B7 S4 pulling engine for cam gears, what else should I do?

[xpl0sive]

Hey guys good to see this forum is still going strong... haven't been on here in a long time!

I picked up a 2007 S4 cabrio a few months ago that only has 95,000km. It came with cam gear issues and I’m in the process of gathering all the parts I will need to to the job. I’m gonna drop the engine and want to do a few things while the engine is out. There are a few oil leaks and I might as well do the timing chains and tensioners as well?
I’m looking at the kits on ECStuning and FCP euro and trying to compare them. I want to take advantage of any Black Friday discounts there might be and order all the parts by tomorrow.
I was going to get the JHM cam adjuster kit ($617.45) and the Timing chain kit with service tools ($742.47) from ECS.

I then saw the timing chain kit on FCP Euro for ($1,537.53) and it includes a bunch of gaskets and stuff that the ECS kit doesn’t include, but doesn't include the tools.

I was also going to get new motor mounts and a transmission mount from ECS.

Is there anything else I should do while I have the motor out? I’m probably not going to keep the car very long, so I don’t want to spend a ton of money on it. I just want to do the job right so whoever gets the car after me won’t need to do anything for a while.
I’m trying to figure out if the FCP kit is the one to get or to get the ECS kit and try to find all the other stuff the FCP kit includes.

[M0ve0ver]

I'm not sure if either of those kits use the upgraded chain guides

[Pnflds]

Have you considered AmTuned.com?

[M0ve0ver]

AMTuned has a great kit, the only catch is that he assembles them to order, so you run the risk of something being backordered/unavailable on top of the 3-5 day prep time.

[ShelbyM3]

FCP, AMTuned, or JH Motorsports would be my options, opinions. I avoid ECS like the plague, anymore. AM and JH know these V8’s very well, but you pay for what you get. There’s also a guy I was suggested on Facebook who supplies these parts. I can find the info, if you really want it.


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[Rol-co]

FCP, AMTuned, or JH Motorsports would be my options, opinions. I avoid ECS like the plague, anymore. AM and JH know these V8’s very well, but you pay for what you get. There’s also a guy I was suggested on Facebook who supplies these parts. I can find the info, if you really want it.


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A guy at facebook..... fishy, watch out for Chinese gear, yes there is, 300-400 dollar set.

[xpl0sive]

Thanks I didn't know about AMtuned. I will check out what they have. I'm assuming they aren't doing any BF stuff. Should I get the JHM cam adjusters and the timing kit from AMTuning?

[Pnflds]

Thanks I didn't know about AMtuned. I will check out what they have. I'm assuming they aren't doing any BF stuff. Should I get the JHM cam adjusters and the timing kit from AMTuning?

Call and speak with Alex, he won't steer you wrong.

[Matthewest91]

Thanks I didn't know about AMtuned. I will check out what they have. I'm assuming they aren't doing any BF stuff. Should I get the JHM cam adjusters and the timing kit from AMTuning?

Avoid JHM cam adjusters
They suck! And do not last.
Get amtuned remachined


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[M0ve0ver]

Avoid JHM cam adjusters
They suck! And do not last.
Get amtuned remachined


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First I've heard of this. Whats the story?

[Matthewest91]

They don’t last as long..
I rebuild the 4.2 motors. So I e had a few case studies
AMTuned remachined are half the price anyway

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[M0ve0ver]

They don’t last as long..
I rebuild the 4.2 motors. So I e had a few case studies
AMTuned remachined are half the price anyway

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Thats interesting as I can't imagine a 4.2 with the JHM gears would have put many miles on them. Do you have pictures of the wear?

[Matthewest91]

I bought a motor used , the guy anted to do a 2.7 swap after rebuilding his 4.2 motor.
Had new timing on it with JHM cam adjusters.
Only a couple thousand miles.
The wear on the cam adjusters was very surprising.
I don’t have a picture.
But after that I will not purchase their adjusters again…
I don’t understand why you would spend double for a product when you can just get yours remachined.

I’ve had multiple oem cam adjusters last more than 200k…



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[Matthewest91]

These have 212k.
I could stick them back in a car


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[Matthewest91]

I like JHM. Don’t get me wrong.
I just don’t like their cam adjusters


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[xpl0sive]

I'm in Canada and AMTuned won't do a core swap for their re-machined adjusters. They want me to send my own in first and then wait. I'd rather have all the parts ready when I do the job, so I can take the motor out and put it back in right away instead of having it all sitting torn apart for weeks. So my option option are JHM Adjusters.

[Rol-co]

I'm in Canada and AMTuned won't do a core swap for their re-machined adjusters. They want me to send my own in first and then wait. I'd rather have all the parts ready when I do the job, so I can take the motor out and put it back in right away instead of having it all sitting torn apart for weeks. So my option option are JHM Adjusters.

They never do, but they send them quickly, there is plenty to do with an engine out job so you probably have them back before you need them.
Even i did, and i'm in europe.

And maybe if you check the adjusters first you have no wear, then you don't need them. 😉

[xpl0sive]

Well if I don't end up needing the JHM adjusters I'll just return them :)

[Rol-co]

Its a way to go, not the way I prefer.

[Matthewest91]

Well if I don't end up needing the JHM adjusters I'll just return them :)

I have multiple sets if you want if you to arrange a core charge


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[ShelbyM3]

I have multiple sets if you want if you to arrange a core charge


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Buy a used set and have them remmachined if you really can’t wait. Then send your OE ones out to get remachined and sell them. Win win.


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[xpl0sive]

So I ended up ordering the JHM adjusters and will be ordering the following from AMTuned. Also got new motor and trans mounts from 034. Hopefully will have everything I need to get the job one

[neilpaku]

I put JHM sprockets on my engine - with 115k on those sprockets, the wear is almost imperceptible.