Lets say I were to remove the AC condensor as well as the radiator, front grills, hood, etc. Would it be possible to get the cam out of the head with it still on the block? I dont believe anyone has done this, and im not sure if its been brought up. Ive no problem pulling the head, just trying to find an easy way out, and save some money on parts.
-
Old and improved:
-
ehhh, might be possible, but you'll probably have to tilt the engine up (or down) so the cam clears the rad support. In order to allow it to tilt much at all, you'll have to remove the rear trans mount, linkage, and probably the driveshaft at the rear of the tranny- so it can sort of pivot on the motor mounts. By the time you do all that, you might as well pull the head. The only parts cost should be a head gasket and head bolts.....
Bret. -
i'd say try just removing the rad condensor and grills, if not you've only wasted about 45 mintes, not the end of the world, where jordan when you need him, he'd know the answer to this.... lmaoComment
-
it's possible, just lift the front of the engine, unbolt the engine mounts and lift. Is it right, well that's upto you.Comment
-
I know someone who pulled the engine out of the car to change the cam, and rockers without pulling the head.
Dumb Idea if you ask me, just pull the head. The complete headgasket set is like ~$70 from BMA.
Plus unless u've done it recently, the intake gasket is a common place for leakings causing flucuating idles. So you eliminate that possiblilty.
Im not 100% sure, but i know you can't get the shalfs out for the rockers all the way, hence why you can only replace the rockers on the rear cyl without removing the head.
Comment
-
it would be difficult, but maybe possible. there is one problem I can think of that might stop you from being able to do it, and it's not the rockers. you actually don't need to, and you shouldn't, hammer on the rocker shafts to get them out. there is a procedure in the bentley manual, I didn't follow it exactly when I put my head together, but the basic principle works.
you have to remove the cam pulley, you will need it out of the way in order to slide the rocker shafts forward. This is a problem because you also need to be able to turn the cam.. so you need to figure out a way to turn the cam without the pulley, maybe with a bolt or something. the other problem is the pistons, you will need them out of your way when you are turning the cam, and you can't use the timing belt to keep them in synch..
next you need to start by loosening your cam eccentrics (but leave them in), and starting with the exhaust rocker by the firewall, removing them one at a time. remove all of the exhaust rockers, and then remove the intake rockers.
to get the first one off you will have to change the cam position so only one exhaust valve is being compressed, and then you will need to use a big screwdriver to compress it more and take the pressure off the cam. this will also take the tension off the rocker shaft enough for you to slide forward, far enough to get the first (firewall) rocker out. it's complicated and takes a while, but once you get the first one out the rest are gravy. the intake side is easy to take apart once the exhaust is done (because you can just take the eccentrics off and slide them out of the way of the cam). Of course as the bentley states, installation is reverse of removal (that is, start by putting the intake rockers on first, then do the exhaust).
of course you still have to tilt the motor enough to clear the radiator support. but like these guys said pulling the head might not be much more work.Comment
-
I'd say you should just pull the head, you'll be happy you did it that wayComment
-
I have to pull it now. Cam damage was much worse than anticipated. Burned at least 4 rocker arms. Getting another cam, rockers, metric blues, and probably a little bit more port work.Old and improved:
Comment
-
I have a new 284/284 cam for sale if you are interested. I'd like $250 shipped. it does require oversized eccentrics (~$50).Comment
Comment