HI

This is my first post on this forum an I hope you can help.

A few weeks ago my engine started to labour and make an horrendous squealing noise. I took it into a local garage who told me that the oil was not circulating and that the top end of the engine was "toast", and suggested that I consider scrapping the car.

Anyway, "long story short", I took it home, cleaned the oil spray bar, put oil flush through the engine afew times, and "Hey Presto", oil circulating and no squeal. The problem appears to be that the camshaft and followers are "Toast", and not the engine. The questions I need answering are:

1) How easy is it to replace the camshaft and followers?
2) How much should I expect to spend?
3) Would this be a good time to consider a more sporty cam?
4) If I go for a sportier cam, where can I get one?

I think I'll do this work myself, as I've just re-found my love of mechanics. I really enjoyed getting it running again.

Any info on this would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Carl
Brava 1.4S, 1999, Dark Green

The oil feed bar is a well known failing on the 1.4 and was one of the many reasons why that engine was replaced by the 1.2 on the MKII Bravs.

For the money it is going to cost to do all that why not do an engine conversion (even to a 1.2 would be better quite frankly).

If you want more tech info I'd ask Tom on the bravo Forum (although I'm sure there's plenty of tech bods on here).

you can get performance cams for the bravo 1.4 and they are less then £200 power alfa are the only uk supplier i think

you will need the cams tuned in though once you fitted them to get the best out of them rolling road, it should take you to 100-105bhp once tunned correctly.

You can get them from Gazzella Racing

http://www.gazzella.cc/cart.php?target=product&action=view&product_id=16692&category_id=632

I'm considering these myself also

Checked with local Fiat dealer for prices:-

Camshaft : £167.02 +vat
Followers : £13.76 each +vat
Cam Clamps : £8.41 each +vat

The Sports cam from www.gazzella.cc only comes in at £20 more! I'm also going to have a look and see if I can locate a recon cylinder head.

Cheers,

Carl

Good work Carl, remember you will need to get it tuned if you fit the performance cam as well, not sure how much that will be on top !

I remember when i was a kid the old mk3 cortina,s having this same problem and helping my dad drill larger holes in the spray bar thus delivering more oil and helping to stop cloging worth a thought.