BEER.......lots of BEER.. I like to make my own tools, so I made up a tool to pull the bearings in towards the front of the engine. this consists of a piece of thick ready rod and washers that are the proper size for the inside of the bearing, one that is the proper size for the od of the bearing(use these to set the depth you want the bearing to go in, and one to "catch" the block webbing so not to go in too far. then start to install
Its doable as others have said, Its a pain, they really need to go in from the bottom, which means engine out, crank, rods and pistons out also. I've done it a couple times before in the car, with a proper cam bearing remover/installer tool. But If I remember, at least the radiator had to come out, and possibly the A/C condensor. The bearings had to "loaded" onto the cam bearing tool from in between the reinforcment webbing in the valley of the block by the lifter bores, BUT this can only be done if theres not alot of casting flash on the webbing, if there is, the bearings wont squeak thru, plus like others have said, the rear cam bearing really needs to be installed from the rear. Mark,,
I checked out summit and bought a good looking cam bearing tool for $200. I'll cut on it to make the tool fits within my space If anyone can fix 350 cam bearings in the car it's going to be ME!:beers2:
I just peeked at a 350 block I have in the basement and I agree with this. be prepared to have to open up some room between the lifter banks if coming in from the top, if it hasnt been done already. How to do it without getting metal everywhere, now that is another thing....maybe a custom cam bore shop vac snout? I see pvc tube, sealed one end, cut a section of the tube side open just big enough to allow you to get the suction where you need it from inside the cam bore. Maybe another shopvac in the lifter valley, cover the heck out of everything. Go for it!
im sure you know this but make sure you dont block the oil passages. personally i wouldnt even attempt it with out the engine out and appart. let us know how it goes, ill be looking.:TU:
I'm not seeing this end well...It can probably be done,but I am glad I am not the one who has to do it. Good luck and take your time. It's not going to be a fast, easy job,but if you have the ability,it certainly can be done. I rank this up there with heater core replacement on an ac car jobs..Just a royal PITA to do,but needs done.
Well just to stir the pot if i had to do this i would find an old cam shaft cut it off behind the second journal then machine the back of the front journal and install a ring large enough to hold and drive the bearing in place as this would at least give you some line bore alignment of the bearing . PS you may have to use two journals to get in the internal bearings but it will work.
