Camshaft replacement

Revision as of 19:54, 29 December 2006; view current revision
<-Older revision | Newer revision->

Replacing the [[Camshaft] in a Datsun 1200 is not difficult, but like any engine requires careful measurements and expert use of tools.

The first step in an a series cam swap is remove engine from car. The reason is so the lifters can be fitted. You have to turn the engine upside down to clear the cam for removal and installation. Otherwise the lifters fall into the bore hole, and possibly into the sump when the cam is removed.

Lifters

With a new cam, new lifters (cam followers) should always be used. Otherwise failure *will* occur after a while (days to months).

You could alternatively have the old lifters "radius ground" and harndess-treated before putting in a new cam. The lifters have to turn as the cam lobes are ground at an angle to the axis of the cam and are not parrallel with cam axis. The taper causes the follower to spin and not wear in one spot.

Removing Camshaft

1. Remove engine from car
2. Put engine on a stand
3. Remove rocker cover and loosen each rocker arm
4. Remove rocker shaft assembly
5. Remove pushrods, numbering each one with a bit of tape (#1 is at front of engine, #8 at the rear)
   • For best wear, they should be replaced into the same spot to match the rocker arms and lifters.
6. turn engine upside down, remove the sump. Being upside-down, gravity will hold the lifters of the camshaft.

Be sure not to turn the engine right-side up or the lifters will fall out.

1. Carefully pull camshaft out of its bore. Don't let the lobes or bearing surfaces be nicked by the edge of the bore hole. You don't want to damage the bore hole.

Replacing Camshaft

1. If installing a new cam, be sure to fit new lifters or failure *will* occur after a while (days to months)
2. Put cam lubricant on the bottom of the lifters
   • Cam lube can be anything from a good quality engine oil to special moly cam lube. The idea is to stop the cam lobes wearing on the initial start up. Most auto stores will have something to do the job. Don't be afraid to use ots either. As the saying goes 'oil is cheaper than metal'.
3. Put cam lube on the camshaft lobes and bearing surfaces
4. Carefully insert the camshaft into its bore. Don't let the lobes or bearing surfaces be nicked by the edge of the bore hole.
5. Turn engine right-side up
6. Insert pushrods
7. Bolt on the rocker-shaft assembly
8. Perform Valve adjustment
9. Install rocker cover
10. Replace engine into car
11. IMPORTANT: Before starting the engine, review the camshaft break-in procedure

Replacing Cam - Engine in Car

Is there any way to put the camshaft in without removing the engine? Know any shortcuts? Perhaps by removing the sump and inserting the lifters from below?

Possibly. Perhaps you can take the rocker gear off then the pushrods out then turn her over and push the cam followers down or up if you know what I mean and slip it out and then the new one in. The followers might be a bit hard to get to go down far enough so you might have to give the old cam a fast spin to knock them down. Its worth a try and let us know (click Edit) how it works out.

Or, You could put your 1200 on one of these:

Then turn the entire car over, like this:

Alas if only there was a magic device that held the lifters in place we could leave the motor in and just swap cams.