Why wont my engine crank fast?-FIXED!:D

**WHITCHY** · 17-01-2007, 06:22 PM

god dammit! well I guess I will just have to go back to stock cams till I can afford to get the shims fixed up!
But if the valves are closed for too long etc. why is it still so easy to crank over by hand?
Now I just have to find someone who will do it with the motor still in the car!
Thanks heaps for that info!
Cheers.
-Whitchy-

**o_man_ra23** · 17-01-2007, 06:45 PM

When cranking by hand, there is more time for the gasses to escape through the rings. You can actually crank an engine by hand easy enough with all valves closed because of this. When the pistons are moving quicker, there isnt as much time for the gas to move through them.

Re-shimming isnt that hard, measure all valve clearances, remove shims and measure, calculate sizes required, mix and match as many as possible to reduce the number required, and then get exchange shims, usually $8-12 each. Since you only need to do shims once every 50,000kms or when you change cams, its not such a huge expense.

Cheers, Owen

**WHITCHY** · 17-01-2007, 07:03 PM

will the shims be different for each head?
I have the old head the cams used to run in, and I had that re-coed and setup with these cams, but blew the HG and just got this motor thinking the cams would work!
so is it possible to just take the shims off the recoed head and put them in this one?
Thanks again!
-Whitchy-

**o_man_ra23** · 17-01-2007, 07:34 PM

If they are the correct thickness, yes. You must measure and make sure as the cams can require different shims on different heads, as the lengths of valves, and head castings can be variable.

Cheers, Owen

**WHITCHY** · 17-01-2007, 09:02 PM

well Owen, you were 100% on the money! The stock cams are back in and its running like normal!
Thanks heaps for helping out! Whenever I can +ve rep u I will!
And thanks the same to everyone else who offered suggestions!
Looks like its time to save some coin and get a pro to get them setup!
Thanks again!
-Whitchy-

**o_man_ra23** · 17-01-2007, 10:42 PM

You could set them up yourself, just need some time and a few tools. Should learn how to setup adjustable cams, theres a good article in a book called 21ST century performance (the makers of fast 4s put it out I believe) which goes in depth on how to set up adjustable cams, why you want to set certain things, and what changes to expect from doing different things. Good that it runs now tho, glad to be of assistance.

Cheers, Owen