<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/4612/michigan_turbo_006.jpg"></center><p>Hey guys.

In the beginning stages of a MC2 engine rebuild and Megasquirt EFI conversion on my 5ktq.

Anyways, I removed the head on the spare MC2 engine to do some port work and found some scoring on the cam journals.

I'm a bit concerned about this.

The scoring is really bad on #1 and light on #4 cam journals.

So just how bad of a scenario is this? Is the head still usable?

I would think so?

This head came off an engine that was supposed to have been fully rebuilt 15k miles ago so I was suprised at the scoring.

The MC2 cam that was in it is also scored.

Any Ideas, BTDT, etc?

Here's a pic of the #1 journal...

Thanks.

Steve

Traditionally camshafts ran in bearings or removeable shells. About 30 years ago Japanese motorcycle manufacturers began running cams directly in aluminum heads, saving cost. Our I5 heads are the same. The downside is that when they fail in a major way, the only cure is to build up material by Heliarc welding the head and bearing caps, then align-bore the cam journals. Or junk the head.

I don't think that your cam journals evidence a major failure and in view of the alternatives, and the fact that this is a street engine, I like BlackWolf's idea.

Probably happened because the timing belt was way to tight. Like Black wolf said, clean it up a little, put a different cam in, and it should be fine.

I ended up swaping it out with another head, I still have the old one in my garage!!!!

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/41804/imag0034.jpg">

overheating the head badly. It's the machine shops fault instead of baking the head on a torque plate and taking the warpness out before planing they just plane it. It gives a flat surface but the cam journals suffer excessive wear. I'd just emery cloth it smooth and run it.
HTH

which actually helps the oil cling. It can be done to tighten up too-loose cam "bearings" like this.

BTW Steve, congrats on the new project. I haven't been on here very much lately, but I'm starting a Megasquirt project with my MC1 into my Coupe GT. I sent off the kit for someone else to assemble, and my ECU to get chipped. I have an NF head to put on it, but I was recently thinking I should get it going on the existing assembled motor and then upgrade the head later. I also picked up a fwd 5speed from a 5kt, so the Coupe will have the right gears for the turbo and the highway. =)