Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Changing the Camshaft

[rweis]

What are the pitfalls in changing the camshaft?, will change lifters also.



Have read the SM, detailing out the process, need to understand the pitfalls. Too big a job for the average person? Looks like it will take considerable time and wrench turning, but do able.



There are always "gottcha's" in the process, what are they?



Thanks in advance,



Bob Weis

 

[BillGotthelf]

Drop ANYTHING in the engine and you're taking it out (the whole engine). Lifters are the worst.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

TDR issue 33, P. 48

 

[JR2]

I know a guy who had a cam put in at a dealer... . we went in and looked at the truck while they where doing it... the motor was on a stand, upside down and they where putting the cam in...

 

[Scrappy]

cam chg.

the reason that the motor was upside down was to keep the lifters from falling out of their bores. The way that I have seen it done in a semi while still in frame was: 1 force a dowel into each lifter to hold it up while pulling the cam. 2 pull the cam. 3 after the cam was out, insert a u shaped channel down the cam bore to either keep the lifters fromfalling into the eng while the cam was out or to catch the lifters to get them out of the motor to replace them. I don't know if this will work with our trucks but it might

 

[Jim Fulmer]

the motor was on a stand, upside down and they where putting the cam in...



A boy doing a man's job, do it the old fashioned way!

 

[Devildog]

I getting ready to do the cam change myself..

I'm going to buy the Cam this week, I have been looking through the service manual as well, theres a cam replacement kit from Cummins that can be purchased to aid with the install. I think theres a trough, dowel rods and string and possibly other tool to aid. I'm going to buy the kit as well.



Good luck,



Chas.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Devildog



That kit I'm told is $300. 00, call Piers shop Monday and talk to Al about the kit there putting out, don't know if it finished yet but like most of there parts it's way cheaper... . FYI.



Jim

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Take a look at the Cummins kit and then make your own for about $10 and some work. 2" exhaust pipe with about 3/8 of a side cut out lengthwise, and a cap welded onto one end. The opening along the side should be about 1-5/8". It should be about 36" long. Then 12 wood dowel pins, chamferred and slit on one end, about 14" long. A piece of string around 5' long with a plumbing washer tied to one end. A piece of pipe with a nut welded on one end, and nut/washer arrangement to hold the cam by a window in the gear so you can pull it out easily, and install the new one.



Lots of nerve and patience.