Hi guys,

So I got some more time today to work on the car, and got the cam cover installed. Did everything properly, tightened a tiny bit at a time until the cover drew all the way down. Did a few more things, and finally got to putting the timing belt back on. This is where I noticed that the intake cam was considerably tighter than the exhaust. I couldn't even move it by hand at first, but after a light tap with a hammer and extension on the sprocket it freed up. I can now position it by hand, but it takes way more force than the exhaust.

I am sure that I did the torque sequence properly, but just to be sure I backed all the bolts off a little bit at a time in reverse order and torqued again. Before I torqued again, I tried to give the intake cam a little wiggle and it was just as tight as it was before. I put a dollop of assembly grease on the bottom and top of each cam bearing surface before I assembled, so unless there's just a dry spot somewhere it should be fairly well lubricated.

Any ideas what gives? Is it perhaps normal for the intake cam to be tighter? I don't want to try and start the car and have the timing belt snap because of this.

As always, I'm grateful for any insight you can provide.

 

I'd just turn her over gently by hand several times initially till everything gets moving,feels and sounds all right. Hopefully?
It may free up with a few gentle revolutions by hand.
Then when you do start her up the cams will be similarly loaded.

 

Difflock, perhaps you're right. I got the timing belt on and turned her over by hand a good 10 times. Didn't feel any tighter than when I replaced the belt/tensioner a while back, at least when turning the crank. Belt happened to be a tooth off, though, so I got a chance to isolate the cams when I was redoing it. Intake is still tight as the dickens, though to a lesser degree than before. I now have a suspicion that the oil pooled at the back of the head (I poured a bit in after replacing the lifters just to make sure they stayed full of oi) may be responsible for the exhaust cam turning easier than the intake. Hmmmm....

 

Maybe another member or two wiser in the ways of timing belts, camshafts and head replacements could offer some additional comments on this apparent tightness variation between the 2 cam assemblies prior to you attempting to start her up.
I can understand you being very wary about this.

 

It is usually hard for me to turn the cams by hand. I wouldn't worry about it. Especially since you were able to turn it over by hand.

 

Alright, thank you fellas for the peace of mind. This car is turning out to be a can of worries, hopefully I'll have her running tonight or tomorrow after work though.

 

It's normal to have some concerns when doing big jobs like timing related stuff for the first time.