[Billz428]

Is it possible to change the Camshaft out while engine is in the car ?

1980 TA

Thanx for any help here .

[PAUL K]

Yes, the hood latch support bar will need to be loosened and pushed out of the way. If the car has AC the condenser will need to be moved around but shouldn't have to be disconnected.

[Billz428]

Thanx, this eases my mind .

[ErikW]

Absolutely

[steve25]

If your doing it on your own then do yourself a big favor.
Get some Mechanics wire and slip it in some vacuum hose or fish tank tubing, form it into a loop up so you can slip it over the end of the cam to support it as you progressively slip it all the way in.

Also once you remove the old Cam take a good look with a mechanics mirror at all the old bearings to look for signs of them coming as they tend to do at times,

[GTOLou]

Did this in a 2nd gen this past spring. I remember having to move the center crossmember/hood last deal.

I think a screw in cam install tool helped too.

Biggest pita was getting it timed/degree'd and messing w/ a snug .005 timing set. Dropped a sims - shim into from of pain. Magnet and patience found it (Make sure you stuff rags in front lip of oil pan - I had done that, but somehow it got past).

Put in the older Ole Faithful per Dave's recc for my motor. My timing set allowed 2 degree's per adjust. I could either leave it retarded 1/2 degree or advanced 1 1/2. I went advanced...I figured once the timing set was broken in I'd lose 1/2 degree + anyway.

455/76 TA. Its a beast. Take your time. Somewhat of a pain to do in car. Use the right cam..lol.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Non-AC is easy.
With charged AC is impossible.

[Skip Fix]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Yes, the hood latch support bar will need to be loosened and pushed out of the way. If the car has AC the condenser will need to be moved around but shouldn't have to be disconnected.

What he said. Did about 4 cam swaps motor in the car in the 78 TA.

A crank socket with a degree wheel on it is easy to use also.

[steve25]

I can’t see how it can be done with A/C without disconnecting the condenser!

[Formulas]

I have even changed out 4 out of 5 cam bearings in my 70 bird in the engine bay about 15 years ago now

[Skip Fix]

Steve there is enough room to just unbolt the condensor and enough slack in lines. Just need a little room there is all. Biggest deal is the latch brace. But all the swaps I was doing I pulled mine.

[Billz428]

Car has A/C removed long ago.


Next week.i start this adventure .


Thanx Everyone .

[steve25]

Note that as soon as you get the timing cover off if the 2 lower bolt hole sleeves are not in the cover, but still on the face of the block do as posted above, pack the open nose of the oil pan until it’s overflowing with paper towels and then remove those two guide sleeves.

Form-a - gasket them in lightly into the timing cover so they do not fall out during reassembly and fall in the pan when the paper towels are no longer there!

[Skip Fix]

And keep the pan packed until the timing chain goes on-be sure the cam key is a tight fit! Ask me how I know-luckily a skinny magnet retrieved it!

[Billz428]

Way loose Chain.was found .

Had been line honed .
4 bolt caps installed.
a standard timing set had been installed .
Maybe 8 tanks of gas, cruzing


Going forward to.the New Lunati grind .

Lots of slop.

[Billz428]

Found this .

[Billz428]

Tried to.post a video

[GTO JONES]

Done that a few times.

[Billz428]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...&id=1415474368


FB video

[Billz428]

Found this .