1983 Cam tower oil leaks
12-02-2021, 05:24 PM
#1
Instructor
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Las Cruces, NM
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1983 Cam tower oil leaks
I am planning to fix the oil leaks from the Cam Towers on my 1983 S model.
I was searching for a description of the work involved but didn't find one.
Does anyone remember a previous post that could provide a link.
Thanks in advance.
I was searching for a description of the work involved but didn't find one.
Does anyone remember a previous post that could provide a link.
Thanks in advance.
12-02-2021, 05:37 PM
#2
Team Owner
there are 3 different leak points ,
what one are you wanting to fix
what one are you wanting to fix
12-02-2021, 05:50 PM
#3
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Probably all of them. Pretty sure there are leaks from the rear cork gaskets (need to helicoil the bolt holes), camshaft seals and along the bottom outboard edge of the towers themselves.
I was thinking about just taking the entire assembly apart, and doing a general rebuild. Maybe do the timing belt, etc, at the same time. I'm retired now, so have more free time and don't need the car every day.
BTW - did the snow tires come in handy?
I was thinking about just taking the entire assembly apart, and doing a general rebuild. Maybe do the timing belt, etc, at the same time. I'm retired now, so have more free time and don't need the car every day.
BTW - did the snow tires come in handy?
12-02-2021, 07:02 PM
#4
Former Vendor
We have custom made cam carrier gaskets that replace the stock gaskets with Moly sprayed on the ends (which split because the Moly allows the ends of the gasket to slip around.)
Always use new factory hardware on the cam carrier. The allen headed bolts are not rated at 10.9 or 12.9, like most allen headed hardware. They are specially made to "stretch" at the stock torque. 40 year old bolts no longer stretch properly and are junk.
We make a custom gasket to replace the silly cork gasket at the rear of the cam carrier. Our gasket will not compress and will not need to be retightened multiple times.
There's nothing special about the front seals and O-rings, except there are two different sizes of the large O-rings.
Always use new factory hardware on the cam carrier. The allen headed bolts are not rated at 10.9 or 12.9, like most allen headed hardware. They are specially made to "stretch" at the stock torque. 40 year old bolts no longer stretch properly and are junk.
We make a custom gasket to replace the silly cork gasket at the rear of the cam carrier. Our gasket will not compress and will not need to be retightened multiple times.
There's nothing special about the front seals and O-rings, except there are two different sizes of the large O-rings.
12-02-2021, 07:11 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Greg,
By chance, do you also have these for the 944/951?
thanks
rick
By chance, do you also have these for the 944/951?
thanks
rick
We have custom made cam carrier gaskets that replace the stock gaskets with Moly sprayed on the ends (which split because the Moly allows the ends of the gasket to slip around.)
Always use new factory hardware on the cam carrier. The allen headed bolts are not rated at 10.9 or 12.9, like most allen headed hardware. They are specially made to "stretch" at the stock torque. 40 year old bolts no longer stretch properly and are junk.
We make a custom gasket to replace the silly cork gasket at the rear of the cam carrier. Our gasket will not compress and will not need to be retightened multiple times.
There's nothing special about the front seals and O-rings, except there are two different sizes of the large O-rings.
Always use new factory hardware on the cam carrier. The allen headed bolts are not rated at 10.9 or 12.9, like most allen headed hardware. They are specially made to "stretch" at the stock torque. 40 year old bolts no longer stretch properly and are junk.
We make a custom gasket to replace the silly cork gasket at the rear of the cam carrier. Our gasket will not compress and will not need to be retightened multiple times.
There's nothing special about the front seals and O-rings, except there are two different sizes of the large O-rings.
12-02-2021, 09:23 PM
#6
Former Vendor
Yes, they are the same as for the later 928's. (Only '78/'79 928's are unique.)
A long time ago, when Porsche first decided that spraying Moly on the ends of this gasket was a good idea, I put a cam carrier on a 944 5 times (it wouldn't leak for about 2 weeks, before the gasket split), before giving up and figuring out that the "latest and greatest" wasn't all that great. (Luckily this is relatively simple on a 944/951 than on a 928. Having to do this 5 times on a 928 would make one want/need to call the Suicide Help Line.)
On that car, I carefully removed the Moly from a new gasket with Acetone. That seems to cure that car.
....I quickly came up with an alternative and have been using and selling these gaskets, since then.
20+ years and have never had one leak.
A long time ago, when Porsche first decided that spraying Moly on the ends of this gasket was a good idea, I put a cam carrier on a 944 5 times (it wouldn't leak for about 2 weeks, before the gasket split), before giving up and figuring out that the "latest and greatest" wasn't all that great. (Luckily this is relatively simple on a 944/951 than on a 928. Having to do this 5 times on a 928 would make one want/need to call the Suicide Help Line.)
