Help me install a cam

Kinda hard to really go through it step by step but basically just take everything off the front of the motor usually you can just take the radiator out and slide it right out the front but be really careful not to bang it around in the motor because its not hard to cost yourself alot more money real quick. I would recomend changing the water pump while you're at and every time I've done it everything i've taken off I clean real well before putting it back together.and also make sure you use plenty of assembly lube.It sounds like you have a pretty good idea of what you're doing,just be meticulous and do it right the first time it sucks to tear it apart and do it again over something small.good luck!!

yeah I hear ya.just take your time and do it right like I said before and once you get into it you'll see that it's not as bad as it really sounds and also you can always come back and ask more questions if you get stuck.

Its easier to guide the cam out and back in the engine with a long bolt on the front for leverage, its a whole lot easier to control and you'll be less likely to knick the cam or bearings. But, I dont know how much clearance there is for a long bolt with the engine in the car though, I did mine on an engine stand.

Be carefull when pulling the timing cover, you can rip the oil pan gasket, but I would prolly RTV the gasket was still in one peice.

Also be sure there is 2 notches that are on the cam gear and the crank gear. The cam gear notch( the biggest gear (on top)) should be pointing straight down and the crank gear (the smallest gear( on bottom)) should be facing up. Be sure to have your engine at TDC which you wont be able to line the cam and crank gears right unless you have the keyway positioned right and slide the 2 gears on AT THE SAME TIME

I am in this boat too. is there a good write up somewhere??

It's pretty simple....take the valve covers off, rocker arms off, push rods off, lifters off, timing cover off, crank pulley and harmonic balancer, rad and fan (you will need this for clearance to alllow the crank to go in straight), timing cover, timing chain, and cam.


You should replace the timing chain as well probably if the engine has over 100,000 miles on it, or if it has much play in it....just to be safe. It's never a good day when they come apart, and besides that, your timing will be more accurate if you have a proper chain on there.

Also, you should look in to borrowing an impact and a compressor or an electric impact to get the balancer off. It makes the job 100x easier. And like somebody else said, put a long bolt (I just use a long screw driver myself, haha) in the front end of the cam to help you get leverage to "aim" it in to the holes. It's not too difficult for the first few, but once you get near the back it's kinda tricky.

You should also lube the **** out of the camshaft with engine oil before you slide it in. Some people may suggest special cam break in lube which you can use, but thats a waste of time IMO, especially if you are using old lifters and bearings etc, which I'm sure you probably are! Don't force the cam if it doesn't want to go. It should slide in EASY if you are pushing it in the right spot. If it's not moving, don't force it.

Thats all I can think of now besides the obvious things that have to come off to remove some of those parts. Good luck! It's not as bad as some people make it out to be, especially on a fox. Be thankful you arent working on a Terminator