Parts to buy with I cam/valve spring swap

[884door]

Okay I'm getting ready to put an I cam and Valve springs into my supereta head (along with all the other I goodies for a cheap stroker).

I greatly suspect this will be impossible without removing the head, right?


Anyways, while I'm doing it I'm also replacing the following:
Timing belt/tensioner
Head Gasket
Valve Cover Gasket
Cam Seal
Head Bolts
Etc. Etc.

My question is should I be replacing any little parts in the head at the same time? Like valve stem seals, valve guides or keepers?

As is my engine has 170k on it and runs flawlessly. I had the vavle cover off recently and nothing showed any obvious excessive wear. (Everything actually looked better than I expected)

Thanks in advance guys.

[whodwho]

FYI, Unless this is a 7 journal SETA head you will need to drill oil passages for the additional journals of the I cam.

[dashboardmonkey]

replace them valve stem seals while yer in there

[884door]

FYI, Unless this is a 7 journal SETA head you will need to drill oil passages for the additional journals of the I cam.

Thanks, I already knew that. From everything I've read mine is most likely a 7 journal head. Manufacture date 09/87 (Very early SETA), and the head is marked "2.5"

replace them valve stem seals while yer in there

Thanks will do.

I actually have the complete I head and I'm debating just swapping that on, but I'm a little hesitant because it came from a parts car me and a buddy had that didn't run worth a crap, looking back (now that I know more) I think it was probably just a bad crank position sensor though.

Maybe I should just have that head pressure tested and checked for flatness. (is that a word?)

[whodwho]

The head is basically identical to an i head and will have the 7 journals. It is the cam that you would need to look at to see if it has 4 and if the head needs the additional oil passages drilled.

I believe it is the late SETA that they claim has the 7 journal ETA cam, I have yet to find anyone to really confirm it...

If it turns out yours is one I will buy the cam from you (or anyone else that has one for that matter)

[884door]

The head is basically identical to an i head and will have the 7 journals. It is the cam that you would need to look at to see if it has 4 and if the head needs the additional oil passages drilled.

I believe it is the late SETA that they claim has the 7 journal ETA cam, I have yet to find anyone to really confirm it...

If it turns out yours is one I will buy the cam from you (or anyone else that has one for that matter)

Wait... What are you looking for? A 7 journal Eta cam?

[whodwho]

Wait... What are you looking for? A 7 journal Eta cam?

Actually as odd as that seems I am :D

[884door]

Actually as odd as that seems I am :D

Well after I put my new cam in I'll sell you mine if it is indeed a 7 bearing cam. Is there any difference between a 4 and 7 bearing that you can see without removing it from the engine?

[whodwho]

Well after I put my new cam in I'll sell you mine if it is indeed a 7 bearing cam. Is there any difference between a 4 and 7 bearing that you can see without removing it from the engine?

If you look at the cam with the VC off you should be able to see where the cam goes thru the journals of the head and if it has all the journals on the cam or just the thin part of the cam going thru the journal on the head with a big gap.

[jmc1590]

As far as identifing the 7 vs 4 journal cam, it will be very obvious when you remove the valve cover. In addition to the areas where it passes through the bearings, there will be the additional oil journals that are needed.

As far as do you need to remove the head, yes you do. I've read that someone has tried to use compressed air to keep the valves seatedonce the keepers are removed, but I think it's much easier to just pull the head. It also gives you a chance to verify the condition of the combustion chamber and the valve seats.

Which seta heads have 4 and which have 7, I can't tell you. I do know that the seta head I purchased to convert had the 7 journal cam and converted with no problems. (Yes, do the valve seals while you are there. Cheap easy insurance.)

Whodwho - If it turns out that the OP has a 4 journal cam, PM me.

[884door]

Damn, I read before that you couldn't tell the difference without taking the cam out. It makes sense now and seems pretty damn obvious. I wish I would've noticed when I was adjusting my valves a couple weeks ago.

I just pulled the I head partially apart (sure is easier to work on a head that's not in a car!) I now have to add exhaust and intake mani. gaskets to my list. This is getting expensive. lol


EDIT:

Okay, I checked my head, definitely a 7 bearing cam. Another quick easy way to tell with the valve cover off is there is an oil hole right by each intake side cylinder bolt, there are 7 on a 7 bearing cam and only 4 on a bearing cam. On a 7 bearing the exhaust side also has 1 oil hole(8 total), and on a 4 bearing the exhaust side has 2 oil holes(6 total).

whodwho make me an offer on the cam, I should have it out within the next 10 days.

JMC1590 if you're looking for a 4 bearing eta cam I can get you one for like $50 but shipping would probably be outrageous because they are damn heavy.

[jmc1590]

Thanks for the offer, but I'm good to go with my "i" cam. ;)

As far as gaskets go, I would just go ahead and get a complete head kit. It will include all the gaskets and seal that you will need. (Intake, Exhaust, Valve cover, Head, Cam seals, crush washers, etc...)

[884door]

Thanks for the offer, but I'm good to go with my "i" cam. ;)

As far as gaskets go, I would just go ahead and get a complete head kit. It will include all the gaskets and seal that you will need. (Intake, Exhaust, Valve cover, Head, Cam seals, crush washers, etc...)

Yea but I'm poor and those kits are damn expensive. lol

I though maybe you were looking for a cam since you said
" Whodwho - If it turns out that the OP has a 4 journal cam, PM me." but I now realize perhaps you were looking to GET RID of a cam. hahaha :oops: