Cam installation?

[1BADRAM]

Well it looks like I'm going to swap engines in a couple of weeks. The motor I'm getting has a stock cam in it and I'm wanting to install an aftermarket drop in. Really never put one in, but have been around a little when some are being done. I know to get some wooden dowel rods and drive them down into the lifters and pull them up. Take the front cam retaining washer off and pull the cam out. To install the new cam put plenty of lube on it and carefully put into the block and line the marks up on the crankshaft and thats pretty much it, right? Anything else I need to do? Does the engine need to be at TDC? Thanks for the help.

 

[PRattenbury]

You're forgetting about cam gear fun. It's a press fit. A good trick is to heat the gear up in an oven (not with a torch) to about 350*, and put the cam in a freezer. Gear will drop right on. Also, the dowels aren't really necessary if you're doing the cam out of the truck. You can take the tappet cover off and use clothes pins to hold the lifters up out of the way. When I disassembled my engine I used zip ties. Nothing happened, but it didn't matter anyway, since it was coming apart. You will need to be at TDC so you can line the marks up on the gears.

 

[dragnsled]

If the engine is out of the truck just stand it on end and you will not need any special pieces.......just my$.02

 

[1BADRAM]

Thanks. I forgot to mention the cam gear, I need to get one off. Just put it in a press to get it off? Any tricks to that?