camshaft removal problems
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Brampton, Ontario
camshaft removal problems
Hey all, I am trying to remove the camshaft and having a problem.....I pulled out all of the lifters except one which would not come out. I pulled that lifter up about an inch, I then started to pull the cam out and it started coming out about 1-1/2 " inches, then it stopped and would not go any more. Now I can't push it back in or pull it out.... any suggestions? Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Also, did you install the cam origionally or someone else. I have heard that it is not uncommon for a cam to be installed and one of the bearings be cocked a little bit. This would make it hard to go in and hard to come out. I installed my cam in my BB and it did not go in as easy as some I have installed.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Brampton, Ontario
Thanks guys, I'll go ahead and take the fuel pump rod out, but as for the lifter, I think it is mushroomed and won't come out. not sure what I should do about that. I remember reading somthing similar with another forum member about lifter problems, but search didn't come up with anything.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 894
Likes: 91
Lifter Removal
Why would would you want to force it out with a mushroomed bottom? All you're going to end up with is a torn up lifter bore. If you pull it up as far as it will go you can slide the cam out, then take the lifter out from the bottom. Thanks, Gary in N.Y.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
use a spray with a cleaning agent it and rotate the lifter and keep doing this....we actually used brake clean to disolve the sludge and then it evaporates totally and spray it with wd 40 and keep rotating and pushing it up and down..all of ours came out
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 1
From: Rochester Kent
Originally Posted by jester4
Thanks guys, I'll go ahead and take the fuel pump rod out, but as for the lifter, I think it is mushroomed and won't come out. not sure what I should do about that. I remember reading somthing similar with another forum member about lifter problems, but search didn't come up with anything.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
Originally Posted by djgrelli
Take a good pair of channel locks and rotate that lifter as your pulling up on it. It should eventually come out. Good Luck.
Same thing happened to me. Its just resin, its unlikely its mushromed. shoot some penatrating oil at it and move the lifter up and down in the bore to get the oil down the bore.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
Originally Posted by djgrelli
Take a good pair of channel locks and rotate that lifter as your pulling up on it. It should eventually come out. Good Luck.
, and if that don't work, use some good vise grip's
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Brampton, Ontario
Thanks for all the tips, the cam came out after the fuel rod was removed, I'll clean and oil the lifter to remove it as suggested, but now that the cam is out.............guess I gotta be careful....
Last edited by jester4; May 19, 2005 at 06:28 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by jester4
Thanks for all the tips, the cam came out after the fuel rod was removed, I'll clean and oil the lifter to remove it as suggested, but now that the cam is out.............guess I gotta be careful....
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 1
From: Rochester Kent
Originally Posted by carl a
ihad a friend of my sons call me once and he was having the same problem,, he was beating the cam with a sledge hammer!!! i looked at it and told him about the fuel pump,,he took the pump down and the cam came out----- yes a sledge hammer!!
I guess he had never done a cam change before then 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
When removing or installing a cam, it's very important not to drag the cam across the bearing surfaces. This causes grooves & slices in the very soft cam bearing materiial, and leads to loss of oil pressure & eventually cam failure. The cure is new cam bearings.
I install most cams with the block sitting vertical so I can drop them in without risking bearing damage. When I do them horizontally, it is lift-move-lower-regrip-repeat to avoid bearing damage.
Just a heads up since you weren't aware of the fuel pump rod... I though you might not be aware of the bearing issue. I've seen a lot of chewed up cam bearings.
I install most cams with the block sitting vertical so I can drop them in without risking bearing damage. When I do them horizontally, it is lift-move-lower-regrip-repeat to avoid bearing damage.
Just a heads up since you weren't aware of the fuel pump rod... I though you might not be aware of the bearing issue. I've seen a lot of chewed up cam bearings.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Originally Posted by carl a
ihad a friend of my sons call me once and he was having the same problem,, he was beating the cam with a sledge hammer!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Guilty, I did the same thing. 
Forgot about the fuel rod and couldn't for the life if me fiqure out why it wouldn't come out. Once it was removed, the cam came out and the new one went back in easily.
Luckily, I didn't resort to a sledge hammer, though I must admit I was tempted.
Forgot about the fuel rod and couldn't for the life if me fiqure out why it wouldn't come out. Once it was removed, the cam came out and the new one went back in easily.Luckily, I didn't resort to a sledge hammer, though I must admit I was tempted.
