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12-24-2006, 02:41 AM
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#1
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Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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Alright, the valve covers are off, cam caps are off, i have a cam chain retention tool from ford anderson motorsports to hold the camchain in place (so i dont have to take off cover and all front motor accessories.) and the cam bolt is out and the sprocket (cam gear) has been tapped off the cam shaft itself.. it looks like the cam is ready to just fall out but there's still something managing to hold it to the block. do i have to take the rocker arms out? these are under the cams so i wouldnt see why (im not changing the valve springs) this would be an 04' GT SOHC romeo motor btw. just wondering if and of you have done the swap and if so have any experience that could guide me through finishing this up. i have a feeling its something simple but ive been taking my time so as not to force or mess up anything. any input appreciated thanks!
edit::
theres a pic of my progress thus far... basically the entire cam is exposed looks like its ready to be takein right off the block, is something holding it from underneath? the sprocket it off in that pic although you can see it.. just wondering if you guys could walk me through it, i dont think its that complicated
Last edited by Invictus; 12-24-2006 at 02:53 AM..
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12-24-2006, 03:03 AM
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#2
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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^needs more bondo
Join Date: Sep 2003
City: Modesto
State: California
Posts: 9,630
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fuck wish i could help ya, ive only done cam swaps on lowly 4bangers thus far.
__________________
-Thomas-

2003 Redfire Cobra - 448whp/435wtq
1990 Eclipse GSX - Sold
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12-24-2006, 03:26 AM
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#3
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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is that pic showing up for you guys? yeah ive helped on a few swaps on some foxbodys so i'm not a complete newb.. but never on the modulars. its a fun project im just a bit stuck.. i'll probably have to get them degreed after installation but nevertheless i'd still like to complete the swap myself just to get the hands on experience under my belt.
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12-24-2006, 03:49 AM
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#4
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Eyes So Tight I Pass For An Asian
Join Date: May 2003
City: Huntsville
State: Alabama
Posts: 27,555
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Yea I see the picture. There are a few people that can help you I am sure. Just got to wait for them to wake up 
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12-24-2006, 09:16 AM
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#5
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Mustang Evo NEWB
Join Date: Aug 2004
City: millville
State: New Jersey
Posts: 4,980
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how slack is the timing chain? It looks like you got everything, but if that's putting any pressure on the camshaft, it could have the cam binding up in the journals..
There shouldn't be anything holding it from underneath, and it looks like you got all the caps off... It does look like it should come right out
__________________
1992 Mustang LX hatchback.. 1 of 542 black on black
2003 Regal GS - the beater/daily driver - somewhat stock. No its not a mustang, at least it's blown.
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12-24-2006, 12:08 PM
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#6
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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theres not much slack in the timing chain, I have the cam chain retention tool wedged in there to hold the timing but even still I have the sprocket (gear) completely off of the cam and it still wont budge like something is holding it from underneath or something... is there a way I can turn the crank by hand? if so i'll put the sprocket back on and try and turn the cam a bit maybe it just happened to be in an awkward spot to remove.. the passengerside is in exact same position however except the lobes are mirror immaged as they should be. hmm thanks for the input so far and merry christmas eve!
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12-24-2006, 09:40 PM
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#7
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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12-24-2006, 09:45 PM
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#8
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
City: Orlando
State: Florida
Posts: 22
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I know this will sound crazy but try pushing down on the cam. I think what might be happening is that the valve spring pressure on the valves that are open is putting the cam in a bind. IE: the can is not able to come straight up as it needs to?
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12-26-2006, 08:02 PM
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#9
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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alright.. so i managed to get the front timing cover off finally and all the accessories out of the way.. well.. its time for the swap now. i managed to get the driverside cam loose and out, and the new cam is well lubed and in.. however i cannot manage to get it wedged in the little tooth that it has to bite into on the sprocket and slide on.. they just wont line up...! ive been at it for hours which isnt a problem is there some kind of trick to it or something? if i take the sprocket out of the chain and turn it a bit just to help better line it up with the cam will this work? just curious.. any tips? thanks!
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12-26-2006, 10:05 PM
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#10
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
City: Orlando
State: Florida
Posts: 22
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Don't take the sprocket out of the chain to line it up that will throw the timing off. You should be able to turn the cam to line up the key.
