4AFE '91 Cam Problems??

[barthmonster]

Who understands these cams and the gear that drives them?? I swapped out my shortblock for a new one and I've got a wierd sound when the motor is warm. sounds like a valve-clearance issue. The dealership asked me if I set the proper something or other on the helical-type gears that drive 1 cam off the other. I think the timing belt pulley is on the exhaust cam & that cam drives the intake cam. Anyway the Haynes manual doesn't cover this too well.
can I fix the problem myself? Are they correct that if I just removed the cams & re-installed them the same way, thats not good enough, you have to set some specification while re-installing???

[94_Rolla_Guy]

if you look at the intake camshaft you will notice the gear is two pieces, this is because there is a spring between the two to tighten up the gear lash. It sounds like you didn't preload the spring.

to preload it you have to take the cam out then use a 10mm bolt to hold it

1. remove intake cam

2. turn the outer half of the gear till the hole lines up with the threaded hole behind in the fixed half of the gear,

3. now thread the bolt in and release the tension from the tool

4. replace and time the cam to the exhaust with the bolt in then after it is installed remove the bolt... done

PS if you neveer had the cams out to begin with this isn't your problem

[barthmonster]

Thanks so much!

Question:

The book talks about checking or measuring cam gear backlash with a dial indicator. I'm hoping I don't need to do this due to no apparent wear on either of the gears. If I DO need to do this, do I do it with that 'preload'-removing bolt installed or removed??

Did I do any damage by driving around with that noise for 5 or 6 miles?? It seems to only be 'noisy' when its warm, not really so much when cold...

I did have the cams out, I sort of 'rolled' one of the cams back into place, so sounds like this pre-load may be the problem. They come out easy enough I guess...

Anyone measure the valve clearance and set them yourself?? (shims??)