Help I need advise bad head work

[coop]

Well here is the latest, I agreed to let the machinist have the heads for a couple of days to look at. I also gave him the cam specs to the performer plus cam. I picked them up today and asked what he had thought went wrong and he pulled out the cam specs and highlighted Performer Plus and the RPM range. Then he told me that it is a high performance cam because of the lift and RPM range I=.460 E=.480 RPM Idle to 5500. How does this compare to stock? He said if had of known that he would of machined the heads in a different way and changed out the stock valve springs. I would of thought after the first mess up he would of asked for that information I told him that it was like a mild RV cam but he never asked for the specs. Then he told me that the heads should of worked with a RV cam not knowing the specs?

Again I told him that JBA built a new set of heads and all is well. He said they did it the right way because they knew what type of cam was in it.

So he is blaming the cam and did refuse to pay the $2500.00 he said he would consider paying me the $450.00 I payed him for his work but that he really doesn't have too.

As far as I new the Performer cam works with a stock valve train right? I did install a Edlebrock timing chain the one specd for the cam If thats all that I would of done everything should be working fine right

Is this guy feeding me a heap of bull? I really need to know where I stand with that cam becasue the next stop is court I have nothing to loose.

Any input is appreciated as usual

[fordman]

him making an offer to pay anything makes him admit guilt. i think.

[coop]

Yeah I kind of thought the same thing? One other thing he said was if we go to court over this the judge would see that the cam is not for street legal usage and would probably throw it out. If he was sure about the cam he would of told me to pound sand.

[Ranchero50]

Well, you should have put the correct springs in for the cam spec or at least replace worn springs with the new cam, same thing. Personally I'd probably take what's offered vs. getting nothing in the end.

Still sucks.

Jamie

[fordman]

i think the springs should have been replaced anyway. i doubt the cam had anythignt o do with that kind of damage. i could see if not opening the valves far enough or too far and bending push rods. but not looening up the seats and wearing out a valve guide.

[Ranchero50]

If you float the valves because the cam ramps are too steep for worn out springs weird things happen. The hammer when the lifter comes off the cam can shake the whole valve train. maybe it's just a crutch for the builder, but still. Folks need to read up on how engines work before ordering up there hot rod from a catalog.

Jamie

[coop]

The valve springs only had 46,000 miles on them. if I had some kind of proof it was the cam I would walk away from it. But when he tells me he would of machined the heads differently I don't know. It was just the Exhaust guides that were toast the intakes were fine wouldn't it of messed the whole thing up?

[OldRedFord]

What are all the cam specs? Or what part number is the cam? I am assuming it is a Edelbrock cam?

[coop]

Here you go Tim how does this stack up to the stock cam? My manual doesn't have the stock spec. click on the image it gets a little better. The intake is .460 ex is .480

thanks

cam specs0001.jpg

[70_F100]

Here's the only thing I could find regarding cam specs:

http://www.woodyg.com/fairlane/finfo/fecams.html

Based on these specs for stock cams, the Performer cam isn't really an agressive cam, in my opinion.

No way is it agressive enough to require special machining on the heads!!!

[coop]

Thank you 70 F100! When you are reading a cam spec such as the performer plus which numbers indicate the lift. Is it the lift at the cam or at the valve? Comparing my cam to the various ones on the chart there doesn't seem to be that big of a difference. thanks again it's appreciated.

[coop]

Thank you 70 F100! When you are reading a cam spec such as the performer plus which numbers indicate the lift. Is it the lift at the cam or at the valve? Comparing my cam to the various ones on the chart there doesn't seem to be that big of a difference. thanks again it's appreciated.

[70_F100]

Thank you 70 F100! When you are reading a cam spec such as the performer plus which numbers indicate the lift. Is it the lift at the cam or at the valve? Comparing my cam to the various ones on the chart there doesn't seem to be that big of a difference. thanks again it's appreciated.

There are two lift specs on the chart and the spec sheet you posted, one at the cam and one at the valve.

Basically, that means you can compare apples to apples.

[coop]

Thanks I got it now, stay tuned.

[fordman]

i think my last opinon would be is to get mroe local machine shop opinons. on the work and tell them everything except that you had a different set made up for you by soemone else. just ask if they can figure out why these could have gone bad. you will need witnesses if you have to take him to court. i should say more expert testimony.