Can You Still Call An Engine "unopened" If You Have Aftermarket Cams?

[Abo Bob]

Opinions please.

[mitchy_]

for cams to have been changed, i consider the engine to have been 'opened'.. unless they just slide out/in

[CEF11E]

I think you have to say it is opened if u add cams

[Zappn]

Curious as to who wants to know, insurance, selling ro something else?

[Abo Bob]

I want to know. Just for general discussion. I think the LS1 boys think cams don't stop it from being 'unopened'.

[qikstagea]

unopened is a way of saying stock internals, mate. Cams are in your engine, therefore by my reckoning they are internals.

if anything has been changed that doesnt just bolt onto the outside, the engine has been opened to do so.

[GT-R32]

I want to know. Just for general discussion. I think the LS1 boys think cams don't stop it from being 'unopened'.

The LS1 boys definitely consider a cam change to be 'opened'. Some of them have valve springs done but that is it, even then it is unopened aside form valve springs. Cams put you in a different class altogether.

[racsov500]

Opening to me means the bottom end

cam is just rocker cover and valvetrain

still not inside the engine

[Swiper the Fox]

Opening to me means the bottom end

cam is just rocker cover and valvetrain

still not inside the engine

i agree

[AlexCim]

Unopened to me - Nothing changed that isnt BOLT ON.

This means that the dynamics of the engine have not been changed, aka, no REAL (to me) mods have been done to the car.

To me, bolt on is anything before the inlet side of the engine and after the exhaust outlet (side of block). So the head is part of the "engine" in my view and if it is touched it has been opened.

[mitchy_]

i agree alex

[racsov500]

its safe to say 'unopened apart from cams'

[Mik]

i agree

I do too...but it's a bit different for an LS1 I reckon...

[GT-R32]

I do too...but it's a bit different for an LS1 I reckon...

Cause the cam is deep in the engine?

Also because a cam change can mean a gain of up to 100kW.

[MK2]

Most cam work on LS1's, least when I had one was a case of getting new valve springs, pushrods, new gaskets and a better timing chain, which any way you look at it is major surgery. While its cracked open most people will opt for port, polish and nicely tuned extractors as well so calling it 'stock' would be generous at best and bullshit at worst.

[WazR32GTSt]

to me, "opened" is getting access to the internals.. which is literalyl opening the inside by taking the head off...

if cams = opened

then cam gears must also = opened

which are both wrong in my opinion...

[qikstagea]

i look at it this way - if you take the lid off a jam jar, then that bad boy has been opened.

Take the lid off your engine...? opened.

otherwise a cam change in a OHC engine could be considered unopened, but a cam change in an OHV engine is opened.

[Abo Bob]

to me, "opened" is getting access to the internals.. which is literalyl opening the inside by taking the head off...

if cams = opened

then cam gears must also = opened

which are both wrong in my opinion...

Maybe if you get into the oily section it's opened.

[WazR32GTSt]

well the head gasket is the biggest "seal" that is broken when the head is opened...

think of the jam jar analogy but with the head gasket being the "pop" when the lid opens...

[legend01]

Replacing cams ...unopened

bottom end ........opened