Cam install

[1990_talon]

Is there a way i can install cams without having to remove the timing belt and or having to retime the motor? Im sure there is but i want to make sure its possible.

 

[camaroz89]

Is there a way i can install cams without having to remove the timing belt and or having to retime the motor? Im sure there is but i want to make sure its possible.

Not gonna happen you have to remove your cam gear from the shaft so belt has to come of. its not difficult though once i actually got around to it finish it in 1 sat. afternoon.

 

[Chaosweaver]

Is there a way i can install cams without having to remove the timing belt and or having to retime the motor? Im sure there is but i want to make sure its possible.

The cam as to come off, you have the option of zip tying the cam onto the belt so it does not move, which will technically have it be in time once the cams are put back on. There's a few people that have done it this way and have succeeded, if you've never done the install take your time with it, I recommend finding someone in your area with experience. Also don't forget to bleed the lifters.

 

[1990_talon]

Not gonna happen you have to remove your cam gear from the shaft so belt has to come of. its not difficult though once i actually got around to it finish it in 1 sat. afternoon.

I saw a video on youtube where the guy like ziptied the belt to the gears so on and so forth. But i dont know how to time a motor. Never done it and probably dont have the tools to do so.

The cam as to come off, you have the option of zip tying the cam onto the belt so it does not move, which will technically have it be in time once the cams are put back on. There's a few people that have done it this way and have succeeded, if you've never done the install take your time with it, I recommend finding someone in your area with experience. Also don't forget to bleed the lifters.

Yeh ive heard of that method. Eventually ill get around to try it. Im only 15 but i would rather do it myself, i want to learn as much as i can. If i cant do ill have my dad and or his buddy help.

 

[camaroz89]

I saw a video on youtube where the guy like ziptied the belt to the gears so on and so forth. But i dont know how to time a motor. Never done it and probably dont have the tools to do so.

Yeah you need a timing light to do it yourself. the ziptie is possible or just mark it with a paint marker did that to mine. best to had a shop time the car thought and if its a far drive to shop i'd trailer it.

 

[1990_talon]

Yeah you need a timing light to do it yourself. the ziptie is possible or just mark it with a paint marker did that to mine. best to had a shop time the car thought and if its a far drive to shop i'd trailer it.

Thanks for the input. Im not going to do it anytime soon just wanted to have someones .02

 

[camaroz89]

Thanks for the input. Im not going to do it anytime soon just wanted to have someones .02

yeah i used paint markings on the belt and all the gears at top dead center(where your cam gear timing marks line up) and my car was in perfect time when i put the head and belt back on.

 

[1990_talon]

yeah i used paint markings on the belt and all the gears at top dead center(where your cam gear timing marks line up) and my car was in perfect time when i put the head and belt back on.

Would i have to loosen the tensioner? Like would the belt be to tight to get it all back together.

 

[xxNocturnalxx]

Yes you will have to loosen the tensioner.

 

[bryanwheat]

It takes literally 30-45 minutes to pull the crank pulley wp pullies, motor mount and timing cover, it would be stupid to not pull it apart and verify everything is aligned properly. As stated earlier take whiteout and mark the belt and all pullies, push in the tensioner with the tension bolt tool, and remove the belt. From there change the cams, reinstall the belt with the marks lined up remove the tension tool, check for proper tension and put it all back together.

 

[campos_racing]

Best way to do it is the zip ties if you dont know what your doing. I tried it the first time like that when I removed my head and I was successful, good luck though, its a PITA when you dont know what to do and no ones around to help.

 

[bryanwheat]

Best way to do it is the zip ties if you dont know what your doing. I tried it the first time like that when I removed my head and I was successful, good luck though, its a PITA when you dont know what to do and no ones around to help.

That is far from the best way. That is the lazy way of doing it. You have absolutely no way of knowing whether or not if the crank timing marks and oil pump marks are lined up.

 

[xxNocturnalxx]

I'm actually installing HKS cams and gears tomorrow, I have new idler pulleys, tensioner and belt ready to go in. I'm simply going to remove the timing covers acc. pulleys, replace the cams and gears, slap the belt back on with timing marks all lined up, set tension, rotate motor by hand a couple times, re-check tension, reinstall acc pulleys and timing covers.. done with-in an hour.

Now to answer the OPs question, I suppose you can BUT you will have no assurance that the belt slipped off of the crank or oil pump sprockets, so you will need constant tension on the belt pulling up, you can use bungie cables tied to the gears and attached to the underhood or have a good friend hold them up for you nice and tight until your ready to reinstall the belt

 

[montm82]

in order to install cams you will def. have to remove timing belt. never heard anybody do it any other way.

 

[xxNocturnalxx]

There are members on here that have done it without removing the belt or lower timing cover. These are members that have done the timing the right way many times and have learned how to successfully use short cuts safely. I'm sure one of them will chime in here with some pics, I know there are some floating around here with the bungie cord method.

 

[bryanwheat]

Of coarse it can be done, but why. It takes very little time to pull the lower timing cover and verify that everything is right. I can't think of any scenario where you would be in such a big hurry to change the cams that you couldn't just take the extra 30 minutes to pull the lower timing cover. As much as it matters that these engines be in perfect time there is absolutely no reason to skimp and possible have it not.

 

[xxNocturnalxx]

I completely agree.

 

[montm82]

when i said you had to remove the timing belt i meant the top belt off the cam gears, not the lower one. its imposible to install new cams with out removing the upper belt over the cam gears. if someone here ever did that before, please explain to me how you completed this efficiently.

 

[Isabelledc5]

You'd have to take off the top part of the timing belt for the cam gears.

 

[xxNocturnalxx]

when i said you had to remove the timing belt i meant the top belt off the cam gears, not the lower one. its imposible to install new cams with out removing the upper belt over the cam gears. if someone here ever did that before, please explain to me how you completed this efficiently.

The OP is talking about the cam shafts, not the cam gears. It would actually be easier to zip tie the belt to the gears, unbolt them, then bungie them up.

 

[campos_racing]

That is far from the best way. That is the lazy way of doing it. You have absolutely no way of knowing whether or not if the crank timing marks and oil pump marks are lined up.

I was talking about just taking the top part off for the cam gears, I mean of course why skip a step, and take off the whole thing, but since he's clearly never done it then he's just gonna F it up and then get stuck.

As long as you mark everything and just zip tie the gears so that there is no trouble with it later when your gonna put everything back together, later on you wont need the zip ties, but first is practice. You dont want to bend any valves or leave it off.