Which cars got a chain cam?

poppasmurf_bewdley

Lum wrote: »

The OP stated 8 years, which means a 2003 car. If we're assuming a generic family hatchback many of these will be nearing the end of their life as modern cars really don't seem to last as long these days.

I can't agree with you there. We have a 2000 W Astra parked outside at the moment which I bought as a demonstrator in 2000. It has 117k on the clock, and there is not a single patch of rust to be found anywhere on the vehicle. In it's entire life, it's had 2 cambelt changes, 2 rear springs replaced, one water pump replaced, and two exhaust systems fitted. Plus of course things like tyres and brake pads.

Compare that to my previous Sierras, Metros and a Granada which had rust bubbles on the rear wheel arches at less than two years of age, and a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus which was riddled with rust and needed a lot of welding at four years of age.

My current car, a two year old Mondeo with 60k is immaculate. Compare that to my first Ford Zephyr Mk 3, whose engine was shot at 70k. Mk 4 Zephyr V6 engines were reknown for only doing about 35k before needing a rebuild. And Ford Cortinas and Escorts which disappeared in a pile of rust before you'd finished paying for them.

As for the Mini - that melted in water rather than corroded!

Lum

Sierras, Metros and Granadas are all 80s and earlier. Ok there were a few of them made in the 90s but they're 80s designs.

In my opinion, cars reached peak reliability in the mid 90s, particularly Japanese cars, and it's been downhill from there.

Sure they don't rust these days*, but they have so much fancy crap to go wrong, such as the £3000 SAM unit in the Smart Roadster that often fills up with water, that the cost of repair rapidly exceeds the cars value.

*Ford Ka not included in this statement.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I never knew the Dumb Roadster had Surface to Air Missiles!

Lum

I think it's just a fancy name for the ECU, or maybe one of the ECUs.

All I know is a person who scrapped the bloody thing because they couldn't find a second hand SAM unit anywhere, and the car wasn't even worth £3000.

That is an extreme example, of course, but even simpler, but unnecessary, things like Dual Mass Flywheels are enough to make an 8 year old car uneconomical to repair when they shatter and cause damage.

andygb

oldagetraveller wrote: »

So, what drives the camshaft? Pray tell.:)

In the case of old Ducati motorcycles - desmodromic valve gear, whereby a system of gears connected the crankshaft to the camshaft(s).
I believe that this great system was used on flat 12 Porsche racing engines and some Ferrari engines, as well as some well known aero engines.

pitkin2020

Lum wrote: »

I did state that I was talking about purchasing older cars, and that if you are buying a new car then a chain wins every time.

The OP stated 8 years, which means a 2003 car. If we're assuming a generic family hatchback many of these will be nearing the end of their life as modern cars really don't seem to last as long these days.

Utter rubbish, a car will go on for longer than 8 years if its well maintained just like most things. Most chain driven cars require nothing more than an oil change to keep the chain healthy. By your reckoning most 8+ year old cars with chains are about to snap. My astra is 11 years old 120k and still on the original cam chain. I don't know of a single person that has ever had a chain snap or even had to replace the chain itself.

I can think of several people who have had belts snap though well before they were nearing the end of their life. I even had one snap at 20k and completely smashed the engine to bits.

Personally I don't base my buying decision purely on cam chain or cam belt but if i find two cars I like equally and one is on a cam chain that will sway my decision.

Gordon_Hose

Just read some of the various Vauxhall forums... plenty of stories about chains snapping and people asking to have them changed etc.

The Z22SE was quite renowned for having a dodgy chain. There's a whole section dedicated to Cam Chains on the z22se forum: http://www.z22se.co.uk/forum/index.php?sid=41748d78ffbf056b88ec86bbad67c899

pitkin2020

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

Just read some of the various Vauxhall forums... plenty of stories about chains snapping and people asking to have them changed etc.

The Z22SE was quite renowned for having a dodgy chain. There's a whole section dedicated to Cam Chains on the z22se forum: http://www.z22se.co.uk/forum/index.php?sid=41748d78ffbf056b88ec86bbad67c899

yep i'll agree the 2.2 does have an oil issue hence why I never bought the 2.2

Gordon_Hose

I did :rotfl::rotfl:

So far so good!!

Lum

The key phrases there are "if it's well maintained" and "require ... an oil change".

If you're buying an 8 year old car you can never be certain that those have happened. Even a stamped service book could be false if the previous owner bunged £50 to their mate who works for the dealership. I was also talking in more general terms than just cam chains in that particular post that you quoted.

I'm just starting to find that the "cam chains are wonderful, cam belts are crap" mentality on this forum is starting to get as bad as the "diesel is wonderful, petrol is crap" mentality that many people have and thus is worth challenging.