For those who have installed cams

[go302]

I've been doing some searching and reading before i tear into this cam install in a few weeks but I want to get some things straight. I've made my own timing chain wedge so i'm good there but what i really want to know is how you guys have swapped cams without the spring compressor. I've read a few guys on here have done it that way and i was curious how it went. From what i understand, you just back off the caps little by little after you unbolt the cam phaser bolt. And when it comes time to install the new cam you just tighten the new phaser bolt to finger-tight and place the new cam on the followers and screw the caps back on a little at a time. Then torque the phaser bolt and caps down to spec and move onto the next head. Is this correct? Also, any tips that would make the install easier now that you can look back in hindsight would be appreciated.

 

[SpongebobGT]

I wish I could help but I had my cams installed a the dealership.

 

[mds08]

Send a PM to VBshelbygt, NV4GTWs, Lightblade, or Greg Hazlett. These guys have done several cam installs and can help you out.

 

[Greg Hazlett]

You have the procedure right..there is a sequence to remove/intall the caps, there is a great write up on it either on here or on the internet; what we did was have the write up on the laptop sitting on the block so we could look at the picture and then down at the motor for referrence.

Another set of hands helps and I think the cam cover bolts are tourqed to 7 ft lbs which is not much at all. There is a sequence for tightening the cam phaser bolts as well, can't remember the specs but once you have it tightened you tighten it an additional 90 degrees.

If you do a search about cam installs who will see a difference in opinions on whether or not you need to repalce the cam phaser bolts...they are approx $12 each so for $25 they are cheap insurance.

I will see if I can find my thread about the HR cam install and link you to it.

 

[go302]

Awesome Greg. I have the new cam phaser bolts and yes I read that about the additional 90 degree turn after you tighten them to 30 lb/feet. I also read that the cam caps are torqued to 89 lb/in so yea 7 lb/feet sounds about right. I just want to make sure I do this right and don't hit any speed bumps during the install cuz it would make me feel a lot better. I also have a chart of the tightening sequence on the cam caps. My major concern at this point is how you guys got the new cam in without removing the 3 followers that are supposed to be removed. Did you have to apply a good deal of force to the cam to get the caps back on since you were fighting some spring pressure?

 

[go302]

On a conversion calculator it says 89 in/lb is 7.416 ft/lb

 

[JeremyH]

The trick is to start at the front of the cam and put the thrust bearing cap on first with a couple turns on the bolts then go down the line. If you cant get the next caps bolts to thread, tighten the previous caps bolts a little more which walks the cam on, until all caps are on and the threads started. Then evenly tighten them all until the caps are all fully seated and the bolts just barely start to snug. Then torque them to 7.5 ft/lbs in the correct order.

On a conversion calculator it says 89 in/lb is 7.416 ft/lb

LOL, or you can just divide 89 by 12.

 

[go302]

LOL, or you can just divide 89 by 12.

Haha i figured that after i did it. I had never heard of in/lb so i was like wtf! I didn't know if there were any square roots involved or anything LOL. But thanks for the info man, that sounds good. Just start at the front of each cam and tighten the caps in line to the back, which will help seat the cam. Excellent! Once i have the cam caps torqued down i can tighten the phaser bolt to 30 ft/lb and an additional 90 degrees and then move onto the next head. I'm getting excited!! Hurry up and get here detroit rockers

 

[Daniel Day]

Sounds like you got it. I did mine without using a spring compressor as well. Here is a great write-up with lots of pics.

http://home.comcast.net/~cookpaging/hammeron/cams/hotrodcams.html

http://mustangforums.com/forum/gt-s197-general-discussion/475980-hot-rod-cam-installation-guide.html.

I used this for reference just skipping the spring compressor steps. Good luck!

 

[JeremyH]

Haha i figured that after i did it. I had never heard of in/lb so i was like wtf! I didn't know if there were any square roots involved or anything LOL. But thanks for the info man, that sounds good. Just start at the front of each cam and tighten the caps in line to the back, which will help seat the cam. Excellent! Once i have the cam caps torqued down i can tighten the phaser bolt to 30 ft/lb and an additional 90 degrees and then move onto the next head. I'm getting excited!! Hurry up and get here detroit rockers

Yup thats basicly it. You also gonna want to hand thread in the phaser bolt on the new cam first then put all the caps on then yes do the final torque on the phaser bolt. That way the cam holds the phaser and gear/chain in place while your tightening the cam caps. Less likely to have the chain slip.

 

[go302]

Thanks for the links daniel. That's what i've been looking at and will probably have it by my side during install.

So it's gonna go something like this

1) remove valve covers
2) position engine at TDC
3) put timing chain wedge in place
4) slowly back off of each cam cap little by little
5) unbolt cam phaser bolt/swap in new cam
6) tighten new phaser bolt in new cam to finger tight
7) get all cam caps back on
8) torque phaser bolts to spec
9) torque cam caps to spec
10) move onto next head

Let's do it

Thanks for the help guys. I'll post a video after install here in a week or so

 

[Mustang30212]

Shouldn't you swap 4 and 5? Loosen the cam phaser bolt before loosening the caps?

RH

 

[go302]

Shouldn't you swap 4 and 5? Loosen the cam phaser bolt before loosening the caps?

RH

I think you're right. Loosen it a full turn but don't remove it.

 

[kevinatfms]

replace the phaser bolt... it is TORQUE TO YIELD.

 

[3vs197]

what did you guys use to hold the cam in place to tighten the phaser bolt? i thought the cams were supposed to have a hex between the lobes to hold it with a wrench but my comps did not and just curious to how you guys tightened it.

 

[Noclutch]

Breaker bar and socket on the crank bolt after caps are done.

 

[JeremyH]

what did you guys use to hold the cam in place to tighten the phaser bolt? i thought the cams were supposed to have a hex between the lobes to hold it with a wrench but my comps did not and just curious to how you guys tightened it.

The cam stays put when you torque it to 30 ft/lbs. However when you turn it the additional 90 degrees it will want to move a little. We held the crank pulley bolt with another socket to keep the cam from moving for the final 90 degree turn.

 

[JeremyH]

I think you're right. Loosen it a full turn but don't remove it.

Yup you going to want to loosen the phaser bolt first before removing the caps that way its held in place still, so your not trying to hold the cam and break loose the phaser bolt at the same time.

 

[go302]

thanks for the the help lightblade. My cams shipped today so hopefully next weekend i'll be able to install them. I'll let you know how it went or may be sending you/greg/daniel some pm's if i get stuck along the way. Let's hope it doesn't come to that though

 

[UltraKla$$ic]

You forgot to mention the use of a back brace. You're gonna need it!! My back was KILLING me bent over loosening those cap bolts little by little for a total of 2 heads. I walked like Quasi Moto for 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!