Cam Bearing Replacement
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 2
From: Nashville
Cam Bearing Replacement
While pulling my 300's stock cam I accidentally let the distributor drive gear take a chunk out of the front cam bearing 
Is there any way to replace this without having a $300 cam bearing puller/ installer tool? The engine is not coming out of the van so taking it to a shop isn't a real option. If said tool is a must... does anyone rent them? Know autozone does a loaner tool program but this one isn't on the list far as I know.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated...
Is there any way to replace this without having a $300 cam bearing puller/ installer tool? The engine is not coming out of the van so taking it to a shop isn't a real option. If said tool is a must... does anyone rent them? Know autozone does a loaner tool program but this one isn't on the list far as I know.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated...
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 970
Likes: 3
How big a gouge did you make and is it up close to the oil hole in the
bearing? The bearings are simply driven in since you say it is the front one
I know it could be driven out and a new one in with something close to it's diameter. Problem is if the pan isn't off the engine how are you going to get the old one
out. If you are careful you might be able to get it out by turning it at right
angle to the bore in the block and pull it out, just don't mess the bore up or you
will have problems getting the new one in. If it were mine all of this would hinge
on how bad it is damaged. Remember we are looking at 360 degs. of
support on that journal and if it doesn't present a place to loose a
great amount of oil pressure it might be just as well to leave it alone.
bearing? The bearings are simply driven in since you say it is the front one
I know it could be driven out and a new one in with something close to it's diameter. Problem is if the pan isn't off the engine how are you going to get the old one
out. If you are careful you might be able to get it out by turning it at right
angle to the bore in the block and pull it out, just don't mess the bore up or you
will have problems getting the new one in. If it were mine all of this would hinge
on how bad it is damaged. Remember we are looking at 360 degs. of
support on that journal and if it doesn't present a place to loose a
great amount of oil pressure it might be just as well to leave it alone.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 2
From: Nashville
The bearing will have to be replaced. After being nicked a roughly thumbnail sized section of the bearing's surface material flaked off. The stuff seems pretty fragile.
Getting the old bearing out isn't a huge problem, what will be is installing the new bearing without damaging it. The chilton's manual talks of using an expanding collet to do the installation. Never seen such a critter.
Getting the old bearing out isn't a huge problem, what will be is installing the new bearing without damaging it. The chilton's manual talks of using an expanding collet to do the installation. Never seen such a critter.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
I am on my third tank of gas on my van's rebuilt motor. I had a local shop bore the cylinders, install the cam bearings, grind the crank, install the rods on the new pistions and the did a valve job on the head. I did the rest in my garage. As I mentioned I did not install the cam bearings so I am not sure if this is possible, but, I would call a good local engine builder and see if the builder would make a house call to install the new cam bearings. Not sure how many could be replaced. My horse sence tells me the cam bearing puller is small e-nuf to fit on the floor board of car. The guy who built my dist/coil/HEI module drove to my house after work to deliver his assy. So before you rule out the thought that you can't take the van to the shop, see if the shop can come to your van. Oh yea, cash talks, expecially after work hours.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
Hey 83VAN. I pulled and installed my I6 in the van myself. No help. Rebuilt the motor on a engine stand. Man handled the head off the motor in the van, then used a cherry picker for the motor block and for head install. Tight fit but doable. So far no leaks.
