cam tools

[latemodelnewbee]

Is there any one in my area that has a set of cam tools that I could borrow for alittle while so that I could fix my car. I don't care if there a stock type or the adjustable ones I just need to get my car running again.

[walterdude]

In a pinch it's easy to make your own tool. All the links to the info don't work, guess that hasn't been updated yet.... Anyway,,, I happened to save the text:

"The specs for my home made tools = 1/2" x 1/2" x 6" key stock with 5/16" hole in center. Bolts are M8 x 1.25 x 50mm, two washers are needed on each. Sorry about the dark pics, flash was not working for some reason."

Hope this helps,,,,,,
Tom

PS,,, Also found the pic....

[latemodelnewbee]

thanks I'll give it a try with that

[series8217]

I had issues with those bending even if I used a tool to hold the cam cogs while I tightened the cam bolts to spec. The solution was to double stack the bars and use the largest ones that would fit in the cam carrier (I think they were 3/4").
Make damn sure you use a tool to hold the cam cogs while you tighten the bolts. They need over 80 ft-lbs (I forget the exact spec; look it up), and you WILL bend the tools or dent your cam flats if you don't support them.

[sspeedstreet]

Don't know where I saw the picture, but someone had used a old main bearing cap. Drilled a hole for the bolt and it was done. Seems like that would make a pretty stout hold down.

[latemodelnewbee]

do you have to loosen the bolts on the cam gears to put a new belt? I didn't think you had to my GM service manual doesn't say anything about that, I would like to do the 6/6 timing but I just need to get the car running so I can get to work. so far I made the tools but i did double up the bar stock for strength, and now I get to wait for my actuator to come in (hot damn those are expensive)

[series8217]

Don't know where I saw the picture, but someone had used a old main bearing cap. Drilled a hole for the bolt and it was done. Seems like that would make a pretty stout hold down.

I remember that too. I think it was on fiero.nl. If I recall correctly it was a Ford 302 main bearing cap, but I could be wrong about that. It definitely sounds like a good, inexpensive solution! Might not be too hard to machine angled bottoms on one too if you just clamped it down on a mill table at a slight angle.. then you could have tools for a few different timings. hmmm...

[series8217]

do you have to loosen the bolts on the cam gears to put a new belt? I didn't think you had to my GM service manual doesn't say anything about that, I would like to do the 6/6 timing but I just need to get the car running so I can get to work. so far I made the tools but i did double up the bar stock for strength, and now I get to wait for my actuator to come in (hot damn those are expensive)

Yeah you do have to loosen the cam bolts. You can't get the belt on while its tensioned so you have to install it and then tension it... which rotates the cogs a bit, so that would mess up your timing if you didn't have the cogs loose. If you have a 91-93 engine you have to remove the cogs with gear pullers in order to get the lock rings out. It's really hard and annoying. Then you press the lock rings back in with the bolts when you're ready to lock them down. I suggest tossing out the 91-93 cogs if you have those, and get a set of 94-95 ones. They have cone-locks that are loose when the bolt is loose; no gear pulling required.

[latemodelnewbee]

well I think I got the belt on alright with out loosing the cam cogs but I'm still waiting on the actuator, it was supposed to be here toady but now I have to wait until monday. Since I'm having to wait and I broke my timing dust cover I decided to make an aluminum one.


here it is half-assed installed

yes that is my bicycle hanging from the celling in the reflection

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg29/latemodelnewbee/Picture1524737359.jpg

here it is compared to my broken stock one

[series8217]

well I think I got the belt on alright with out loosing the cam cogs but I'm still waiting on the actuator, it was supposed to be here toady but now I have to wait until monday. Since I'm having to wait and I broke my timing dust cover I decided to make an aluminum one.

As soon as you install the actuator and tension the belt your cam timing will be off.
Also, one head has to have the flats up and one has to have the flats straight down. There's no way you can do this without loosening the cogs and doing one side at a time.

[latemodelnewbee]

my GM book doesn't mention anything about that, also how do you hold the cams in position with the flats down

[latemodelnewbee]

oops it was in a different section what you said is correct but I have one other question how do line up the crank and cams correctly so that the fuel injectors and the ignition system fires correctly, or am I just making it more complicated than it is. I'm still new to this electronic fuel injection.

[series8217]

Just follow the cam timing directions in the service manual.
The fuel injectors fire at every ignition pulse and the ignition system uses wasted spark so it doesnt care which stroke (power or exhaust) a cylinder is on. It fires on both.
All you need to do is make sure that the engine is at TDC for cylinder 1 when one bank of cams has the flats lined up pointing up, and a full crankshaft rotation later that bank has the flats pointed down and the other bank has the flats pointed up.
By "up" I mean perpendicular to the cam carrier top; i.e. how the cam tools would hold them.

[series8217]

This should answer any remaining questions you have:

http://60degreev6.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24974

[latemodelnewbee]

thanks I think I got it all right it just down to the upper intake, serpentine belt, and little stuff like that. it just got to late to work on