Cam Replacement Help needed
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
Cam Replacement Help needed
Has anyone ever did a cam replacement with the motor in the truck.
I got the valve cover, harmonic Balancer, pushrods, belt, radiator, grill, a/c condenser, pushrod cover and lifters all removed
my plan is to lift motor up so the cam clears the bumper and change the oil pan gasket and pump when I'm in it.
I need advice on how to go about this, i only have some wood and a floor jack
I got the valve cover, harmonic Balancer, pushrods, belt, radiator, grill, a/c condenser, pushrod cover and lifters all removed
my plan is to lift motor up so the cam clears the bumper and change the oil pan gasket and pump when I'm in it.
I need advice on how to go about this, i only have some wood and a floor jack
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 4,106
From: Angier, NC
Stock should work
Sorry I dont know if it could be swapped out with motor in the truck as I never gave it a try.
I would think as long as the cam has a straight shot out the front through the radiator support opening you should be good.
Dave ----
Sorry I dont know if it could be swapped out with motor in the truck as I never gave it a try.
I would think as long as the cam has a straight shot out the front through the radiator support opening you should be good.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
I did some measuring, I need to lift the motor 2 inches and take the cam gear off, to make the cam clear the radiator support.
but I'm worried the plastic gear will bust when I put a pulley on it.
but I'm worried the plastic gear will bust when I put a pulley on it.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 4,106
From: Angier, NC
You are right from what I seen posted the gear gets pressed off & on out of the motor so trying to get it off it will break.
Even if you get a metal gear to go back together it needs to be pressed on the cam shaft.
Dave ----
Even if you get a metal gear to go back together it needs to be pressed on the cam shaft.
Dave ----
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5th Wheeling
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2021
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From: Anderson, California
Good morning men.
I have done this with my 300 six-banger that I installed in my '77 F350 many years ago, maybe 2002 ?
I had installed a Comp Cam 260 / 272, and after approx 10k miles a lobe went flat.
My dad who worked for GM in the parts dept said cam lobes going flat was an issue with the 350's OFTEN.
I don't remember having to go thru any special gymnastics to remove the Cam.
I decided to just ga with a late '60's grind Clevite Cam.
Replaced the cam out thru the grill opening.
I have done this with my 300 six-banger that I installed in my '77 F350 many years ago, maybe 2002 ?
I had installed a Comp Cam 260 / 272, and after approx 10k miles a lobe went flat.
My dad who worked for GM in the parts dept said cam lobes going flat was an issue with the 350's OFTEN.
I don't remember having to go thru any special gymnastics to remove the Cam.
I decided to just ga with a late '60's grind Clevite Cam.
Replaced the cam out thru the grill opening.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
has anyone been crazy enough to replace the cam bearing, very first one with the motor in the truck, all of my other bearings are good.
I did mess up because i didn't support the cam as I pulled it and the distributor gear hit the front cam bearing
I did mess up because i didn't support the cam as I pulled it and the distributor gear hit the front cam bearing
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 37
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I'm all for the hell or high water stuff
but I just need to know if my situation is fixable or sent the motor to the junkyard.
I don't have the budget, it's either fixable or junkyard, i can't afford a full rebuild.
I already have over 4 grand in tires, headgasket, sensors, ecu, exhaust, shocks, etc.
but I just need to know if my situation is fixable or sent the motor to the junkyard.
I don't have the budget, it's either fixable or junkyard, i can't afford a full rebuild.
I already have over 4 grand in tires, headgasket, sensors, ecu, exhaust, shocks, etc.
Last edited by Grey89F150; Jan 17, 2026 at 06:48 PM.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 4,106
From: Angier, NC
I'm all for the hell or high water stuff
but I just need to know if my situation is fixable or sent the motor to the junkyard.
I don't have the budget, it's either fixable or junkyard, i can't afford a full rebuild.
I already have over 4 grand in tires, headgasket, sensors, ecu, exhaust, shocks, etc.
but I just need to know if my situation is fixable or sent the motor to the junkyard.
I don't have the budget, it's either fixable or junkyard, i can't afford a full rebuild.
I already have over 4 grand in tires, headgasket, sensors, ecu, exhaust, shocks, etc.
I dont see how anyone could R&R a cam and not nick a bearing.
I would take a little Scotch Brite pad and oil and just run it over the nick to knock down any high spots it may have.
DO NOT GO CRAZY! You are ONLY knocking down any high spots not take the nick out of the bearing like you would if doing body work before painting.
Clean the area really good when the high spots are gone and put some oil back on the cam bearing even if the cam will have lube on it.
Now I said you cam gear was pressed off and on and if you try and remove it with a puller it would break as it did
Now how you going to get the new gear back on the new cam? you cant get the cam is with gear on and you cant press it on with the cam in the motor.
DO NOT go hammering on the gear to get it on the cam as you will drive the cam out the back side of the block knocking the cam bearing plug out and then you will be pulling the motor to replace it.
Let us know how you make out and good luck
Dave ----
5th Wheeling
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 43
Likes: 13
Without being there to see feel it but from looks it is not that bad.
I dont see how anyone could R&R a cam and not nick a bearing.
I would take a little Scotch Brite pad and oil and just run it over the nick to knock down any high spots it may have.
DO NOT GO CRAZY! You are ONLY knocking down any high spots not take the nick out of the bearing like you would if doing body work before painting.
Clean the area really good when the high spots are gone and put some oil back on the cam bearing even if the cam will have lube on it.
Now I said you cam gear was pressed off and on and if you try and remove it with a puller it would break as it did
Now how you going to get the new gear back on the new cam? you cant get the cam is with gear on and you cant press it on with the cam in the motor.
DO NOT go hammering on the gear to get it on the cam as you will drive the cam out the back side of the block knocking the cam bearing plug out and then you will be pulling the motor to replace it.
Let us know how you make out and good luck
Dave ----
I dont see how anyone could R&R a cam and not nick a bearing.
I would take a little Scotch Brite pad and oil and just run it over the nick to knock down any high spots it may have.
DO NOT GO CRAZY! You are ONLY knocking down any high spots not take the nick out of the bearing like you would if doing body work before painting.
Clean the area really good when the high spots are gone and put some oil back on the cam bearing even if the cam will have lube on it.
Now I said you cam gear was pressed off and on and if you try and remove it with a puller it would break as it did
Now how you going to get the new gear back on the new cam? you cant get the cam is with gear on and you cant press it on with the cam in the motor.
DO NOT go hammering on the gear to get it on the cam as you will drive the cam out the back side of the block knocking the cam bearing plug out and then you will be pulling the motor to replace it.
Let us know how you make out and good luck
Dave ----