Twiggy Sticks Install, tuning and results thread

[Bala]

Crap - looks like I took a pic of the wrong side of the cam - back out to the garage ...

 

[2.0t03speed]

answer my question when you get back lol

 

[Bala]

OK - This is interesting ... Here are some shots of the "Cam Gear" side of the Mazda cams. The next post I'll do a "side by side" with the Twiggy sticks ...

 

[Bala]

Notice that on the "Driver's side" of the cams, the Mazda cams have the ball bearing check valve, while MY Twiggy cams have a hex bolt:

Mazda

Twiggy

Cam gear side Mazda:

Twiggy:

It LOOKS like in place of the welch plugs - I have a bolt, and that the cam gear sides are identical. Anyone else have these bolts?

 

[2.0t03speed]

ummm no i dont have a hex bolt but i have 2 welch plugs that are different lengths wtf. so do i need to get another set?

 

[Bala]

ok i have a question i was looking at my twiggy cams last night and the welch plugs i got with it. i have 2 welch plugs and they are both different lengths. should i have 2 for each cam? do i need to get another set?

Unless a set NEEDS to go in on the cam gear side, the stockers don't have anything there (and neither do the Twiggy sticks) Wow ... now I'm more confused (drunk)

 

[2.0t03speed]

so wtf now im more confused then ever. why the hell do i have 2 different size plugs lol

 

[Bala]

ummm no i dont have a hex bolt but i have 2 welch plugs that are different lengths wtf. so do i need to get another set?

My best guess is that if the are the same diameter, it shouldn't make a difference - they should just wedge in where my hex bolts are. Look for any interference in the holes that may indicate that a different length may go in each one - and if you have the resources, post up some shots of both ends of your cams for us to see ...

 

[2.0t03speed]

ok ill have to clean them up when i get home they have some gunk in the holes where the welch plugs go so ill clean them up and see if i can get some pictures

 

[Bala]

ok ill have to clean them up when i get home they have some gunk in the holes where the welch plugs go so ill clean them up and see if i can get some pictures

Cool - We'll get this figured out lol.

 

[MikeBlueP5]

Thats not a check valve, if you notice the ball is crimped in there to keep it from coming out, and yes its sole purpose is to keep oil from coming out of the end of the cam. The oil is instead forced out the holes to lube the journals. Try moving it i guarantee it wont budge. I worked in a machine shop here in atlanta for a few years. I know a little about cylinder heads and the top end since thats what we specialized in. Alliedmotorparts.com, also if you notice in the picture of your cylinder head it has two of them as well. Same purpose, to keep oil from coming out. If my memory serves me correctly since i dont have a complete head in front of me to look at, the passages that those plugs block (on the head) feed oil to the lifters.

 

[Bala]

Thats not a check valve, if you notice the ball is crimped in there to keep it from coming out, and yes its sole purpose is to keep oil from coming out of the end of the cam. The oil is instead forced out the holes to lube the journals. Try moving it i guarantee it wont budge. I worked in a machine shop here in atlanta for a few years. I know a little about cylinder heads and the top end since thats what we specialized in. Alliedmotorparts.com, also if you notice in the picture of your cylinder head it has two of them as well. Same purpose, to keep oil from coming out. If my memory serves me correctly since i dont have a complete head in front of me to look at, the passages that those plugs block (on the head) feed oil to the lifters.

You are correct - the ball is wedged in there. My line of thought was that Mazda used a ball so when oil pressure built up inside the cam, the ball would be forced forward, blocking the passage and than fall back when you shut the motor off to allow oil to drain. Makes me wonder whey they used a ball at all. (shrug)

 

[2.0t03speed]

ok so according to that we dont really need the welch plugs we just need something to block the hole on the back side of the cam (transmission side) correct?

 

[MikeBlueP5]

apparently the manufacturer of these cams decided to use a threaded plug with an allen head. they could have done it for several reasons, they dont have the means to use the ball and crimp method, or they wanted to make it easier to remove the plugs to clean the oil passages. As long as there is something blocking the passage that WILL not move or come out thats all that is needed. The dowel pin (which i believe the original poster was talking about) is used to index the cams and cam gears. It sounds like the machine shop made him longer ones so the cam gears wouldnt shear them off. The original ones may have been too short.

 

[2.0t03speed]

mine didnt come with a allen head bolts on the back side of the cam....looks like its time for some alterations to the cam lol

 

[ForceFed]

Like I said..nobody has the Straight answer..So much has been said in the last 10 posts..you cant tell what is what..this is my whole point.

Pics and descrips would be nice..I am just trying to get a good grasp on this.

And stil stick to my previous statement...as the answer is still not there.

How long have these been out again?

Kinda makes you wonder how many sets are actually in Use and not sitting on a shelf somewhere.
What a waste.

 

[Bala]

ok so according to that we dont really need the welch plugs we just need something to block the hole on the back side of the cam (transmission side) correct?

It's starting to look as simple as that - Thanks MikeBlueP5. Any other input Twiggy Cam owners?

 

[2.0t03speed]

ok sweet im gonna check my cams when i get home from work to see if i have some threads there or if im going to have to tap the cam

 

[ForceFed]

ok sweet im gonna check my cams when i get home from work to see if i have some threads there or if im going to have to tap the cam

Why would you tap the cam?
SO you can install a hex head plug?

 

[2.0t03speed]

yea