Calling V8S owners - cam change

[Ragtop]

Hi folks,

Does anyone know if it's possible to change the camshaft without taking the engine out (or moving it substantially)? I'm not sure exactly where the camshaft centreline is, or how long it is, but it looks like the exhaust Y-piece and possibly the chassis rail supporting the swirlpot may get in the way.

Associated with this, can anyone tell me if the front pulley assembly comprising the alternator belt pulley, the big lump of damper and a redundant pulley behind it can be taken off piece by piece, because the lower chassis crossrail (below the unboltable one) will almost certainly prevent its removal in one piece.

Thanks everyone,
Graham

[phillpot]

Think its about as long as the engine . . .

[Barkychoc]

pretty sure you can do it with the engine in.
Exhaust Y piece will have to come off.
Bottom pulley comes off without a problem no need to take it apart.

Cam isn't as low as you think - you'll have to strip the plenum etc off anyway to replace the followers, then you can see it.
If you have a sump gasket just be careful you don't rip it, but otherwise reasonably straightforward - if you want to change the cam chain and sprockets I don't know if the sump will have to be dropped to get the bottom sprocket off or not.
I used parts from Real Steel pretty cheap. I was recommended the 'stump puller' camshaft which from its name I would not have bought, I did originally order the one recommended for the 3.9 on their website (can't remember name) but my engine builder told me it was too tame and advised I changed it for the one above which I did.

Chris

[Ragtop]

Ragtop said:

the lower chassis crossrail (below the unboltable one) will almost certainly prevent the crankshaft pulley removal in one piece.

...is b@ll@cks. When one gets old it can be a long way from the garage to the computer, and memory fades during the journey. It's the exhaust Y-piece which looks like it gets in the way of the pulley, not any chassis part.

Thanks Mike that helps a lot!

Thanks Chris, that's even more helpful!! I'm hoping that I can get away with just unbolting the Y-piece from the manifolds and letting it drop an inch or so and to the right so the cam will come out above it, otherwise it looks like the whole exhaust system will have to come off. I think the bottom sprocket will come off without fouling the sump.


I'm sure someone on here must have done, or had done, a cam change, so hopefully I'll get to hear about it. Otherwise I'll just have a go anyway - what comes apart in-situ can always be put together again in-situ...

Cheers,
Graham