So it starts off as a nice sunny day. I decide to take the Z for a spin. Let it warm up and off I go. I get around a mile from home and WHAM! The engine shuts off. I have that feeling like something just broke. Turn her over and there is no compression.:dead:

I get her home and start looking, pull the valve cover and the camshaft sprocket had come loose :stupid: I can only blame myself. I remove the rockers to see if there is any valve damage. Well so far five of the intake valves are bent. I haven't even gotten to the exhaust. Aaargggg!!! I am not happy.

Say it ain't so Ed!! Man I feel for ya. OK so the panthers thing wasn't so bad!!!

Ed! Nooooo--the horror, the horror!

Sure hope the damage is limited...I just looked through your pics for motivation, too....

Good luck with repairs,

Steve

Yep, happened to me 6 or so years ago.

The tapered dowel gave way with a resultant tap, tap ,tap and loss of power.

From that day onwards, every time I have the cover off the head, first thing I checked was the security of the dowel.

Hopefully there is no piston damage, apart from a nick or two, but you have a major job coming up on the head.

What can I say? Apart from advising all that read this thread to CHECK your dowel regularly.

MOM

You most likely will have to get the head rebuilt

Ed, that is truly a bummer.

You most likely will have to get the head rebuilt

Ya think???

I feel your pain Ed after all your hard work too. Best of luck putting it back together.

what dowel are you talking about Mike? Are you talking about the cam sprocket bolt?

Ouch, that really sucks. I'm sorry ed. Just keep in mind, you have such a beautiful car, it's going to be well worth taking care of. Just like fixing a brand new car. Good luck.

You most likely will have to get the head rebuilt

Ya think???

maybe he could just bend the head to match the valves?

*not that the situation is funny, but the exchange quoted above is

Ed,

After your fifth sentance, I was expecting to find your car had an unexpected intimate moment with a cement truck! I am glad to hear that the damage was all invisible, even though no damage would have been far better. It is good to know your car won't be totalled over some bent valves and fallout. A little time and money and it will be good as you had it. One bright spot on the horizon, with your car there is not room for W.A.I.T.!

WIll

but I

.............what dowel are you talking about Mike? Are you talking about the cam sprocket bolt?

The locating pin on the front of the camshaft.