snapped camshaft! and low compression update...

[abatzis2@hotmail.com (Michael Abatzis)]

i was having low compression probs with my car (2l 16v, p/p and decked 1.8 
head w/ schrick 268/276's). i did a leak down, and it seemed like i was 
getting intake valve leakage. pulled the head, everything looked fine. 
decided i'd put a new head on, and see if that would cure it. took an old 
head, cleaned it up all nice and shiny, and started to install my cams. when 
i started tightening down, i noticed the cam marks didn't line up (always 
takes me about 2-3 tries to get it right).  started unscrewing the bearing 
caps when i noticed my schrick intake cam was now in 2 pieces. shit.  broken 
in half right at the junction of one of the cam lobes (pix if anyone's 
interested).  anyone had this happen before? don't know what the hell 
happened. tightened/loosened exactly per bentley, and it wasn't even all the 
way tightened down before i noticed it was off.

anyway, i decided to install my old 1.8 with the euro intake instead. wow! i 
knew the car was running a bit slow before, but it feels real strong 
now--that compression thing must have been killing it. i forgot how much 
mid-range those cams sucked out; feels nice now. also, the idle is soooooo 
much better. didn't realize how bad it was till i switched back. of course, 
now the car is sometimes bucking at about 6k rpm. i'll fiddle more tomorrow, 
set mixture/timing/etc. to see if that solves it. seriously though cathy, 
just admit that my car's way worse than yours. what's it going to take?



-Michael Abatzis
Hotlanta! GA
1988 Scirocco 2L 16v RIP-->parting, finally taking orders: 
www.learnlink.emory.edu/~mabatzi/mikes_page1.html
1987 Scirocco 2L 16v...




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