buildup, or coolant leak, or dirt from playing with spark plugs
or using "top end cleaner" , ect... Nor does the rule apply to shaved or mis- applied heads.

[Pu241]

That rule only applies to new engines under ideal conditions. It does not factor in carbon buildup, or coolant leak, or dirt from playing with spark plugs
or using "top end cleaner" , ect... Nor does the rule apply to shaved or mis- applied heads.

Its not a rule!
I'm not certain you could "buildup" enough carbon to cause piston valve contact.
Coolant leak could could possibly lead to hydro-locking the engine but still not piston valve contact.
Same with "top end cleaner".

The only one of these that might cause piston valve contact is the shaved head, but I don't know how much you'd have to take off the head to produce piston valve contact.
Way more than would be usual I'm sure.
Explain how you could so poorly mount the head that you produce piston valve contact

[Zanzer]

Not exactly a B3 but I've seen the cams lock up in a few Ford 4.6 V8's. It's usually due to either running the oil too long between changes in which case it sludges up and restricts oiling or running the oil level too low. Either one can cause lack of oiling at the journals and lock the cams up. I have a 4.6 that came out of a Crown Vic that looks like it may have had the oil changed in it maybe 5 times during it's life. It was pulled because both cams locked up dead tight. I pulled the cams out of curiosity and the journals are FRIED.

Another theory out there (on the 4.6 engine anyway) is the use of the wrong weight of oil. I'm not sure about the B3 engine but 4.6's are specified to run a 5 weight oil (5W20 or 5W30). The theory goes; since the engine is built to tight tolerances and the cams are in the top of the motor, like the B3 cam, Ford specified use of a 5W oil instead of a 10W to insure that oil gets to the cam journals faster during start up. Some of the Mustang guys have accused this of being a possible cause of cam journal failure in the 4.6 motor. But with that being said, I know people who run 10W30 and 10W40 in their 4.6 without any issues so far.

[grey]

That rule only applies to new engines under ideal conditions. It does not factor in carbon buildup, or coolant leak, or dirt from playing with spark plugs
or using "top end cleaner" , ect... Nor does the rule apply to shaved or mis- applied heads.

Would you prefer I used the word "term" or "classification" instead of "rule"?
As long as the original poster understands, then I dont think it makes any difference which word is used.

Valve to piston contact is possible.

[Sandm849]

Ok so by what everybody has seen I should just be able to put a head on and be good to go?

[25Horseplay]

Ok so by what everybody has seen I should just be able to put a head on and be good to go?

As long as it wasn't locked up due to no oil pressure.