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YOUR RESEARCHLooking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
Leading reported evidence
Use exhaust cam
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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Looking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
Frequently discussed work
Clean things up like a janitor
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Suggestion
If not maybe somebody else was in there at one time after a cracked cover or something like that from an accident and decided to play clean things up like a janitor.
Looking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Use exhaust cam' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'result of sitting too long and not being driven' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean things up like a janitor' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
After obtaining a good used intake cam to replace the bad intake cam for the drivers side, have discovered that the exhaust cam is also bad.
Looking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
Use when you remove the cam covers
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Pac996 is right about the cam securing tools that need to be used when you remove the cam covers, and when you remove the cams.
Looking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
result of sitting too long and not being driven
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
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Suspected cause
In this case it is either improper hardening, where all the lobes on the shaft would look like this, or if it's isolated to just this pair, its most likely the result of sitting too long and not being driven.
Looking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
Clean things up like a janitor
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
If not maybe somebody else was in there at one time after a cracked cover or something like that from an accident and decided to play clean things up like a janitor.
Looking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
Frequently discussed actions (10)
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Clean things up like a janitor
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
If not maybe somebody else was in there at one time after a cracked cover or something like that from an accident and decided to play clean things up like a janitor.
Looking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
Reported and suspected causes (1)
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
result of sitting too long and not being driven
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suspected cause
In this case it is either improper hardening, where all the lobes on the shaft would look like this, or if it's isolated to just this pair, its most likely the result of sitting too long and not being driven.
Looking for a 1999 intake camshaft - Photos have been added of damaged camshaft
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
38 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T140027Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Friend of mine took off the passenger side cam cover to fix a leak, found the intake cam heavily pitted (I'll have photos later).
He asked me to help him find a used camshaft.
40k miles on the engine.
Is there a good upgraded cam option?
TIA
Here are the photos:
Words are so tricky. When my friendly mechanic explained you can't take the valve covers off with out the tool to lock the cams in he did mention it wasn't can't but shouldn't unless you want problems. I hope your friend hasn't done this cover removal before with out locking the cams in place. Could be more problems coming up if he doesn't go the right path to replace those cams. The lifter are not just flat surfaced. I believe they have a center portion that raises for increased performance at certain rpms. I think its best for him to get in there and check them also since that mess might of messsed up the lifter faces messing up the fancy two part lifters.
Dharn55 has some good threads where he's been in there fixing things up.
Wow, you need to figure out what caused that damage. And I am sure that the lifters for those lobes will need to be replaced. Pac996 is right about the cam securing tools that need to be used when you remove the cam covers, and when you remove the cams. I can send you drawings and info on how to make the tools for this. As for the lifters, on the 3.4 VarioCam engines the top of the lifters is flat. It is only on the later 3.6+ VarioCamPlus engines that the intake lifters had a center portion that raises to meet a different cam profile.
Take a look at this post O did awhile ago
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-a-primer.html
Thanks for clarifying the lifter trick is the 3.6 engine. I wasn't sure.
Main thing I think of for cam damage like that is from hot rods engines when installing new cams. The cam has to be broken in if its new. Funny thing is from initial start you have to run the engine up to like 3k for 15-20 minutes from what I recall. Trick is to get the surface broken in heat wise and mated which that cam looks like it didn't get broken in. If not broken in the lobe runs a chance of wearing off like it kinda looks in the picture. Might be nice to read up on cam breaking in before starting the engine after replacement.
Yup I hope this helps figure out the mating procedure with a break in. Nasty cam damage in the first webpage like you got. I'm not sure if the new car came with synthetic but maybe it got synthetic put in too soon before a break in was finished.
http://cranecams.com/?show=article&id=2
http://cranecams.com/pdf/548e.pdf
I've seen a lot of damage like that on various shafts, cams, crank pins etc. in both motors and transmissions. I have also seen it in various stages of deterioration. In this case it is either improper hardening, where all the lobes on the shaft would look like this, or if it's isolated to just this pair, its most likely the result of sitting too long and not being driven.
