Has anyone had a Comp Cam dowel too long for a vented opti?
04-16-2003, 09:22 PM
#1
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Has anyone had a Comp Cam dowel too long for a vented opti?
Has anyone had a Comp Cam dowel too long for a vented opti? Just curious because I didnt actually match the two dowels up because I saw it was the longer one and that there was only two types. Just curious if anyone had any problems with one being "too long" even for a vented opti?
04-16-2003, 10:17 PM
#3
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Yep, I just experienced this and ground it down about two weeks ago before the install. One would think the cam manufacturers would get this stuff figured out by now. I mean it is not like these opti-sparked SBCs are new to the world. 
04-16-2003, 10:24 PM
#4
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Here is a comparison of my stock cam (pin length ~ .650) and the CC cam (pin length ~.840). The depth of the hole in the opti drive is ~.440. I measured the protrusion of the stock pin from the front of the stock cam gear to be ~.410.
I don't know how close the opti drive sits to the front of the cam gear. So, how long is too long? Not sure. It sure seemed like the CC pin would be too long. I ground the CC pin down to the length of the stock one.
I don't know how close the opti drive sits to the front of the cam gear. So, how long is too long? Not sure. It sure seemed like the CC pin would be too long. I ground the CC pin down to the length of the stock one.
04-16-2003, 10:45 PM
#6
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My god! This is probably my problem, I didnt even measure the old one. I heard that if its too long it will put stress on the bearing, which is probably true. Shoebox, do you think this could cause all my problems? (glowing headers, wont idle) from a broken opti? It didnt happen instantly, more like overnight...
Last edited by Rodrigues; 04-16-2003 at 10:52 PM.
04-16-2003, 10:46 PM
#7
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Originally posted by Don 97 SS
SHoebox, I'd have to believe that an .840" dowel would ruin the bearing in an opti in short order based on the info I've been given and from my observation.
SHoebox, I'd have to believe that an .840" dowel would ruin the bearing in an opti in short order based on the info I've been given and from my observation.
I wish now, that I had used some clay or something to test to see just how close the end of the stock dowel came to the inside of the opti drive. I'm not taking it apart, now!
04-16-2003, 10:48 PM
#8
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Originally posted by Rodrigues
My god! This is probably my problem, I didnt even measure the old one. I heard that if its too long it will put stress on the bearing, which is probably true. Shoebox, do you think this could cause all my problems? (glowing headers, wont idle) from a broken opti?
My god! This is probably my problem, I didnt even measure the old one. I heard that if its too long it will put stress on the bearing, which is probably true. Shoebox, do you think this could cause all my problems? (glowing headers, wont idle) from a broken opti?
The question is, are all the CC pins the same length?
04-16-2003, 10:56 PM
#9
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Did you get your XE 224/230 cam from the big Cmotorsports group purchase with the CM618 springs? I think I got mine from the same batch as yours meaning my dowel for my XE 224/230 is probably the same as yours and needs to be ground.
Originally posted by shoebox
Here is a comparison of my stock cam (pin length ~ .650) and the CC cam (pin length ~.840). The depth of the hole in the opti drive is ~.440. I measured the protrusion of the stock pin from the front of the stock cam gear to be ~.410.
I don't know how close the opti drive sits to the front of the cam gear. So, how long is too long? Not sure. It sure seemed like the CC pin would be too long. I ground the CC pin down to the length of the stock one.
Here is a comparison of my stock cam (pin length ~ .650) and the CC cam (pin length ~.840). The depth of the hole in the opti drive is ~.440. I measured the protrusion of the stock pin from the front of the stock cam gear to be ~.410.
I don't know how close the opti drive sits to the front of the cam gear. So, how long is too long? Not sure. It sure seemed like the CC pin would be too long. I ground the CC pin down to the length of the stock one.
04-16-2003, 11:01 PM
#10
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Oh yeah, and I also thought I hear a squeeking when it "broke" from the front of the engine, almost like a squeeking belt. I am pretty sure that was the bearing spinning crooked inside the opti.
04-16-2003, 11:50 PM
#11
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Originally posted by Rodrigues
Did you get your XE 224/230 cam from the big Cmotorsports group purchase with the CM618 springs? I think I got mine from the same batch as yours meaning my dowel for my XE 224/230 is probably the same as yours and needs to be ground.
Did you get your XE 224/230 cam from the big Cmotorsports group purchase with the CM618 springs? I think I got mine from the same batch as yours meaning my dowel for my XE 224/230 is probably the same as yours and needs to be ground.
Mine is a 114 lsa 224/230. (not that it makes any difference as far as cam dowel 
)I have read other posts of folks having to shave down the dowel, so it does not appear to be an isolated thing. I think one guy went through 3 optis (one per week) before the dowel was proven to be the culprit-and it was a CC cam.
04-17-2003, 07:49 AM
#13
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yes i had asked seth about dowel lengths and he told me the exact length for a vented and nonvented.
cc. just throws a dowel in and expects you to cut it to your needed length. they should include a paper stating proper pin length for each year.
i just wonder, could cc. be liable for opti damages, cuz it should be sent with the correct length pin for your vehicle when specially ordered right? hmmm.
slap those guys on the wrist, that's BS.
anyway, anyone installing ANY cam should check the length to be sure it's correct for their car, some have to do opti sparks for other chains requiring the longer pins.
cc. just throws a dowel in and expects you to cut it to your needed length. they should include a paper stating proper pin length for each year.
i just wonder, could cc. be liable for opti damages, cuz it should be sent with the correct length pin for your vehicle when specially ordered right? hmmm.
slap those guys on the wrist, that's BS.
anyway, anyone installing ANY cam should check the length to be sure it's correct for their car, some have to do opti sparks for other chains requiring the longer pins.
