i live in ames and go to iowa state, and one of the guys in my apartment is an engineer who has a metal shop class where they do some casting and other metal work. i got pretty pumped last night because i got an idea, and i want to run it by you guys. would it be feasible for my buddy in the metal shop to make me a performance cam, or some rocker arms, or even some headers if he had access to pipe and a mandrel? what kind of precision is involved with making those items? and does anyone have CAD models, plans, or some kind of dimensions or blueprints. feel free to call me retarded if this is just another hair-brained idea from an inexperienced car guy.

I know you need VERY specialized tools to make cams.. and I doubt the others are feasable.. sorry dude.


-justin

Cams are forged blanks, not cast, then they're CNC ground.

Maybe rockers, i don't know if they're forged or not (probably are.)

If you have the proper equipment, you could regrind a cam. But you really want to know how a cam works, and the specifics before you even attempt to run it. Getting one reground will be just over $100 at a shop though..

You need to look at a set of headers, if your buddy has access to a bender they can be made easily. Have them coated when your done for years of service

hmmm... okay. so cam and rockers are probably out of the question, but headers are definitely possible... are there plans/dimensions for series II out there somewhere?

heh... i'm looking at the schematics for the heads right now

you should be able to figure it out w/o too much grief. if you take of the manifolds you have, they can be used as a template for making the motor side of the manifolds. the rest is mostly trying to make them fit in the car and keeping it free-flowing...

you make it sound easy, and in the right hands i'm sure it is. but you're talking to a college kid who knows crap about fabrication! the only way i think i'd try this is if i can give my roommate some dimensions or even detailed plans to work with. but i'm still interested if someone has this info and could procure it for me!

always much easier said than done...

i'd throw something together for you, but i honestly think it would be a better idea to grab a set of exhaust gaskets from your local friendly auto parts store, and make some templates off of that - it'* a great learning experience.

anyhew, just one last thing to point out - on the rear manifold, there'* a small tube to the left of the number 5 cylinder (if i'm thinking through this right), that goes back a small distance and then leads into the main 'collector' (at a loss for proper terminology right now). that needs to maintain its diameter for at least 10mm deep. aight?

matt