Z1OwnersClub GB

My engine builder has been on the phone, my Andrews cams are to big, bit of background info first, 1015 block, took out to 1045, 71mm wossner high comp forged pistons, Oct 1976 900 a4 head, bronze valve guides.
Right this is were it falls apart a bit as I'm not a engine builder so here's what i remember, he set the pistons to middle i.e not tdc on any cylinder, installed the first cam with cam caps went to shim it up, but the cam won't turm wit the cams tightened up in the caps, obviously first thing is measure up, any ideas to throw in the mix, believed to be Andrews X2 cams 73-76

Either the guides are not the short type (original oem bronze are too long ) so that valve keepers/retainers are bottoming out on the top of the guides or the head hasn't been clearanced around the bucket bores and the lobe tips are hitting the head and preventing the cams from rotating.
Either situation will be alleviated by loosening the caps as this allows the cams to sit higher and reduce the interference.
Also to time the cams 1 and 4 need to be at TDC.
You can't set the cam timing with the pistons halfway down the bores.
Also the the cast crosses above each lobe will need grinding off the inside of the cam cover.
All basic stuff.
Maybe get another mechanic ???

Not sure if I’m reading this right but are you saying the camshafts are locking up when the cam caps are tightened up, and the guy is leaving the pistons half way down the bores just to make sure there’s no contact with the valves, not to time it up.

I'm not sure on any of it, I know what all the components are and do, as far as assembly goes, pass, my mate is a good builder and knows his stuff, was just seeing if there was anything anyone has came acroos

Valve guides are ape if I remember

Are you sure your engine builder is clued up on Zed engines, one mistake and you can bend valves, just be careful. I think 2x cams are 0.360" lift which is not that radical. Probably as Rob says cylinder head needs to be machined to allow lobes to clear. Buzzard@thebuzzworkz.

Just another observation based on personal experience. What you dont say is if the motor was all running and serviceable before it went to your man. I had similar issue with one of my Unitrak motors. Everytime the cams were torqued down the motor wouldn't turn over. Turns out previous owner had lost the cam caps and had just stuck another set on. Cam caps are paired and machined to match the head. They dont mix and match. Had to have mine line bored which fixed the issue.

BTW Buzzard - sent you an email....

buzzard wrote:Are you sure your engine builder is clued up on Zed engines, one mistake and you can bend valves, just be careful. I think 2x cams are 0.360" lift which is not that radical. Probably as Rob says cylinder head needs to be machined to allow lobes to clear. Buzzard@thebuzzworkz.

Shouldn’t do really I,m pretty sure my Z1000 is on .389s and they went straight in with std guides and no machining.

You could be right Chris, never fitted 2x cams. Always fitted Andrews 3x cams. Buzzard .

He may have put the cam caps on in the wrong place / switched them around ?

All's good we have movement, unsure of the issue but alls good