Cam Change reinstalling motor question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
From: KY
Cam Change reinstalling motor question
Tommorrow i will be in the process of changing the heads and cam in my 85. Figuring that it will be hard to get the balancer off in the and get the front seal right in the car so im going to take the engine out, leading to my question. I was planning to take the motor out down to the short block, but reinstall long block (w/ new heads) is this possible or not because of the difficulty getting to the bellhousing bolts? Any help is apprecaited. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
When I had an 86, I changed the cam a few times with the engine in the car. Not as hard you might think. Only little trick was to unscrew the power steering tube from the rack to clearance to pull the damper. A/C condensor can be swiveled out of the way without losing the refrigerant (assuming your is charged).
Of course the oil pan needs to be dropped a little, but that's required with the engine either in or out. All the pan bolts are easily accessible from down under. Unscrew the center cross brace bolts and swivel the braces out of the way.
Much easier than pulling/re-installing the engine. But if you're changing heads too, they yea, pull it.
If you decide to pull the engine be sure to remove the windshield wiper motor or crash/bang you'll need a new one. In pulling the engine, like I did when I installed a 415, the biggest PIA was the top, passenger side trans to block bolt.
Jake
West Point ROCKS!
Of course the oil pan needs to be dropped a little, but that's required with the engine either in or out. All the pan bolts are easily accessible from down under. Unscrew the center cross brace bolts and swivel the braces out of the way.
Much easier than pulling/re-installing the engine. But if you're changing heads too, they yea, pull it.
If you decide to pull the engine be sure to remove the windshield wiper motor or crash/bang you'll need a new one. In pulling the engine, like I did when I installed a 415, the biggest PIA was the top, passenger side trans to block bolt.
Jake
West Point ROCKS!
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From: Sandhills of North Carolina
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