Reaming in line a viper V-10 engine camshaft bearing surface.

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Syaminab

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Friends, an obsessive friend added two turbos to squeeze over 1000 HP out of a viper V-10. Those engines do not have bearings, but direct aluminum contact with the camshaft. Somehow the oil used to cool the Turbo housings limited lubrication to such surfaces and derived in a need to resurface. Now he has asked me to cut in line again, I need to make the proper tool. Any Ideas...help is greatly appreciated.
 
Unless I am mistaken, that is an overhead cam engine, and the procedure involves removing a bit of material from the upper shell, and line boring the entire set of cam bearings, then making an adjustment in the cam timing by either thicker head gaskets, at a small sacrifice in compression. It is no simple task. Generally, this job would best be done by an engine specialist who is equipped with machinery for line boring, and has knowledge of the effect on the cam timing, etc.
 
Tony is correct. This cannot be done in your garage. It takes special tools and machines and a whole bunch of savvy on that engine.

"Billy G" :))
 
What happens if you mess up the engine? And,what kind if crappy engineering relies on the aluminum motor block for its bearings?
 
george wilson said:
What happens if you mess up the engine? And,what kind if crappy engineering relies on the aluminum motor block for its bearings?
Click to expand...

Great Article....In line antique straight straight eight boring bar...select steel bearings from an AMC....I am glad to see that the guy(Gene) is passing on his knowledge and ingenuity. I say do it .....if you screw it up send it to Gene.....Not crappy engineering in MHO, " Again, the direct-acting cam bores work fine under normal high performance use and are even standard fare in Top Fuel Hemi blocks today."(quote from article)so, if it takes 24 endurance runs to cause it,I'm impressed....:)
 
Not crappy engineering? Why do the (non) bearings gall? Then,they need real bearings installed. That doesn't seem right to me,though I'm not a car engine designer. Why not just put real bearings in in the first place. With what that car costs,charge a few hundred more for it .

Maybe it's standard engineering,but maybe crappy engineering is the standard.:)

Not that I have anything vested in this hot rod.
 
OK I read the article. I also saw the machine that is used. I have seen one of these machines up close. The are capable of using 4 foot boring bars. If you have one of these in your garage or cellar, have at it if not I would leave it to someone that does. There really is a sentance that says "I am not capable of doing this job with the machines I have." This would be the time that I would use it. I have been machining for over 40 years and that job is out of my machine envelope. I wish you luck.

"Billy G" :thinking:
 
the problems i see are
the surface finish needed for the aluminum camshaft bore is beyond home or most machine shop capability they are a mirror finish
the metal that was removed is still in the motor- this is a complete overhaul situation
the turbos exceeded the motors oil pump output and require their own oil pumps
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/oilsystems.htm
any misalignment in the cam bore will result in a broken cam and probably a blown motor when the piston hits the open valve due to cam breakage.
you will not be doing your friend a favor trying to help him, It needs a qualified automotive machine shop or new fully machined head castings
they are cheaper than a new motor.
just my honest opinion ( 37 year trained journeyman mechanic )
steve
ps there is no motor in production vehicles with overhead cams that has cam bearings that i know of, they all ride in the aluminum without any problems. there is only a problem if the motor is over heated , starved for oil or not maintained.
 
Interesting situation....it appears at this point it's either a new block or the bearings, if the block is scrap what does he have to lose? I have no idea what kind of a shop Syaminab has or his skill and experience. He seems to think he can do it, maybe he can? Sounds like his buddy has the Peso's to play with!
I hope he posts the process if he decides to try. I have met guys like Gene(the shop that did the bearings in the story) and there is no telling where they will pop up,there is another sentence....
"Necessity is the Mother of invention"

When I am writing to a forum I am just trying to learn, sharing my opinion on something, sharing knowledge,or experience, trust me I am not trying to be combative or a smart alec, so i hope this hasn't come across like that.....regards
 
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