Hi, am pretty new to general car scene but am happy taking bits apa. I have run into the issue of one of my camshaft bearing caps has cracked where the threads to hold the rocker cover on are. The bearing housing is ok it's just the threads for the cover. I am aware these dont need to be f tight (correct me if wrong) therefore there is the option possibly of using something like JB weld. If I use this will it be strong enough, anyone had this issue ? 

The other option is do an engine swap, I have the engine completely stripped at the moment as was cleaning the bay so it is more or less ready to be pulled out. What engines and gearbox combinations will fit a mk2 89 bready?

My final question is, is it worth engine swapping? I am 17 so insurance may poo themselves or I have to lie... 

The sensible option is swap to original engine or do I buy a new cylinder head and try to change that with mine?

Any help appreciated. ( have attached files of broken part)

Thanks a lot 

G

This could possibly welded with TIG around a temporary bolt and the helicoil by tacking the pieces together to start with while still being fully assembled to the cylinder head. The helicoil needs to to be left protruding enough to extract it because the heat from the welding will damage it. The areas needing to be welded have got to be ground out to allow enough depth for the weld. To stop too much heat getting into the cam a little needs to be welded at any one time. The head around that area needs to be as clean as possible especially of oil. If all this works well a new helicoil can be fitted to provide a new 6mm thread to allow the cam cover to be attached again. Helicoil kits can bought quite cheaply on line and doesn't need expensive tools because this essentially is a one off job. Any excess weld will not get in the way of anything else. Others know better about engine swaps. Some later twin cam engines are swapped in and the 1.8 turbo VW but taller block engines are a lot of work to get them fitted. I have a modified 1.3 which meant there was no fitting issues and suspension/steering remains in the stock position. Porting, polishing of the cylinder head, changing to higher performance cam, upgrading carburetion  and fitting of a freer flowing exhaust system will give you better performance but may reduce the drivability making the car a pain to drive and maybe unreliable. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

imagine the heat from welding would distort it enough to make unusable

 

these are made with the head and shouldnt be swapped , although many have done it and got away with it if you check the cam still turns freely   

Thanks for your help, luckily I have managed to find a set of cam bearing caps for a tenner. All part numbers are the same I am just curious as to if the lifetime of the cams may be shortened with different cam caps. Will this matter too much if I only replace the centre broken one ?

 

just have to try it ...turn the cam over and make sure it doesnt bind , like i said you shouldnt do it but many have and got away with it

 

dont replace the others 

Take the cam out, all the caps in place and feel the new ones for a lip

 

Not all caps fit but there are only a few varients as its down to the mm that the drill tip hits when the hole is machined