cam shaft replacing

[able]

in a red 202 how difficult is a cam shaft replacement?

i see its very easy in a v8 but it looks like you have to take off rockers and valves and just about everything in a red 202?

and then putting all together again at the right specs 

im mechanically minded but im lacking experience.... it also looks like you need to buy specific tools?

would i be better off just taking off the head and paying a mechanic to do it to save myself a head ache and a blown motor?

its a vodo straight gas cam i got ground up.... i also had the vk manifold modified to suit my red 202... i also picked up a electric dizzy and coil from a blue motor and scored a second gas tank for helping a mate with his shorty 40.



manifold modification and brand new cam shaft + cam lube $363

how much should i be looking at for cam instillation if i take off the head myself?

[ben]

what did they do to modify the vk manifold?

cheers
ben

[Merlin]

     1. remove rocker cover    2. remove rockers   3.remove push rods   4. remove side plates    5.   remove lifters   6.  remove dizzy & oil pump  7.  loosen sump bolts   8. remove harmonic  balancer    9.  remove timing cover   10.  remove cam   11. same again in reverse order . PS: dont forget to degree the cam in    hope that helps      Cheers Neil                                                                                                               

[Mr Whippy]

Changing cams is not that difficult to do Able. Tools you will  need are a harmonic balancer puller to remove the pulley from the front of the engine. And a hydraulic press to remove the cam gear from the old camshaft and press it onto your new one. When you do this make sure you get the thrust bearing and retainer plate on the cam (this sits just behind the gear) in the right order. Also make sure the cam gear is aluminium and not the old cotton  fibre one as these break. The cam gear has an alignment mark with the drive gear on the crank so you cant really mess up the timing.
You will have to take the oil pump and distributor off the engine block as well as removing all the cam followers (lifters) before you can remove the cam. Once you have all that stuff off  it is just a matter of taking off the timing gear cover from the front of the engine and then removing the two screws holding the retainer plate behind the cam gear.The cam should then slide right out
I would recommend you buy new cam followers too as they are a wear matched set to the old cam and using old lifters  can ruin the lobes on the new cam.

EDIT: what merlin said  (your too quick mate)

[able]

degree the cam in 

please explain.


how much for new lifters if the old ones are going to cause damage?

[Mr Whippy]

60-70 dollars. well worth it.

Oh and there is a nice schematic on old holden.com  on how to wire up your HEI dizzy


here you go:http://holdenpaedia.oldholden.com/HEI_Conversion_Wiring_Instructions

[able]

thanks guys!

any other thoughts or warnings appreciated!

[able]

what did they do to modify the vk manifold?

cheers
ben

moved a bolt hole (im not sure what they are called) you will notice one is up and the other is down now... on the vk they are parallel.

they also tig'd the injector holes up.

they built up the inside so that they matched the red intake holes. (they were to big on the manifold)

they built up area's so that they matched the height with the exhaust manifold (so your clamps are running straight)

and ground out sections on the sides where the bolts and pins go.

then last but not least... machined it flat.

i still have to tap and bolt off the four holes you can see along the top {which is the bottom in the pic} then their is one at the right hand side you can just make out...

also you can see a little dicky thing in the hole... that comes off from the back and i will plate that off. (looks like a vacuum thing)

shit i sound blond.... that thingy this thingy 

[able]

i just noticed that to get the cam shaft out/in i will have to undo the chassis bolts and lift the bloody beddy again...

im not cutting the nose out!

bugga!

[able]

i was having a look here....

http://69.20.53.62/pdf/803.pdf

for degreeing the cam shaft.... it seems they recomend it if you think they have f**ked up on the notches...

do all people degree in their camshafts or do most people just trust that the notch positions are correct?

seems like a expensive one use kit for a just in case?