Engine Damage from Cam Install

[EH819]

My uncle finished up my cam swap this weekend while I was away and apparently something went wrong. Everything turned and seemed to be fine before the startup then right after the car was started for the first time, a lot of noises were coming from under the valve cover. It was then immediately shut off. He then pulled the valve covers off and this is an e-mail of what he found:

Best guess on this is is as follows

Drivers side appears to be ok
Passenger side ...looks like 4 cam followers (rocker arms) were destroyed
About the same number of valves are sitting a little lower in the head after
the followers were removed (bent?)
All keepers look like they are in tact
Some bad noises during cranking with coils disarmed
Motor is unable to be hand cranked by the damper
Strongly suspect a bad timing job on the passenger side
Possible that a link jumped a tooth??

Thinking about either pulling the head, having it machined or contracting out the repairs to a shop



What do you guys think went wrong and what is the best method of going about fixing it? Just so you know I was installing vt stage 2 cams and comp springs and I highly doubt this problem is due to any defect with them.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Ryan02Stang]

Check out this thread... http://forums.modulardepot.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25357&highlight=horrible+valvetrain+noise

Maybe it can help you out

 

[Rocketman]

I think the only way you will know is to tear it back down. Maybe the VT guys will chime in here? Scott, you out there?

 

[nickthegenius]

After all my research prior to my own cam install, I would guess one of two things.

1. Pass-side cam was out of time by a tooth or two. Bent the valves that are sitting low in the head.

2. If the lifters were bled down, could the rockers have been thrown prior to the lifter pumping back up? The rockers could have been thrown out of place and if they were wedged in the wrong spot could have kept the valves from seating and resulted in the bent valves.

I would bet on #1, but this would be the first case where I have read that the rockers were trashed due to timing being off. I hope you figure out what it is and doesn't do too much damage to your wallet

 

[NasaGT]

Sorry to hear that eh819. Cam install has some risk if done incorrectly, maybe your post will keep someone else from rushing to put it together and having the same thing happen.

 

[smokin 04]

Are the 4 valves that are sitting low in the head all intakes or all exhaust valves? or are they random? If they are all intakes or exhaust valves you have a cam out of time. I had a 4.6 at work where a guy did his own headgasket and had the same thing happen. You will need to tear down and inspect the extent of the damage. The one I worked on needed a new head and pistons due to non repairable damage to the valve seats. We ended up installing a new long block. He had his timing way off, hopefully yours isnt that bad. You might get off with valves only? Good luck