cam swap without removing the engine?

ridelikehell · **cam swap without removing the engine?**

as the topic says...can it be done? 99+ v6 we're talkin here.

thanks!

Dom · 01-05-2004, 12:03 AM

Yes it can. I've seen pictures. But the radiator has to come out, heads, all accesorys. You just about have to take apart the entire engine bay.

stangin99 · 01-05-2004, 09:30 AM

ummm Dom, have you ever done the swap?

To swap a cam, you need to pull:

Upper, Lower, waterpump/front cover, power steering PULLEY only, and then you take off the timing chain and some other things and the cam slides right out.

edit: Taking the fan out gives you a good couple more inches of room to work. But the radiator can stay.

Danger Dude · 01-05-2004, 12:04 PM

Radiator does not have to come out only have to take off the fan. The 3.8 cam is not very long and easily passes between the motor and the Radiator. I did it !!!!!

stangin99 · 01-05-2004, 12:29 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by Danger Dude Radiator does not have to come out only have to take off the fan. The 3.8 cam is not very long and easily passes between the motor and the Radiator. I did it !!!!!

thanks for re-itterating

Dom · 01-05-2004, 10:10 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by stangin99 ummm Dom, have you ever done the swap? To swap a cam, you need to pull: Upper, Lower, waterpump/front cover, power steering PULLEY only, and then you take off the timing chain and some other things and the cam slides right out. edit: Taking the fan out gives you a good couple more inches of room to work. But the radiator can stay.

No I haven't. But the picture i saw of it, they guy did take the radiator out.

ridelikehell · 01-07-2004, 10:20 PM

i know you need to pull the heads, intakes and all that s**t out, I just don't have an engine hoist and I don't wanna pay an arm an a leg for something that I can do myself as I've done cam swaps before, I just wanted to make sure there was enough clearance, I have no problems taking out the rad if need be, but i'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Thanks for your help everyone!

stangin99 · 01-07-2004, 11:31 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by ridelikehell i know you need to pull the heads, intakes and all that s**t out, I just don't have an engine hoist and I don't wanna pay an arm an a leg for something that I can do myself as I've done cam swaps before, I just wanted to make sure there was enough clearance, I have no problems taking out the rad if need be, but i'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Thanks for your help everyone!

did you even read my first reply?

if you pull the heads and all your accessories, your going to sit there and wonder why you just wasted all that time and money on new head gaskets/bolts.

Dom · 01-08-2004, 12:57 AM

He may have new heads. :-?

Danger Dude · 01-08-2004, 01:21 AM

To pull the cam you dont need to take off the heads. But most people are changing the heads when they do a cam. What is this about a hoist. Totally unecessary unless you are taking out the entire engine !!!! hell the aluminum heads dont weight squat. The biggest concern is the Cam position sensor. You need to make sure you are top dead center when you disassemble. The CPS has got to go in exactly as it came out or your car wont start or run very very bad. It send the signal to the coil pack for proper spark timing

ridelikehell · 01-08-2004, 05:18 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by stangin99 did you even read my first reply? if you pull the heads and all your accessories, your going to sit there and wonder why you just wasted all that time and money on new head gaskets/bolts.

how does what you just said have anything to do with your first reply..in your first reply you said what has to come off...how does that entail me sitting there and wondering what i wasted time and money on?...which I wouldn't mind you explaining to me seeing as I have no idea why that will be a waste of my time...
maybe you could explain it all to me actually since i seem to be such an idiot and I aparantly don't know too much...and why the hell do i need new bolts...gaskets obviously, but why bolts?

thanks.

ridelikehell · 01-08-2004, 05:20 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by Danger Dude To pull the cam you dont need to take off the heads. But most people are changing the heads when they do a cam. What is this about a hoist. Totally unecessary unless you are taking out the entire engine !!!! hell the aluminum heads dont weight squat. The biggest concern is the Cam position sensor. You need to make sure you are top dead center when you disassemble. The CPS has got to go in exactly as it cam out or your car wont start or run very very bad. It send the signal to the coil pack for proper spark timing

thanks for your help man...about a hoist i was just saying that i don't have one, so if the cam swap meant i had to remove the engine then i wouldn't be able to...but since it doesn't have to come out im good...
except for the fact that stangin99 thinks i'll be wasting my time, which im hoping he'll explain to me.

Danger Dude · 01-08-2004, 06:00 PM

If you take your heads off which you dont to just change a cam you need new head bolts. Head bolts are really a one time use item as are gaskets and such

ridelikehell · 01-08-2004, 06:31 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by Danger Dude If you take your heads off which you dont to just change a cam you need new head bolts. Head bolts are really a one time use item as are gaskets and such

oh right on I didn't know they couldn't be reused...thanks!.....

I actually am getting a different set of heads aswell...that's what I was going to do first, and I just figured i'd put a more aggressive cam in while im in there.

Danger Dude · 01-08-2004, 06:46 PM

Then you need to get more head bolts or studs

stangin99 · 01-09-2004, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridelikehell


Quote: Originally Posted by Danger Dude To pull the cam you dont need to take off the heads. But most people are changing the heads when they do a cam. What is this about a hoist. Totally unecessary unless you are taking out the entire engine !!!! hell the aluminum heads dont weight squat. The biggest concern is the Cam position sensor. You need to make sure you are top dead center when you disassemble. The CPS has got to go in exactly as it cam out or your car wont start or run very very bad. It send the signal to the coil pack for proper spark timing

thanks for your help man...about a hoist i was just saying that i don't have one, so if the cam swap meant i had to remove the engine then i wouldn't be able to...but since it doesn't have to come out im good...
except for the fact that stangin99 thinks i'll be wasting my time, which im hoping he'll explain to me.

because I told you you didnt need to pull the heads and accessories yet you said here


Quote: know you need to pull the heads, intakes and all that s**t out, I just don't have an engine hoist and I don't wanna pay an arm an a leg for something that I can do myself as I've done cam swaps before, I just wanted to make sure there was enough clearance, I have no problems taking out the rad if need be, but i'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

that you know you have to take the heads off :-?

You never said you were swapping heads. If your just doing a cam install, pulling your heads is a huge waste of time/money and is just stupid.

If you ARE swapping heads then you NEED new head gaskets and bolts as they are both one time use only. If you want, you can spend some more and get ARP Studs which are re-useable about 15 times.