cutting the front panel

[eddy]

Just got off the phone with Able, (hope you don't mind the post bro but we got a lot of good knowledge here) he asked wether I thought it was okay to cut the front panels to access the motor regarding a camshaft replacement. Ben has the shovel front dam for sale which would enable Able to cover the cuts, however, is there a danger of compromising the front end structural integrity concerning roadworthy. The obvious answer for me is to disconnect the engine from the body and raise the front end ensuring that the front panels stay intact. I think that you may have to cut the frame as well as the panel to get access to the harmonic balancer in order to access the camshaft, I have seen pics of beddies with the front frame cut to assist engine transplants and access to same. is this desirable or will it cause dramas down the track? I guess its something worth discussing as I have contemplated it myself at times .... cheers Eddy   

(ps Able hold off the grinder till we get more feedback, I'd hate to lead you down the wrong track)

[cfjeff]

I had a mishap returning from the 2007 nz van nats in the north island most of the way home there was a knocking noise. Made it home ok and asked my mechanic to have a listen, he said it sound like your fibre timing gear has lost about 2 or 3 teeth. Anyhow to cut a long story short I needed to replace the timing gear on my cam shaft. Now I know mine is a holden 186, but this could be worth a go. As I didn't want to remove the motor to replace the timing gears and it was suggested that I didn't have to remove the cam shaft but instead drill and tap the shaft. Then with a serries of bolts and spacers wind the new timing gear onto the shaft. So I set about this, removed the radiator and grill, and so I could get access for the puller to the harmonic balancer I undid the engine mount bolts and moved the motor up and down on the trolly jack and removed it through the slot in the spoiler and did the same with the drilling of the cam shaft. Just a suggestion of another way to do the repair without removing the motor or cutting the front off, all depends on what motor he's running. Hope this is of help.

Cheers Jeff

[Warren]

I would say that the front panel plays a part in supporting the chassis rail and I would avoid cutting it at all costs.

In my beddy I have had to replace the distributor gear and the timing gear, both were plastic, and from memory I replaced the timing gear (ie pulled the cam out) with out removing the grill, let alone cutting the front panel.

From memory the how I did it was to pull the harmonic balancer off while the motor was in its normal position, then I jacked the motor up at the front so that I could remove cam, removing the harmonic balancer was tight and fiddly, and I had to jack the motor up a fair way to remove the cam.

Having dropped the front end and motor out of a few beddies now, I would do it that way, most likely its the quickest way. but if you dont want to do that, then I would remove the radiator and grill, drop the tail shaft at the diff end, leaving the front in the gearbox so you dont spill oil everywhere.

lift the motor off the engine mounts, then drop the gear box mount onto the floor. this should have the front of the motor sticking up enough to clear the front panel and access the harmonic balancer and timing cover.

You may have to jack and jiggle things around a bit to get a decent attack on it.

Warren

    

 
 

[able]

i was still in the shed... didn't know you started a thread.


i still have not attached the bell/gearbox back onto the motor( red 202) this is why lifting the motor from the front was imposable. by the look of it i could put the engine crane through the window hole (window is out) and chain it front and back and lift the engine enough to clear the lip with the cam shaft and then just lower it again. i  will get a mate of course to help swing the motor and i will probably have to buy one of those level adjusting things i see them using on engine cranes.

your right.... i should not cut it.