Cam Install

[pgriffith]

My mechanic wants to charge me $400 for cam install. I am thinking I might try it myself instead. I have never done a cam swap before so theres a few things I dont know. How hard is this project?

I also heard you have to degree the cam so it is installed correctly and do I need special tools to do this?

I guess Im just asking for opinions if I should install it myself or not. I have had my engine down to the bare block but I have never had the cam out.

I figure if I do it myself I can buy my aluminum driveshaft, and the new exhaust I want SLP LOUDMOUTH. Its $400 bucks thats a big chunk of change that could be going towards more mods. Is installing a cam hard to screw up? I mean is it pretty streight forward know how or is it easy to get it wrong?

Should I do this myself?

[slacker69]

Shouldnt be to hard man u dont need to degree the cam the cam with come ready to go from comp you just need to take the vavle covers off unbolt the rocker arms and take out pushrods. Then u slide out the old cam ethier mark or remeber the way and angle it cam out cause u want to put the new cam in the same way. I have installed like 5 cams before on old small blocks and no problem.

[pgriffith]

what exactly do you have to mark? Is there a notch on the cam or something that needs to be ligned up?

[slacker69]

Well say the lift ramps are pointed toward the driver side of the car in a diagonal direction u want to install the new cam the same direction the old cam came out.

[Tiago]

Kris you don't have to worry about that, the cam sproket only goes in one way, and when you install the timing chain the only thing you ahve to worry about is that the crank is at first cyl tdc and line up the timing marks.

just becareful with the cam bearings, be very gentle removing and reinstalling hte cam.

[slacker69]

see all i have worked with is old 350's

[Ironman24]

Actually you have 3 gears to line up since the 3.8 also has a balance shaft. The cam is keyed so the gear can only go on it one way. There are dots on the gears that have to be lined up. Just take a photo or make a drawing before you remove them.

http://www.carolinafbodyclub.com/iro...ngine2_jpg.htm

The cam swap is not that hard. Hardest part for me was getting that damn bolt out of the crank pulley. If you can get some help from a fellow f-bud that has done some cam installs it will go smoothly. Just be carefull on removal and install not to scratch the bearings.

Here is a helpfull parts list I made up for the install:

24503515 – Rocker Bolts 12
24504668 – Timing Chain
24502252 – Timing Cover Gasket
12537616 – Upper/Lower Intake Gasket Kit
24502433 – Thermostat Gasket
24503432 – Throttle Body Gasket


½ - 20x4 Fine Thread – Bolt to thread in cam for removal/install.

Tools needed:

Pulley remover tool (steering wheel remover tool will work)
Pulley installer tool
½” or ¾” Impact gun
15/16 impact socket for crank pulley bolt
1 and 1/8 impact socket for cam gear bolt
Plastic fuel line removal tool

[Only4U]

http://www.camarov6.com/cgi-bin/ulti...&f=16&t=000872

[TheBlackSwordsMan]

How long does it generally take to do a cam swap?

[Dominic]

Knowing what you're doing and have done it before - around 6hrs?

First time doing it with a good guide, maybe a whole day or weekend given no problems and you work steadily and have all the parts you need.

[pgriffith]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ironman24:
Actually you have 3 gears to line up since the 3.8 also has a balance shaft. The cam is keyed so the gear can only go on it one way. There are dots on the gears that have to be lined up. Just take a photo or make a drawing before you remove them.

http://www.carolinafbodyclub.com/iro...ngine2_jpg.htm

The cam swap is not that hard. Hardest part for me was getting that damn bolt out of the crank pulley. If you can get some help from a fellow f-bud that has done some cam installs it will go smoothly. Just be carefull on removal and install not to scratch the bearings.

Here is a helpfull parts list I made up for the install:

24503515 – Rocker Bolts 12
24504668 – Timing Chain
24502252 – Timing Cover Gasket
12537616 – Upper/Lower Intake Gasket Kit
24502433 – Thermostat Gasket
24503432 – Throttle Body Gasket


½ - 20x4 Fine Thread – Bolt to thread in cam for removal/install.

Tools needed:

Pulley remover tool (steering wheel remover tool will work)
Pulley installer tool
½” or ¾” Impact gun
15/16 impact socket for crank pulley bolt
1 and 1/8 impact socket for cam gear bolt
Plastic fuel line removal tool<hr></blockquote>

I dont know what im looking for in the pic. Can you show me, circle it or something or explain.

[Ironman24]

I don't want to sound like a a$$ but if you don't know what you are looking at then it may not be an good idea to do a cam swap yourself. The picture is not in detail enough to see the small dots that line up on the 2 gears. Behind those are 2 more gears that also need to be lined up.
You can see those dots clearly in this pic.

http://www.carolinafbodyclub.com/iro...ngine3_jpg.htm

[pgriffith]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ironman24:
I don't want to sound like a a$$ but if you don't know what you are looking at then it may not be an good idea to do a cam swap yourself. The picture is not in detail enough to see the small dots that line up on the 2 gears. Behind those are 2 more gears that also need to be lined up.
You can see those dots clearly in this pic.

http://www.carolinafbodyclub.com/iro...ngine3_jpg.htm<hr></blockquote>

Dude your funny. LoL! I know what im looking at I just meant I couldnt see the dots or the marks to line them up. That was insulting.

Duh hum, Whats a camshaft do?

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[Slow-N-ugly]

Can you do a cam swap with the motor in the car? Do you have to pull the radiator or front end off? What about accessories on the front of the motor?

[Magnus]

Motor can stay in the car, radiator and fans don't have to move..

alt has to come off and the tensioner bracket w/coolant tubes...

I don't think the intakes HAVE to come off.. if you can fit magnets down the valley and lift up the lifters... otherwise pull the intakes and pull the lifters.