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Replacing Followers/Lifters and more cam questions

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L

lesingepsycho

Jedi Warrior
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OK, so I'm still on the fence about changing the camshaft and lifters etc. I found the kit I want at a much better price PLUS a 15% discount on top of that so now the idea is back. So my question now is, can the lifters (on a 1275) be changed out with the engine in the car or is gravity working too much against you? If I'm not mistaken, they are put in from the bottom/sump side of the engine and it seems like they might keep falling out before the cam could be stabbed in there.

Also, how does one know if one has a star, pin or slot drive?

And lastly, I measured .085" end play on my current camshaft. Somebody (DPO) had installed what looked to be a thermostat housing gasket under the camshaft retainer... I'm guessing that's possibly why my chain died.

If I have time I'll post the pics of my rather destroyed harmonic balancer (no wonder my engine felt like it was going to rattle the car to pieces at idle).

Thanks everybody!
JACK
 
Jack, I suppose it could be done, but why would you want to? To properly install the new cam, you would do it with a degree wheel, and there ain't no way that can be done in a street car.
As far as the oil pump drive, 99% of the stock 1275's had the star drive. You'll know as soon as you pull the cam. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Do it right. Pull the engine, inspect the bearings and oil pump for wear, clean everything up, make the required measurements, and do whatever is required to make the engine healthy again.
Jeff
 
Agree of course.
 
Re: Replacing Followers/Lifters and more cam quest

You could use magnets to hold the lifters in place...
 
Re: Replacing Followers/Lifters and more cam quest

I assume that the same sources make the oil pumps and cams for the inline A-series as the transverse. As such, while star drive cams will be available, a greater number of replacement cams and oil pumps are made for slot drive.

Even if you wanted to do this job with the engine in the car, wouldn't you stand a good chance of dropping the star (spider) into the sump during this procedure? Then you'd have to pull the engine (or sump).

I'll add the following comment that hasn't been mentioned. You really shouldn't run a new cam with old followers or visa-versa. They wear together as a matched set. If you remove the followers and plan on reinstalling them with the same cam during a rebuild you should go so far as to number the followers for installation in the same location. I'm completely with Jeff on this one. Pull the engine, inspect all the parts, consider putting in a new oil pump (just because you're there and it's cheap insurance), and use new followers with the new cam.
 
Re: Replacing Followers/Lifters and more cam quest

Pull the engine to do this or you will regret it. Get a billet cam, or nitritied reground and hardened lifters, they will not be cheap or you will doing it again in no time, I suggest going with APT stuff. Start drive is stock on 1275, unless someone has bought a slot drive cam and then they would need the slot drive pump as well. Pin drive is a 948 and 1098 deal.
 
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