On that car, I carefully removed the Moly from a new gasket with Acetone. That seems to cure that car.
....I quickly came up with an alternative and have been using and selling these gaskets, since then.
20+ years and have never had one leak.
12-02-2021, 11:22 PM
#7
Team Owner
Hi Phil they have been used for 2 winters and are quite handy thanks !
If you can narrow down where the cam towers are leaking it will make things easier,
as the cam tower base gaskets are the about the worst possible job on a 928.
The usual leak points are the rear tower cover gaskets,
these were made from cork, a few new versions are now made,
the orange silicone version and the green hard gasket,
both of these work well to seal the rear cover.
The front of the cam tower has a few O rings and a small doughnut gasket that also leak.,
these are replaced after taking the front cam housing apart.
As Greg mentioned he makes a new tower gasket,
Replacement is not a job for the faint of heart,
and much easier if the engine is out of the car
If you can narrow down where the cam towers are leaking it will make things easier,
as the cam tower base gaskets are the about the worst possible job on a 928.
The usual leak points are the rear tower cover gaskets,
these were made from cork, a few new versions are now made,
the orange silicone version and the green hard gasket,
both of these work well to seal the rear cover.
The front of the cam tower has a few O rings and a small doughnut gasket that also leak.,
these are replaced after taking the front cam housing apart.
As Greg mentioned he makes a new tower gasket,
Replacement is not a job for the faint of heart,
and much easier if the engine is out of the car
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12-03-2021, 01:41 AM
#8
Rennlist Member
Doing the RHS cam Orings was a real PITA! Needed a 2 leg puller, much tapping from the back , a very slow tedious job in my case. Actually dissauded me from doing the left side, with its dizzy complication. Replaced the dizzy seal on the body as the underside was very dirty.
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
12-03-2021, 02:16 AM
#9
Former Vendor
Hi Phil they have been used for 2 winters and are quite handy thanks !
If you can narrow down where the cam towers are leaking it will make things easier,
as the cam tower base gaskets are the about the worst possible job on a 928.
The usual leak points are the rear tower cover gaskets,
these were made from cork, a few new versions are now made,
the orange silicone version and the green hard gasket,
both of these work well to seal the rear cover.
The front of the cam tower has a few O rings and a small doughnut gasket that also leak.,
these are replaced after taking the front cam housing apart.
As Greg mentioned he makes a new tower gasket,
Replacement is not a job for the faint of heart,
and much easier if the engine is out of the car
If you can narrow down where the cam towers are leaking it will make things easier,
as the cam tower base gaskets are the about the worst possible job on a 928.
The usual leak points are the rear tower cover gaskets,
these were made from cork, a few new versions are now made,
the orange silicone version and the green hard gasket,
both of these work well to seal the rear cover.
The front of the cam tower has a few O rings and a small doughnut gasket that also leak.,
these are replaced after taking the front cam housing apart.
As Greg mentioned he makes a new tower gasket,
Replacement is not a job for the faint of heart,
and much easier if the engine is out of the car
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Mrmerlin (12-03-2021)
12-03-2021, 07:46 AM
#10
Team Owner
Note don’t pry on the cam gears to remove them use a puller and heat the gear it should come right off
this is not followed the cam can snap at the snout where it comes out of the cam tower
this is not followed the cam can snap at the snout where it comes out of the cam tower
Last edited by Mrmerlin; 12-03-2021 at 07:47 AM.
12-03-2021, 10:12 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
Yes, they are the same as for the later 928's. (Only '78/'79 928's are unique.)
A long time ago, when Porsche first decided that spraying Moly on the ends of this gasket was a good idea, I put a cam carrier on a 944 5 times (it wouldn't leak for about 2 weeks, before the gasket split), before giving up and figuring out that the "latest and greatest" wasn't all that great. (Luckily this is relatively simple on a 944/951 than on a 928. Having to do this 5 times on a 928 would make one want/need to call the Suicide Help Line.)
On that car, I carefully removed the Moly from a new gasket with Acetone. That seems to cure that car.
....I quickly came up with an alternative and have been using and selling these gaskets, since then.
20+ years and have never had one leak.
A long time ago, when Porsche first decided that spraying Moly on the ends of this gasket was a good idea, I put a cam carrier on a 944 5 times (it wouldn't leak for about 2 weeks, before the gasket split), before giving up and figuring out that the "latest and greatest" wasn't all that great. (Luckily this is relatively simple on a 944/951 than on a 928. Having to do this 5 times on a 928 would make one want/need to call the Suicide Help Line.)
On that car, I carefully removed the Moly from a new gasket with Acetone. That seems to cure that car.
....I quickly came up with an alternative and have been using and selling these gaskets, since then.
20+ years and have never had one leak.
again, thanks
rick