Cam install Help (JPR Tool woes)
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 518
Likes: 5
From: Acworth Georgia
Cam install Help (JPR Tool woes)
Alright gentlemen... My crank pulley recently came loose so while tearing down the car I decided I might as well install a new cam since this is on the list for the future anyway... Ive got everything torn down and got the right side JPR tool slid in all the way with no problems at all.... The left side however only goes in only approx 2 inches... what gives? Ive spun the cam slowly about 100 rotations now and the JPR tool still wont go in any further... it even seems to get stuck a little when trying to pull it back out... Could I have a jammed lifter? Any help is much appreciated!
here's a pic of the tools in use on ls1howto... its the left side that is the issue...
here's a pic of the tools in use on ls1howto... its the left side that is the issue...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
This is typical of later motors unfortunately, get two 5/16" metal rods at Home Depot, round one end and then make them around the same length as the JPR tool or a bit longer and use them. The JPR tools had issues in later motors on the passenger side.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 518
Likes: 5
From: Acworth Georgia
You were correct! I just got back from Home Depot with the 5/16" rod.. rounded one end, and with a little massaging she went in! Thanks a bunch vettenuts!
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Instructor
Joined: May 2013
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From: auckland
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Blue Ridge Georgia
Spin the cam fast. I was so scared when I installed my cam that I bought a telescoping pen magnet for every lifter. Really was cheap insurance to make sure a lifter didn't drop. So if you still have the problem just get some pen magnets and pull up the problem lifter.
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if I remember correctly only one of them needs to have a small flat area on it, just grind a bit of it flat on a bench grinder it doesn't have to be perfect... I made my own as well out of a piece of steel rod that I cut down to size... if you spin the cam over a few times it should seat the lifters in the trays and hold them there long enough to pull the cam out and install the new one... none of mine fell out and made contact with the rods but it's better to be safe than sorry
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 184
Likes: 4
From: auckland
we have done the job waited for engine to be dead cold then we actually pulled the lifters up further with a magnet our plastic trays were new from the week before so that was a great relief , so we rolled the dice i held the air con rad up while my worker pulled the cam and dropped new one in , if your puzzled why we were changing cam after a week on new engine, was we fitted dod cam in a non dod engine it just dosnt work dont listen to people who say it works we found out the hard way , thanks for input
