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Jeffvette
04-02-2009, 04:10 AM
Some of you have followed along with the other thread about the damaged cam cover and the broken rear cam retainer. Initially it was thought to be the one just on the passenger side exhaust cam. After the deliberation of fixing just that one or tearing down the entire motor, we discovered that both rear retainers on intake and exhaust on the driver side were cracked as well. Although they were only cracked in one place.

After contacting GM with the number on the callout 10067713 (which sold the retainers in one set) none were to be found anywhere inside GM. A call to GM knowing there had to be two separate numbers provided us with the numbers 10067731 & 10106165. Both are discontinued with no stock at GM.

The next call was to make some phone calls to various LT5 guys. One has the parts but will not sell them separate from the cylinder head, even though he sold a set of heads minus the retainers a short while ago. The second guy said he had the parts and would back to me. After several follow up phone calls I got no response. Great!

The solution was to machine our own. Taking known good pieces they were spec'd out and created in CAD. The end result is a much better piece than the factory one. It is made out of billet alumimum and the thin stress points that cracked on Rob's motor have been increased in thickness.

These are not so much for replacement of your current ones, but for people who have damaged pieces or have bought a cylindner head with them.

Onto the images!

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret1.JPG

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret2.JPG

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret3.JPG

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret4.JPG

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret5.JPG

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret6.JPG

Jeffvette
04-02-2009, 04:13 AM
http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret7.JPG

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret.JPG

Shots of where the rear retainer broke

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/IMG_2455.JPG

LGAFF
04-02-2009, 07:28 AM
Whats the $?

tomtom72
04-02-2009, 09:00 AM
Wow Jeff, nice design and manufacturing work! :thumbsup:

Those are really great looking units!

GOLDCYLON
04-02-2009, 09:30 AM
Nice work Jeff. Was the original cam able to be saved?

FU
04-02-2009, 09:58 AM
The new CAD reatiners look quite a bit stronger than the stock cast retainers. You do nice work Jeff ! =D>
The camshaft hole looks like it will have to be line bored . Can that be done easily ?

Pete
04-02-2009, 11:42 AM
Jeff :thumbsup:


Pete

Jeffvette
04-02-2009, 12:52 PM
The new CAD reatiners look quite a bit stronger than the stock cast retainers. You do nice work Jeff ! =D>
The camshaft hole looks like it will have to be line bored . Can that be done easily ?


Frank, there is no need to have them line bored. The retainers only touch the camshaft when the cam cover is off of the motor. The forward piece contains a thrust washer to locate the cam fore and aft.

Jeffvette
04-02-2009, 12:57 PM
Nice work Jeff. Was the original cam able to be saved?


We are not going to chance it and have opted to replace it. There was some material transfer from the original retainer onto the cam lobe.

Jeffvette
04-02-2009, 01:02 PM
Whats the $?


Which ones do you need Lee?

Kevin
04-02-2009, 01:03 PM
thanks for stepping up to make sure we can keep these cars running jeff

A26B
04-02-2009, 07:05 PM
Nice part Jeff. I've seen a couple of the small ones broken. Any idea what could cause one to break after the cam cover is installed? As you said earlier, only used to secure the cam while the cover is off.

LGAFF
04-02-2009, 08:48 PM
So if they are only used for when the cam covers are off, should we run without them?

Jeffvette
04-02-2009, 09:06 PM
So if they are only used for when the cam covers are off, should we run without them?


So what are you going to do when you need to remove the cam cover?

LGAFF
04-02-2009, 09:24 PM
Just asking. With chain tension do the cams pop up? Never pulled the cam covers with cam chains on.

LGAFF
04-02-2009, 09:50 PM
I need this guy!

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Retainers/camret1.JPG

A26B
04-02-2009, 11:25 PM
Just asking. With chain tension do the cams pop up? Never pulled the cam covers with cam chains on.

Yes..... chain tension on the front of the cams will cause the cam to tilt up out of the lower journal in the cyl head if the retainers are not in place.

You can't get the cam chains off without pulling the cam covers off.

LGAFF
04-02-2009, 11:37 PM
You can't get the cam chains off without pulling the cam covers off.


I was eluding to the fact that my spare motor had the heads off when I got it so did not know about the chain tension on the cam.

Thanks

GOLDCYLON
04-03-2009, 01:08 AM
We are not going to chance it and have opted to replace it. There was some material transfer from the original retainer onto the cam lobe.


Thats what I figured was it the inboard or outboard cam? Damn that must have been an ugly teardown.

1990 415
04-03-2009, 02:37 AM
they look phenomenal! new ones look much stronger than OEM. I'd like to mount one on the wall.

LGAFF
04-13-2009, 10:57 PM
Got mine today, they are nice and they get the captain cheapass seal of approval for price!


Thanks Jeffvette!

flyin ryan
04-14-2009, 12:05 PM
Got mine today, they are nice and they get the captain cheapass seal of approval for price!


Ssooo....what 'Is' the price?

Jeffvette
04-14-2009, 01:28 PM
Ssooo....what 'Is' the price?

50 for the front thrust cap
30 for the rear retainer

plus shipping.

flyin ryan
04-14-2009, 02:36 PM
50 for the front thrust cap
30 for the rear retainer

plus shipping.Very fair, cool, thanks JV :)

tpepmeie
05-02-2009, 12:17 PM
I just received my set of retainers today. They are fantastic, very nicely machined. Hmmm, Jeff what other NLA parts could be remade like this?

Thanks again for these!
Todd