Cam help. - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

WayFast84 · 09-24-2006, 11:40 AM

I am down to the point where there is little holding me back from getting the cam out of the motor.
I have
-Intake
-Valve covers
-Radiator
-all the pulleys/belts
-timing chain
-Push rod’s
Out/off of the motor, In about 35-65 min working on removing the lifters, I have removed TWO.. I have read/ searched on tons of forum’s and found a good article on TGO, how ever all it told me that I basically never heard of, was to remove the fuel pump pushrod, So I removed the fuel pump, where the f is the push rod?? How do I get the lifter’s out? I heard theirs a tool, but I also know of people using magnet’s and needle nose pliers!

I’m royally screwed If I cant get the car running by winter, because it was freezing last year in the garage, let alone out side.

I would like to use this ONE thread for all my questions with the cam removal/install, and maybe add pics to this thread as I take them.

V · 09-24-2006, 01:21 PM

well, to help with removing the lifters, spin the cam around and as you do, you'll see the lifters move up one at a time. try to grab them with your fingers and spin them as you pull up. you may have to wipe the oil off them to get a decent grip.

as for the fuel pump pushrod, its a rod about 3/8" thick and maybe 4-5 inches long, with the fuel pump removed, you can see the rod going up into the motor and usually it just falls downs and out, it may be just stuck from buildup, but doesnt need anything special to come out.

once the lifters and that fuel pump pushrod are removed, and the cam timing gear are removed, unbolt the cam retainer plate. Now what i usually do is I bolt the cam gear back on loosely to be able to get a better grip. You can buy a real handle tool, but i never did. once thats all done, you just SLOWLY slide the cam out. if will move a little bit then feel like it gets stuck, you have to pivot it around a bit to make it clear all the cam bearing journals. this is why you go slow, you dont want to damage the bearings, but do be terrified if you barely hear it tap one, just be gentle and itll be fine.

and installation is basically just the opposite, dont forget the retainer plater though, and make SURE you use the cam lubricant before the install.

WayFast84 · 09-24-2006, 01:50 PM

is the fuel pump push rod, a weird shape? or like straight. the only thing I dont know where it is is the cam retainer..

V · 09-24-2006, 02:15 PM

This is a sbc fuel pump pushrod...

it sits at almost a 45 degree angle from the fuel pump up into the motor to the camshaft. its sits on the black "tab" of the fuel pump.

The Cam retainer plater would be located on the front of the engine, right behind the cam timing gear. to be honest. i dont remember if your motor has one, i think it should but i may be wrong. i know the later roller cam motors did. If it is there, once you pull the cam timing gear off, you'll see 3 bolts in a triangle pattern and a metal plate right around the cam opening. Also, with the cam gear still installed(after lifters, etc, are removed) try sliding it out, if it starts coming out, then theres no retainer, if it doesnt budge, then there probably is a retainer. I cant remember if my '85 383 had one, i think it just had a thrust button between the cam and the timing cover.

WayFast84 · 09-24-2006, 03:58 PM

I DONT THINK I HAVE ONE!! AND I MUST HAVE REMOVED THE PUSHROD BECAUSE...

WayFast84 · 09-24-2006, 04:43 PM

Umm I think I made a rookie mistake, I didnt line up the things...

WayFast84 · 09-26-2006, 03:43 PM

is that what they mean by lining it up? if not i need some help PLUS I cant get the bolt off with out it moving..

V · 09-26-2006, 05:29 PM

nope, thats not what they mean by lining it up.
The cam sprocket will only fit on the cam one way due to that locating pin. Once the cam sprocket is installed, spin it so the dot on the sprocket(look and you'll see it) is pointing directly down. Then turn the crank until the dot on that sprocket is pointing directly up. The two dots are what you line up. Once thats set, you have to remove the cam sprocket once again to put the chain on, this may take a few minutes and trys in order to get the chain on WITH it ending up with the two dots lined up perfectly.

What bolt cant you get off?

WayFast84 · 09-26-2006, 05:42 PM

I cant get the pulley bolt I had to put back in to move the crank..Im just gonna pay some one to do it from here, I need a second runing car right now.

NJSPEEDER · 09-27-2006, 04:14 PM

you have to line up the dots on the cam and crank gears of the timing set. just look at the dots and you will be able to see what we are talking about.

why is it ewvery time you hit a little bump in hte learning process you give up? a little confidence and effort go a long way when you are trying to learn how things in an engine work.

WayFast84 · 10-03-2006, 02:59 PM

Well, I got my drivers side head off...

took about an hour. maybe less maybe more..

i get out at 2:30, home at 2:45-3 was off at 3:37..

Tru2Chevy · 10-03-2006, 03:13 PM

Good progress.....now log off, and go back out and pull the other one

- Justin

WayFast84 · 10-03-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

Good progress.....now log off, and go back out and pull the other one

- Justin

I want to, but I wanted to see if #3 is healthy... cause if it isnt f it Im pulling the cam out and going to get a 350..

edit

Or will I?

so be honest!

WayFast84 · 10-03-2006, 05:20 PM

other head is off... my throat burns and I feel like im gonna puke.. and my hands wont come clean....

johnjzjz · 10-03-2006, 05:59 PM

The real reason they make the blue gloves

WayFast84 · 10-03-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjzjz

The real reason they make the blue gloves

I was wearing gloves to.. my hands get dirty the second I take them off, and by hands I mean my elbo to finger tip..

r0nin89 · 10-03-2006, 07:53 PM

Nice going man I wish I could dig into my car like that to learn but its my daily... I just picked up 2 books on building sbc's and figured it would be a good thing to know every little thing.

Tru2Chevy · 10-04-2006, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayFast84

I want to, but I wanted to see if #3 is healthy... cause if it isnt f it Im pulling the cam out and going to get a 350..

I'd be worried about all the rust in the # 5 hole....

- Justin

Pampered-Z · 10-04-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

I'd be worried about all the rust in the # 5 hole....

- Justin

Was thinking the same. Matt, time to spray a rag with WD40 and clean that thing up, make sure all is well then a light coat of oil. Keep it covered so it doesn't rust. Bare metal will rust quickly when exposed!

WayFast84 · 10-04-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

I'd be worried about all the rust in the # 5 hole....

- Justin

aughh yeah thats what I ment lol i was real tired. I was going to take some pics today, but I got some new things and I practiced hockey for an hour after school, and i just got my ipod.. maybe I shouldnt be so lazy