Have you ever seen this on a Camshaft Before?
 

I bought a spare MSM head about a month ago. I recently started tearing it down for cleanup, and noticed the pin on front of the intake cam that fits into the slot on the gear is borked. It almost looks like someone intentionally put a flathead to it and whacked it with a BFH. It's bent in a way that could give the cam some slight advance.

Is this a known practice? (seems a little too backwoodsy, even for me) Should I even consider running this cam? It still seems to lock up with the cam gear fine. I have an extra BP5A cam installed my car at the moment, but I was hoping to keep the original with this new head. Plus these things are worth a hundred dollar bill used.

Enter shaky macro setting phone pics:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1409094631

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1409094631

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1409094631

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1409094631

I would not run that. I would take that to a machine shop to see if the pin can be replaced. I would also look at the lobes very carefully.

Honestly, I can't imagine how a timing belt could do that. I think you're right, someone was too cheap to buy an adjustable gear.

wow that's gangster

look at the lobes, ive bought an engine that was similar

Thanks a lot for the quick responses guys. :makeout:

Considering I've seen a total of 5 miata camshafts in real life, I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for on the lobes. There is definitely wear present, but it doesn't seem any worse than the BP4A cam I pulled out of my other head, or the other BP5A I replaced it with.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1409103462

I tried to get a second opinion, but my help fell asleep:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1409103462

I just won't plan on running the ghettofab cam, but that probably means more downtime for the car. It's starting to look like I'm going to put all this off until winter, hopefully I can source a shortblock so I can piece together an entire new motor on a stand and keep downtime to a minimum.

If a machine shop can replace that pin, they probably wouldn't charge you more that $25. Plus, they can give an expert opinion on the lobes (the ones pictured look fine to me). Worth a shot.

Im willing to bet that the damage to the pin occurred while removing the cam sprocket..It is easy to remove with a pair of vise grips. Give it a twist and pull. it will come out. if I remember correctly, it is a 5mm dia.. mcmastercarr has them. I used their .001 oversize so that it would fit nice and snug. They come in packs of 20 I believe. I could also send you a couple if you want. I think I have 19 extra.

Thanks Ryan, that'd be great. I'll see if I can't extract it next week and I'll shoot you a PM.