Author Topic: Adding cam sync to a BMW M10 engine  (Read 5045 times)

Offline CamB

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Adding cam sync to a BMW M10 engine
« on: May 13, 2015, 04:28:00 am »
I'm looking at the logistics of adding a cam sensor to my M10 engine (60s - 80s 4 cylinder).

I was hoping to mount a Honeywell GT101 sensor through the cam cover and pickup off just one of the cam sprocket retaining bolts. As there are 4 bolts, this would mean raising one high enough away from the others to provide a distinct signal. What I had in mind was replacing a bolt with a longer one and a spacer so its head is at least 5mm higher (based on the spec sheet looking for a >5mm high "tooth") than the other bolts.

Would that work? Or will the other bolt heads - being raised themselves from the cam sprocket - introduce a chance of error?

« Last Edit: May 13, 2015, 04:31:44 am by CamB »

Offline mattias

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Re: Adding cam sync to a BMW M10 engine
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2015, 06:52:37 am »
On an M30 I still own I used three stainless steel bolts, and one regular bolt which was  raised about 5 mm just to make sure, and it worked.

Offline CamB

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Re: Adding cam sync to a BMW M10 engine
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2015, 07:10:14 am »
Thanks. I didn't think of stainless steel (probably because I am totally not an engineer, and don't even play one on TV). I would usually shy away from it for anything that requires strength but I guess the sprocket is dowelled to the cam, so the bolts probably aren't doing much (and are only 8.8 by the looks of that pic - not mine by the way)...

I will do some bench testing I think, if I can rig something up.

Which means I can avoid drilling an accurate hole and mounting the sensor for a while, which will be the real challenge for my limited skillset and tools...