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12-26-2006, 10:31 PM
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#11
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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ok.. i just realized its not setting down very well in the block becasue the lash adjusters need to be bled down so that the rollers will sit lower giving the cam more room.. is this possible since i've already taken the driver side cam out? what are the steps to actually bleed the lash adjusters?? i'm kinda stumped? thanks again bro
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12-26-2006, 10:44 PM
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#12
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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alright yeah good thing i didnt.. well i figured out the problem. apparently I was supposed to bleed the lash adjusters down before i removed the cam.. this will make them sit further down into the block so that the rockers will be lower and let the cam sit more... only prob is the cam is already out. i was told there was a way i can bleed them down with ascrew driver or a vice or something?? would you know how to do this?
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12-27-2006, 03:06 AM
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#13
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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new cams are in!!!!!!!!!!! as of 2:00AM been workin at it alll night ahhhhhhhh what a load off... i ended up having to take EVERYTHING off, timing cover and all front engine accessories... but its all downhill from now. before i did anything i put my crank on even though the timing cover is not on.. and proceeded to crank the motor by hand and it seems to turn over alright. its not exactly the eaisest thing to do.. but i turned the motor over probably a good 3-4 times by putting a wratchet wrench on the bolt in the middle of the crank and sure enough it started to spin. not once did anything just compltely stop me.. i did not turn the crank by hand before i took the old cams off so i'm really not sure how easy it is supposed to be... any suggestions? the cams are in, girdles are on, all the rockers are functioning as the should as the cam lobes press on them... is there anything i should check to be sure of before throwing everything back on?? hopefully tomorrow i can start her up should only be a few more hours .. what a job
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12-27-2006, 03:00 PM
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#14
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
City: Orlando
State: Florida
Posts: 22
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I would crank it up just for a few seconds before putting every thing back on just to make sure the cam timing is correct.
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12-27-2006, 03:14 PM
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#15
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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You mean actually turn it on?? I dont have the coil packs in and the timing cover, pulleys, belt, fan, and all front engine accessories are completely out and there is no oil in the car obviously since the timing cover is off I dont think that would be a very good idea lol!
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12-27-2006, 04:58 PM
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#16
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Mustang Evo NEWB
Join Date: Aug 2004
City: millville
State: New Jersey
Posts: 4,980
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shouldn't spin too easily by hand, compression'll do that to you
__________________
1992 Mustang LX hatchback.. 1 of 542 black on black
2003 Regal GS - the beater/daily driver - somewhat stock. No its not a mustang, at least it's blown.
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12-27-2006, 06:23 PM
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#17
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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ok well its definatel not easy in fact its pretty hard unless i get good leverage on it but its definaltey not STopping and getting caught up on anything. so theoretically would it be okay to throw everything back on and crank crank her up or are there any more precautions I can take to make sure timing is right? any ideas? otherwise im gonna start it up and see how she does.
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12-28-2006, 01:14 PM
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#18
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Talula Does the Hula
Join Date: Dec 2005
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 2,886
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12-28-2006, 03:43 PM
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#19
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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2003 Mustang GT
Join Date: Jul 2006
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 51
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CAMS ARE IN! as of about 2:00PM today... and takin me about 4 full days of work, 10 bloody knuckles and a ripped up thumb (lol those cam lobes are sharp as hell!!) . i cranked her up today for the first time in about a week and man does she sound AMAZING.. its only stage 1 but the lopeyness is DEFINATELY there it rumbles like no other. It cranked up just fine and I ran her around the block.. keepin her under 2500 rpm however I noticed a fairly large oil leak its right under the driverside valve cover i'm not sure if there's some type of oil line or if my valve cover gasket is bad i'll look into it. other than that the car starts right up, it has a rather shaky idle im not sure if thats normal perhaps my timing might be off a bit? and aside from the oil leak which i'll get to later on today the swap is complete.. pretty good for a first timer eh? =)
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12-28-2006, 06:29 PM
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#20
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Talula Does the Hula
Join Date: Dec 2005
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 2,886
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you need to make a recording of the sound... interested to hear
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12-28-2006, 10:45 PM
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#21
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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Talula Does the Hula
Join Date: Dec 2005
City: Baton Rouge
State: Louisiana
Posts: 2,886
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12-28-2006, 11:29 PM
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#22
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Re: Cam Swap... stuck, any help?
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