Re: Cam removal for performance grind...

[srubano@xxxx]

The Delorean is a Dual cam. Removing the cams will require the 
removal of the following items: The rocker arms, cylinder heads 
(since you have the remove the head bolts to remove the rocker arm 
assembly), timing chain cam sprocket, air intake assembly and other 
small misc. things. You will then have to re-set all the timing's on 
the timing chains unless you have a special tool that will hold the 
chain in place while you remove the head (mark the sprocket and the 
chain with a straight line so you know how to line them up). Look in 
the workshop manual and you will see a picture of the tool. You will 
also need a tourqe wrench and a special degree dial tool (you can 
also use a protractor) to set the tourqe for the head bolts. Again 
you can see a picture of the tool in the work shop manual.

When removing the heads from the block...BE VERY careful. The 
DeLorean engine is a "wet bank" engine meaning that there are cast 
iron sleeves in the block for the pistons. They are just sitting in 
there and are held into place by the force of the heads. There is a 
small paper ring gasket that is under them (mating surface of the 
sleeve that goes to the block) and they come in different thickness. 
If you just pull the heads off you may risk taking one of the sleeves 
out along with it and that would be BAD! You'll then have to remove 
all of the sleeves from that bank and replace the seals under the 
sleeves. Those paper seals will tear if the sleeves come out. It 
separates the oil from the coolant in the block. The reason why you 
would have to replace all the sleeve seals in the one bank if only 
one came out is because you won't know what thickness the original 
seal was (they are also used as shims) and if you just replace one 
then it may either be thicker (causing the sleeve to sit higher than 
the other two) or thinner (causing the sleeve to sit lower than the 
other two). Either way will cause the new head gasket not to seat 
properly. Rock the head back and forth gently until it breaks free 
from the block. Once it feels free carefully lift up on it while 
watching to see if any of the sleeves are sticking to the head / head 
gasket. Usually the head gasket will stick to the block...which will 
be a good thing. I have rebuilt my engine in my Delorean so I know 
every inner working part in it. It is not to difficult but it takes 
patience and a lot of care.

If you need further assistance or have any questions email me.

--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Aaron King" <floodle@xxxx> wrote:
> I am going to get the cams in my engine a performance grind, and I 
was 
> wondering if removing them (and reinstalling them) is too difficult 
for a 
> beginning to intermediate mechanic. If not, has anyone done this 
before? 
> Any hints, tips, or tricks? My experience has mostly been in fuel 
system 
> fixes, and I haven't really touched the block yet. Also, I have 
seen 
> differing statistics regarding whether the DeLorean is a dual cam 
(per 
> cylinder bank) or single cam engine. Could someone clear that up 
for me? 
> (The reason I ask is, I'm being charged by the camshaft) Horray 
for better 
> performance! Well....a little maybe.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Aaron King
> Kirkland, WA
> vin#1217
> _________________________________________________________________
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