Cam housing gasket
#1
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Just wondering how difficult it is to replace the cam housing gasket? Is it pretty much straight forward? Just unhook everything on top and pull off?
Let me know of any tips and tricks.
Thanks guys.
Let me know of any tips and tricks.
Thanks guys.
#2
Race Director
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
well, you also have to take the timing belt off the cam-sprocket. You can do that without interfering with the balance-shaft belt, so there's only one belt to time and tension afterwards. Count on about 2-3 hours.
#4
Deer Slayer
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
When I did it, it took me about 10 hours. If you're a first timer, my figure is probably closer to what you'd experience than Danno ("the Flash").
Tricks? You'll need to fabricate an allen wrench that's 6" long so you can remove the bolts that are recessed inside the cam tower... use grease to hold them on the wrench when you put them back... pay careful attention to torque values (get them right or do them again), and of course you'll have to tussle with the timing belt and 9201 tool. Search the archives, you can probably find my sometimes-desperate posts as I worked through it. You can learn from my mistakes...
cheers
Thaddeus
Tricks? You'll need to fabricate an allen wrench that's 6" long so you can remove the bolts that are recessed inside the cam tower... use grease to hold them on the wrench when you put them back... pay careful attention to torque values (get them right or do them again), and of course you'll have to tussle with the timing belt and 9201 tool. Search the archives, you can probably find my sometimes-desperate posts as I worked through it. You can learn from my mistakes...
cheers
Thaddeus
#6
Instructor
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Southern California
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
you might also want to put locktite on the bolts that tighten the cam tower down. I didn't and mine seem to come loose... I may have to do the job again soon.
#7
Race Director
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
"Tricks? You'll need to fabricate an allen wrench that's 6" long so you can remove the bolts that are recessed inside the cam tower.."
Yeah, take one of those L-shaped individual Allen keys and cut off the short end of the L. Stick/glue into a socket and you've got the right tool now.
To prevent distortion of the cam-housing when removing and installing you want to pay attention to the sequence.
To loosen, you want to work from the outside in. I'll start in the upper left and remove the two at the rear-most part of the engine. Then move counter-clockwise and remove the two at the front of the engine by the distributor. Then the next two at the second-to-last place at the rear, etc.
To tighten, start from the middle and work your way outwards in a clockwise fashion. The idea is similar to applying a large decal. Inside-out will prevent it from bunching up and getting creases & bubbles. I wonder if gasket leak problems are created in a similar fashion?
Yeah, take one of those L-shaped individual Allen keys and cut off the short end of the L. Stick/glue into a socket and you've got the right tool now.
To prevent distortion of the cam-housing when removing and installing you want to pay attention to the sequence.
To loosen, you want to work from the outside in. I'll start in the upper left and remove the two at the rear-most part of the engine. Then move counter-clockwise and remove the two at the front of the engine by the distributor. Then the next two at the second-to-last place at the rear, etc.
To tighten, start from the middle and work your way outwards in a clockwise fashion. The idea is similar to applying a large decal. Inside-out will prevent it from bunching up and getting creases & bubbles. I wonder if gasket leak problems are created in a similar fashion?