friend of mine has an 85 ss. wnts to know is a cam change can be done with the engine in the vehicle.
can cam change be done in the car???
- Thread starter MAGMOEMONTE
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It should be doable, the rad and ac condensor if equiped would obviously have to go and since its an ss the whole header panel/nose probably has to come off. Don't think the grilles come out of those. Hopefully thats it, should be easy enough to tell though just get in there and see whats in the way.
Yes you can do it. I did it in my malibu after I took the front assembly of the motor off (ie water pump, pulleys, etc), the radiator, and took out the grill so you had a clear shot to take the cam out. If it is a monte ss, the front end of the car should stick out far enough from the inside that when you remove the radiator, you should still have plenty of space to get the cam out.
Now here are two things you really need to keep in mind should your friend go through with this. Make sure there is a lot of zinc additive or you can use diesel oil to do the break in as it still contains plenty of zinc. Then change the oil after the initial break in. You also want to use more than enough engine assembly lube on the ENTIRE camshaft, don't use it sparingly as it is good insurance. Now when you pull the timing chain cover to get to the timing chain and what not, the bottom of the timing chain cover is sealed to the front of the oil pan and the front gasket of the oil pan. So when you pull this timing chain cover, more than likely the gasket will be stuck to the cover itself and come out with it. You will have to use silicone to seal it back up with a new gasket. I had to do this with mine.
The biggest thing I can't stress enough is be really careful when you pull the camshaft out. You don't want to knock it around or anything, cause you might scar or damage the cam bearings, then you're really FUC*ED! What you do is take a really long bolt and screw it into the front of the cam. This will give you a handle to carefully pull the cam out.
Now here are two things you really need to keep in mind should your friend go through with this. Make sure there is a lot of zinc additive or you can use diesel oil to do the break in as it still contains plenty of zinc. Then change the oil after the initial break in. You also want to use more than enough engine assembly lube on the ENTIRE camshaft, don't use it sparingly as it is good insurance. Now when you pull the timing chain cover to get to the timing chain and what not, the bottom of the timing chain cover is sealed to the front of the oil pan and the front gasket of the oil pan. So when you pull this timing chain cover, more than likely the gasket will be stuck to the cover itself and come out with it. You will have to use silicone to seal it back up with a new gasket. I had to do this with mine.
The biggest thing I can't stress enough is be really careful when you pull the camshaft out. You don't want to knock it around or anything, cause you might scar or damage the cam bearings, then you're really FUC*ED! What you do is take a really long bolt and screw it into the front of the cam. This will give you a handle to carefully pull the cam out.
Sure .
I wouldn't .
The time to take apart front end and fight working over the fenders. You could yank motor . Do cam swap where you could see it . You are going to have top end and front covers removed anyway . With motor out put new gaskets in rest motor . I bet they need it any way . Plus easy to clean up motor and Show off your efforts .
I wouldn't .
The time to take apart front end and fight working over the fenders. You could yank motor . Do cam swap where you could see it . You are going to have top end and front covers removed anyway . With motor out put new gaskets in rest motor . I bet they need it any way . Plus easy to clean up motor and Show off your efforts .
you can do it, but the cam will interfere with the center section of the radiator support, you can bend it out of the way, but i think its a lot better if you just remove the entire front clip. but depends on how he feels about his car.
yea i have done it 2 or 3 times in my regal. i just took all the front stuff off the engine and took the radiator out and i didnt have to remove the grill or anything it came right out and went right back in
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