CAM CHANGE, can you pull the cam out without

[davidh]

pulling all the ac components and grille out of a 81 chevy? If not I might just pull the motor and clean it up anyway. I have several lobes flat. On my 68 non air I was able to pull the cam on it and change it out no problem. Didn't know about 81-87's. Just wondering. Thanks. David

[79stepside]

Just changed the cam on my 79, had to pull the radiator out to get the cam out of the block.

[MylilBowTie]

I would pull the engine out its not that hard to do. You can change it with the engine in the truck but you have to cut a beam in the core support (81-87) for the cam to come all the way out of the block.

[Slonaker]

I changed the cam on my '86 without pulling the engine. I had to, as MylilBowTie said, cut the center of the core support to do it.

I cut it as low as I could, in just one place, and bent it up out of the way. When I was done, I used a small piece of sheetmetal and sheetmetal screws to hold it back together. I painted it black, and you can't tell it was ever cut. It is also surprisingly strong.

As far as the A/C goes, I unbolted the hard lines for the condenser from the fender. That allowed enough flex in the lines for me to lift the condenser up high enough to clear the cam. I was working by myself, so I tied it in place on the core support with a piece of string. It actually worked out really well.

It might be easier, as someone else said, to just pull the engine. If you have some help, a hoist, and an engine stand, that might be the better option. I chose not to because I was doing all of the work by myself, and because my original plan was to do a cam swap and nothing else.

If I was doing it again, I would probably pull the engine. While I had mine apart, I kept looking at stuff and thinking "It will never be any easier than this to replace/clean/paint that part." I ended up doing all of the gaskets, new water pump, fuel pump, motormounts, brake lines, sandblasting and painting the brackets, and all kinds of other stuff. If I had known I was going to do that much to it, I would have just pulled the thing out and worked on it in the garage instead of leaning over the fenders anmd crawling under it all the time.

Slonaker

[davidh]

No big deal if I had to but I thought I'd check for sure first. The motor is clean and has 150 psi in all cylinders. I think a cam and timing chain and she'll be running good. I plan on putting in a rv cam since this is an all stock 350.

[MylilBowTie]

I would also drop the oil pan and get the metal shavings cleaned out well.

[swervin ervin]

Yep, everyone is correct to a tee. If you have flat lobes on the cam you can bet money somewhere in the engine you have metal dust. I bet the bearings look like diamonds with all the sparkle.

[cableguy0]

i would pull that engine and drop the oil pan. its not much more work to get the engine out and it will go quicker swapping the cam when you arent hanging over a fender trying to adjust the valves and set the intake down etc. your only talking 2 motor mount bolts 6 tranny bolts and 3 torque converter bolts. the rest of the stuff you will be disconnecting anyways.

[Moostifer]

Originally Posted by MylilBowTie

I would pull the engine out its not that hard to do. You can change it with the engine in the truck but you have to cut a beam in the core support (81-87) for the cam to come all the way out of the block.

SO THAT'S WHY MINE IS CUT

makes since now! the guy that had it before me was half azz shade tree mek-a-nek.

[MylilBowTie]

There isn't any other way to get it out if you don't pull the engine. Unless you are lucky enough to beat the center beam out really far enough for the cam to barley clear the engine. Its just that tight of a fit that its easier to cut it.

[82 Silverado 4X]

When I got my truck the A/C didn't work because someone cut the brace to do a cam change but they never reattached it. The brace rubbed a hole right through the A/C condenser. You can do the cam change without pulling the motor but like most others said, there will be a lot of metal floating around inside every part of the engine. You can't clean it as good as it needs to be with it in the truck.