I just did this on mine:

Harbor freight sells a metric sell of Allens for $13 that come in a replaceable socket, similar to the one on 928 motor sports. You then can take a dremel or your favorite cutting tool and get down to the size you need. To that end, the advantage of carl's is the socket actually FITS inside the hole giving you MAXIMUM depth and clearnace from other things in the way (e.g. fender)

Having a 79 like I do I was able to do this in 4 hours WITHOUT pulling the engine.

Here's what I had:

1 - Two people
2 - Car raised 16" off the ground so one person can get the bottom allen heads and the other on a stool getting the top ones. This helps in putting them on and off evenly.
3 - Various sized 6mm Allen heads - I had Carl's tool, and a couple others of selct lengths in a socket.
4- All I needed to remove was the two primary CIS hard lines going into the fuel distributor. (good time to check your fuel lines, one of my was in desparate need of being replaced - had 4/78 written on it!!) The air box, left side air intake, slid the timing belt off the cam gear (of course marking everything as appropriate and TDC, etc, etc) removed cam gear, loosened the front two hard lines going into the fuel injectos, the #8 spark plug boot and the cis hard line next to he #8 boot and finally the cam gear plastic backing piece
- Then with two people carefully lifted and removed the camtower (one person makes sure none of the lifters fall out ( use assembly lube to put back in - A must!! keeps them in there better so they don't fall out and keeps them lubed until oil reaches them)
- Remove gasket - Clean
- Replace with new 944 gasket
- Use yamabond on both sides of the gasket
- Replace cam tower ( two people again here) One guy aligns the bolts in the camtower to the heads while the other guy is holding
- Torque down to specs (remember this is aluminum) so make sure you torque down similar to toruqing down heads (e.g. not just in a straight line)
- DO NOT START CAR - LEt things dry - IM Experience yamabond works betters if it has a longer drying time without oil interfering (24 hours)
- Recheck your torque
- Replace everything
- Test car

This is not a thing you can rush. If you have a bolt that is stuck in the cam tower and/or strip allen head, it's pull engine time.

It took about three hours to replace everything. I also replaced my fuel lines.

Good luck.

 

Thanks Brad, I will be going over tonight and I will forward this info!

Stephen

 

I accessed all of my bolts from the top side. That's one of the reasons for two different lenths of allen sockets.

 

These were less than $10 at HF

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=94536

 

That's exactly what I referring too...thanks for showing the link...

 

Well the cam towers were removed w/out any drama. They actually came out easy. No busted parts and the gaskets, well 70% of them came off by hand. Worked on it for a couple hrs. Removed the air pump while we were there. Jose my mechanic had a friend come over. He was from Bosnia. Cool guy. Had the smallest hands and wrists. Took the bottom bolts out in a flash. That Jose is a smart guy!

Tomorrow I will head back and clean some stuff and get ready for putting it back together.

How long should I drive her beforeI take her to a dyno?

Stephen

 

Before you start it put a bottle of AC Delco EOS (Engine oil suppliment) into the motor prior to start up. When starting with new cams hold the idle at 1800-2000 on initial start for roung 15-20 min to help break them in.

 

Will do Colin, Thanks

Stephen

 

Did you use new lifters or at least the lifters that were previously used with the Euro S cams?

 

No Fabio I didn't get the old lifters so I will be using mine. Hope it doesn't cause problems. We will see!

Stephen

 

According to the experts, it will. At least resurface the old ones. Otherwise, you risk destroying your cams.

 

Thanks Fabio!




Stephen

 

Any helpful hints on getting the cam tower bolts back on and not dropping them in the heads?

Today I spent all my time cleaning parts, the engine, etc. Brown royal worked great!

My 79 cams are shot as are some of the lifters. Will need new parts. The lobs were wearing in some spots really bad.

Stephen

 

If you know how to inspect/test the litters you can reuse them. But most opt for new ones.

 

Magnet on the end of the Allen.