Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

[Scott H]

I had a bad lifter tick and am in the proces of replacing the cam and lifters. I got the top end apart and pulled out 11 lifters. The bad one sat about 1/8 inch lower in the lifter bore than the others. I was thinking a bad cam lobe along with the lifter. The problem now is the lifter will not come out the top of the lifter bore. I tried lifting, pulling and finally grabbing it with vice grips for a better grip. But it comes up only so far and gets jammed. I am afraid of pulling too hard and damaging the lifter bore if the bottom of the lifter is damaged. The only thing I can think of is to pull it up as I can and hopefully that will be enough to be able to pull the cam out. Once the cam is out I can then try to drop the lifter into the block holding it from the top with a magnet and then try to sneak it out through the cam bore.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks,

Scott

[cam98aro]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

even if you cant get the lifter up all of the way, im sure you can sneak the cam passed it by rotating the cam while taking it out

are we talking about a 3.4 or 3.8 here?

im assuming this is a 3.4 since it is very rare for a hydraulic roller can to get worn down

[Scott H]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

Sorry this is a 97 firebird 3.8. I thought it was just a bad lifter but when I got the intake out you can see that this one stuck lifter sits about 1/8 inch lower in the bore than all of the other lifters. (yes I rotated the cam and checked at the lowest point ;) )

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

get a strong magnet, that should do it.

[T-Mill]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

You can sneak the cam past it, but I had a similar problem when taking apart my 99... one of the lifters seemed to get stuck at a certain point, it wasn't sitting low, or anything, but I just kept playing with it and eventually it came out... squirt some oil in it bc if the roller isn't pulled straight out and hits a dry spot in the bore it'll get lodged...

good luck

[Scott H]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

Thanks,
TKO, Magneto from X-Men could not get this thing out from the top it is that TIGHT.

I will squirt some Aero-Kroil down the lifter bore and see if that helps, at least I know there is a good chance of getting the cam past it. Once the cam is out I will drop the lifter out of the bore onto a magnet and pull it out the front of the motor.

Scott

[RadRacer]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

IIRC, there is a flat spot on the very top of the lifter. This has to be lined up with a spot in the block in order for the lifter to come out.Try spinning the lifter some while pulling and see if it'll come.

[Scott H]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

Well I was able to get the cam out and grab the lifter from the bottom and bring it out throught the front cam bearing.

What I found is not good. Now im trying to decide if I can clean the metal out of the pan an reassemble it or if I need ot rebuild the whole motor. Im not sure if the front cam bearing is still usable.

[cam98aro]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

outch

have you used seafoam or some type of engine cleaner lately?

[Scott H]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

No. I just bought the car, it has 57k on it and had a lifter tick when I got it. I got it for a good price and I figured worst case I replace the cam and lifters, I never imagined a roller could get that bad.
Scott

[caspernicus]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

Wow.

I'd probably pull the motor and inspect/replace all of the
bearings. I guess it depends on what you can afford, and
your plans for the car.

[cam98aro]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

No. I just bought the car, it has 57k on it and had a lifter tick when I got it. I got it for a good price and I figured worst case I replace the cam and lifters, I never imagined a roller could get that bad.
Scott

yeah, im betting the previous owner used some seafoam or other type of engine cleaner crap and that is what destroyed the lifter

[Moses]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

Is the engine still in the car? I'd replace the bearings anyway with a chunk of metal down in the bottom. and at the point the engine is, if it's still in the car, it wouldn't be too difficult to remove the oil pan. =)

[Scott H]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

Yes the engine is still in the car. It is that cam bearing that bothers me the most. I dont believe it should be down to the copper. Im trying to figure out how to best pull the engine out. 90% of what I need to do to get it out the top is already done. I may pull it out the top, hot tank the block, repace the bearings and reassemble it. I can resamble the whole engine then trailer it to a friends house that has a lift and pop it back in from the bottom.

Scott

[camaro777]

Re: Replacing Cam Lifter stuck in Bore what to do?

i would asume you can just clean the motor. but thats pretty bad, an without feeling that cam bearing an just going by looks it apears that that engien has been oil starved and would need to be replaced as well as all the rest of the bearings. i was always tought to replace them with a cam swap so putting in a new cam w/o new bearings can actuly wear down your cam journals