Acidic water droplets from condensation form inside motors, and when not being started for extended periods of time, the droplets hang or pool on low points of shafts, cams and other things. This etches thru the surface hardness and soon the softer metal deteriorates from doing a job that is beyond its capabilities.
Start your vehicle often and give all internal components a fresh coat of oil. Even if not moving it out of the garage, it's much better than just sitting. Most vehicle internal damage starts while the vehicle is not running.
I bet that's what got it since its isolated to two that were probably facing down when it sat around. I don't even like the idea of which valves are open when a car sits around for extended periods of time.
I've tried having guys ride even my bike while I'm on vacation cruising deserts from a year to year and a half and its always oh man I didn't have the time. Funniest one was last time out a cop friend rode it one time and told me the bike has too much power. Uh duh, that's the way I wanted it.
Anyway I hope it's clear to guys that parking the car for extended periods is the wrong answer. Yes over winter is too long and the worse time since all variables of humidity and temp get condensation in the engine, fluids to include brake lines if the fluid is silicone based, and the oil and fuel sucks majorly afterwards.
Please feel free to post any theories, we are all ears!!!
I'm not directly involved with this project, the owner of the car is a good friend, so is the shop owner who takes care of our cars.
Engine is still in the car. It was brought in for an IMS / RMS check and update. Covers were taken off just to fix a leak, the cams were quite a surprise.
Drivers side intake cam
I think that the problem is the metallurgy of the particular cam, ie a failure in production. Otherwise wouldn't the other cams show deterioration as well from the acid droplets theory?
Road. Haven't seen you around here for a long time.
The rollers on the can chains do look worn or pitted. Probably should change the the chain too. How do the rollers on the chain to the ins look?
Question the health of the lifters on those positions of the cylinder head that have the wear on the cam lobes. When I see this wear it is usually directly related to lifters that have failed or become so dirty and clogged that they no longer function properly.
I also see this from engines that have elevated oil temps for extended periods of time, or engines that have poor lubricant selections.
Did you ever find your camshafts? I have a dissasembled 99 engine in boxes I can go through this evening if you are still looking.
Let me know and I'll take some pictures.
You now sudden I feel highly motivated to change the oil and filter again before 5k miles.
I'm guessing the lobes were emery clothed or wiped off after the covers were removed seeing what looked like diagonal abrasion on the metal? If not maybe somebody else was in there at one time after a cracked cover or something like that from an accident and decided to play clean things up like a janitor. What ever the case it sure looks ugly.
I have an intake cam on its way from Dharn55 being hand delivered by Hacker-Pschorr traveling through on a trip to N Carolina and back to Wisconsin. Rennlisters Rule! Will change the chain as well.
Oh believe me, I will drive the heck out of the car. I purchased the car in late fall of '09 (LESS THAN 500 MILES AGO !) and stumbled upon this when I preemptively changed out the IMS bearing with an upgraded one from LN Engineering. Lucky stumble though!
I have seen this exact kind of cam damage before in other types engines. The cam lobes that sat in the oil which contained water and combustion acid for extended periods were affected the most, and corroded the same way.
That same dormant mix of water and acid can eat up your IMS! (you wonder how many engines with failing IMS bearings also have pitted cams) BTW I recently replaced my IMS bearing & cam pads, and both the IMS bearing and cams looked perfect @ 101k!
Watch out for garage queens.
wow,painful. Even with the used cam from Dharn55, total into this accidental find will be about $5300.00
including the IMS bearing and its replacement. Pretty disheartened with Porsche. 3rd Porsche and possibly the last one.
New discovery. After obtaining a good used intake cam to replace the bad intake cam for the drivers side, have discovered that the exhaust cam is also bad. Am now looking for good used exhaust cam for 1-3. Will add pix soon.
