Worn 2.1 cam - what are the options?

[bustrucket]

I bought a DJ engine a while back with a (badly) worn big end. I've had the crank reground, but looking at the camshaft, it looks pretty badly worn - some pictures below. I'm no expert of course, so if this isn't as bad as it looks I'm happy to be corrected!

What are my options for replacing this? I see VW Heritage has some reprofiled AC cams, but they're very expensive. Can good used cams still be found or are they like gold hens teeth?

Thanks

David

[itchyfeet]

I wouldn't put that back.

It's a bit more complicated
look at the gear it will have a number stamped on it on the cam side, thats the size, ideally need to get the same size or you may be faced with swapping them

Classic through VWH may have some, worth a check, all sizes of cam gear have a different part number.

[multisi]

Lots of cams available from classic parts, from £180 to over £300.

[ajsimmo]

They only have -2, +2,4,6,7 sizes left AFAICS.
Fingers crossed yours is a +2 as it's only £180 retail - the others are all over £300!
Part number for the +2 is 025109025B. Last two digits change for other sizes, B suffix denotes a 2.1 cam.

[ajsimmo]

Lots of cams available from classic parts, from £180 to over £300.

Yes, WHS too

[tencentlife]

That cam is severely thrashed, remove the gear and toss the cam on the cast-iron scrap pile. Your guy Ian Holman over there has his own cams, and he has my cam gear adapters that let you use your old gear again so no need to shop around for gear sizes, and you can time the cam properly with it too. You'll need a pre-'71 8mm stud 26mm gear Type1 oil pump to go with it (Ian probly offers all this stuff as a suite).

You'll need new lifters too, of course, or have yours reground if they were working well, they'll ned to be claeaned and prefilled afterward but that should be done in any event, even with new ones. Regrinding lifters is fine, any decent machine shop can do it, there's no magic VW spell to recite. Regrinding a cam is OK with some folk, but not with me.

[Weem Machine]

Sorry for the hijack, but what is the issue with a reground cam?

[Aidan]

If you regrind a cam then you will change the profile and you'll struggle to get it properly hardened again I think, tbh the forging they are made from was just good enough for 100k miles

[itchyfeet]

love the way VWH sell them as genuine VW with a DJ part number
if its reground it's not genuine VW DJ cam.

[itchyfeet]

. Your guy Ian Holman over there has his own cams, and he has my cam gear adapters that let you use your old gear again so no need to shop around for gear sizes, and you can time the cam properly with it too. You'll need a pre-'71 8mm stud 26mm gear Type1 oil pump to go with it (Ian probly offers all this stuff as a suite).
.

I think Ian is keeping those for his 2.5 builds, do you know where we can get them from this side of the pond?

[itchyfeet]

Regrinding lifters is fine, any decent machine shop can do it.

We just don't have machine shops around much anymore and the ones we do have would charge way more than to £100 for a new set, throw away society here in blighty.

Can't even find tool shops anymore but we have lots of coffee shops, hairdressers, corner shops and quite a few of your fast food franchises

[what2do]

Regrinding lifters is fine, any decent machine shop can do it.

We just don't have machine shops around much anymore and the ones we do have would charge way more than to £100 for a new set, throw away society here in blighty.

Can't even find tool shops anymore but we have lots of coffee shops, hairdressers, corner shops and quite a few of your fast food franchises

Let me know what machining is required, MRT 'may' be able to assist.

[tobydog]

If you regrind a cam then you will change the profile and you'll struggle to get it properly hardened again I think, tbh the forging they are made from was just good enough for 100k miles

Be interesting to know what they're made of. Cast Iron or case hardened? Case hardened, don't bother?

[tobydog]

Regrinding lifters is fine, any decent machine shop can do it.

We just don't have machine shops around much anymore and the ones we do have would charge way more than to £100 for a new set, throw away society here in blighty.

Can't even find tool shops anymore but we have lots of coffee shops, hairdressers, corner shops and quite a few of your fast food franchises

Not only that, I'm sure not many would understand what they could do for them.

Anyone done surface or cylinderical grinding?

[bustrucket]

My cam gear is a +3

I haven't refitted the crank gear yet, could I get a +2 crank gear and fit that? I've never seen any reference to different size gears for the crank though so not sure if they are all one size.