Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

I understand that they can be but that the results can be variable.

It is a shame that the engine is not running at all as a result of a knackered tensioner.

Its new "secondhand" cams going in. I had though about a secondhand engine, but you still dont know what youre going to get...

Before you go to the trouble of fitting everything from the cam up, have you checked that you've not got any bent valves? AFAIK the S2 motor is 'interference' which means that there's a better than good chance that the valves will contact the piston if the belt/tensioner fails...

If it helps I have a little method for testing which is as follows.
Set engine pistons half way or so up the bore using a 2 equal length straws or similar down the spark plug holes. (1&2)
turn cam/s until cylinder is on compression with both valves shut. Use a tube (I use fuel hose) and press it on spark plug hole to seal it and blow down it, if there is no resistance sadly that cyl has bent valves.
I had to do this on my 944 last summer because I accidently bent one valve luckily there was no more damage and the car is running now.

Hi there, sorry to hear about your engine situation - I have been there, so know all about it!

I must admit that when I first read your post I immediately thought cambelt...but someone else mentioned that, didn't think about the tensioner..

However, couple of things to consider, firstly, I am not sure if it is the picture angle, but the chain tensioner appears to have moved and is no longer square to the head. If this has happened then the mounting screws might be simply bent, but unfortunately they can also be pulled from the head and damage the threads, or in some cases actually crack the head casting under the tensioner. This area will need a good inspection if the tensioner has moved.

Secondly, as you have lost quite a few cam teeth, they have no-doubt found their way down the oil galleries into the sump. This is not the best place for chucks of metal, especially with the crank whizzing around down there. So, I would advise a good inspection of the oil galleries on the exhaust side when the head is off (it is going to have to come off as you will most likely have bent some valves ), and then the sump needs to be cleaned out to remove all the nasty metal swarf.

There are a few 16V 3L heads with cams on eBay at the moment, so they might be worth considering. I replaced my entire 944S engine with one from a donor car when my cambelt shed teeth and 7 valves got bent. The replacement cost of new valves and the associated machining, etc. meant this was actually the cheaper and faster way to go. Easier to do all the oil seals and other 'stuff' too..on-the-bench!

Not fun...whatever you do...your wallet will take a hit!

Hi Folks -

Some great advice here. However, the cam chain and it's associated pads are much overlooked by owners of the 16v engine and not even mentioned in the Porsche service manual. The nylon top pad gets brittle and breaks off, jamming and shearing the cogs on the cam. It is the Achilles heal of all 2.7 and 3.0 944 motors...

When to change them? Well as Wild Blue has experienced, maybe sooner than later! I did mine recently (chain and top pad) just to be safe on my S2, only after finding this advice on a Porsche USA site...

Happy Christmas to you All

Dave
CT

This was what I found when did my top-end... Have a look at the alignment of the pad with respect to the cam chain!





That's what happens when you fit a tensioner pad without taking the mech out... (part of the mech fits into a locating notch on the slipper pad)

G

Well the car is back on the road again along with a new clutch, thanks to the guys at EMC.

The good news is the car is even quicker than before.

Next on the list is better suspension, a CV joint that appears to be dying and sorting the exhaust manifold that has started to blow !