cam gear install?

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  • MonkeyMan
    E30 Addict
    • Jul 2011
    • 426
    #1

    cam gear install?

    hey guys, I tried searching on this but no dice...

    I got an adjustable cam gear that I need to install without changing the timing belt, water pump, etc. The engine was totally rebuilt in December and has a new timing belt, water pump and all that stuff already..

    I'm just looking for some pointers on installing the cam gear the easiest way possible, without doing the whole timing belt job again... is there a way to access the timing belt tensioner without messing with the cooling system?
    Make the bastard chase you.
    Tags: None
    • Teaguer
      R3V OG
      • Sep 2004
      • 6167
      #2
      Seriously dude? Come on, the t-belt is like $15!

      Plus how in the hell do you think you are going to replace the cam gear without losing tension on the belt? :loco:

      Just buy a new belt and leave the water pump and tensioner as is.

      E30 M3 / E30 325is / E34 525iT / E34 535i

        Comment

        • Sagaris
          R3VLimited
          • Sep 2009
          • 2243
          #3
          If you manage to avoid doing it properly (properly = replacing timing belt)
          then you have to worry about slack on the opposite side of the tensioner which will make the belt jump. If it jumps or anything else happens which would cause you to doubt that all the timing marks are lined up, you will be tearing things apart anyways to verify timing marks.

          You could always just cut the belt, install the gear, and tape the belt back together (obviously not serious)

            Comment

            • MonkeyMan
              E30 Addict
              • Jul 2011
              • 426
              #4
              Originally posted by Teaguer
              Seriously dude? Come on, the t-belt is like $15!

              Plus how in the hell do you think you are going to replace the cam gear without losing tension on the belt? :loco:

              Just buy a new belt and leave the water pump and tensioner as is.
              ok, so new belt - no big deal... and obviously I will have to take tension off the belt to get to the cam gear..
              what I really wanted to know is if the timing belt is accessible without disconnecting any coolant hoses or otherwise disrupting the cooling system... I'm just trying to do the job as quick/easy as possible... it's jsut one of those things that should've been done during the recent rebuild, but wasn't...
              Make the bastard chase you.

                Comment

                • Teaguer
                  R3V OG
                  • Sep 2004
                  • 6167
                  #5
                  The upper rad hose can stay unaffected but you would have to remove the hose that goes over the distributor cap as well as the coolant pipe.

                  Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. Just replace the t-belt like you normally would but you can leave the WP alone and reuse the tensioner.

                  Why exactly do you think you need/want an adjustable cam gear?
                  With questions like the ones you are asking in this thread it leads me to believe you don't know what it would be for and surely would not know how to adjust/time it for what you want/need.

                  E30 M3 / E30 325is / E34 525iT / E34 535i

                    Comment

                    • MonkeyMan
                      E30 Addict
                      • Jul 2011
                      • 426
                      #6
                      well,

                      the engine is an M20B25 with a 76.8mm Euro 323i crank and cam (we thought it would be cool to use some Euro bits that were laying around).. everything else is stock 325i

                      we dynoed the car and it put down a paltry 132hp to the ground at only about 5500rpm, but torque (136ftlb peak) started strong and then dropped off around 4000... we figured since the cam is designed for a 323i powerband, it might be wise to get an adjustable gear to play around with it and see what kind of gains we can get...

                      it definitely needs tuning (more fuel - the a/f ratio was quite lean all the way through), but this is a good place to start

                      otherwise, if all that doesn't work, we're gonna ditch the cool euro cam (and the nice lumpy idle), and go with a schrick piece....

                      I've messed with a couple M10 BMWs in the past, and I've done my share of timing belts on various cars, but I thought I'd start here to see if there was any pointers I can get on this not so common type of build....
                      Last edited by MonkeyMan; 08-25-2011, 07:38 AM.
                      Make the bastard chase you.

                        Comment

                        • MonkeyMan
                          E30 Addict
                          • Jul 2011
                          • 426
                          #7
                          also, I forgot to mention that we did the math and came up with about a 10:1 compression ration since we're using s50 rods (135mm) and a mls head gasket... and all this on a stock 173 computer..
                          needless to say, she's not done
                          Make the bastard chase you.

                            Comment

                            • MonkeyMan
                              E30 Addict
                              • Jul 2011
                              • 426
                              #8
                              I bought the car from a buddy of mine who had the engine done at e30 Motor Werks in Huntington Beach.. this is my first M20 car
                              build thread
                              http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83277
                              Make the bastard chase you.

                                Comment

                                • jlevie
                                  R3V OG
                                  • Nov 2006
                                  • 13530
                                  #9
                                  Originally posted by MonkeyMan
                                  ok, so new belt - no big deal... and obviously I will have to take tension off the belt to get to the cam gear..
                                  what I really wanted to know is if the timing belt is accessible without disconnecting any coolant hoses or otherwise disrupting the cooling system... I'm just trying to do the job as quick/easy as possible... it's jsut one of those things that should've been done during the recent rebuild, but wasn't...
                                  As noted, you definitely need to change the belt when you install this cam sprocket. As to the cooling system, whether you'll have to drain the system depends on whether the car has the early (9/86-8/87) cooling system. Cars built after that have cooling pipe that runs across the front of the timing cover.
                                  The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                                  Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                                    Comment

                                    • MonkeyMan
                                      E30 Addict
                                      • Jul 2011
                                      • 426
                                      #10
                                      Originally posted by jlevie
                                      As noted, you definitely need to change the belt when you install this cam sprocket. As to the cooling system, whether you'll have to drain the system depends on whether the car has the early (9/86-8/87) cooling system. Cars built after that have cooling pipe that runs across the front of the timing cover.
                                      that's what I figured just from eyeballing it... the engine is from an '89 325i - just seeing if there was a way to get around that...

                                      ah well, time to get some M20 experience..
                                      Make the bastard chase you.

                                        Comment

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