camshaft removal problem

[bake315]

OK, so I'm in the middle of upgrading my camshaft, and I'm having trouble removing the old one.  I can get it to come out about 4 inches, but no further.  Pushrods and lifters have all been removed.  I don't want to damage anything.  What did I miss?

Motor's in my sigline.

Thanks!

bake315

[bake315]

Whoops!  I think I just figured it out.  Gotta pull the fuel pump!

[hotrod24]

dont forget the little rod that is in there

[dunedigger]

I somehow knew what it was before I opened the thread, lol.  I've been there too. 

[bake315]

Yep it came right on out once I pulled the pump and pushed the rod back.  Only now that I've pulled the cam, I discovered two other concerns.  The second from the last bearing has some fairly bad nicks in it.  Also, the second from the first slid out a good ways as I was pulling the cam out.  Obviously I'm going to want to replace both of these, and if I'm going to do them, I might as well do all of them.  Am I going to have to drop the crank in order to get the new bearings in?

[dunedigger]

The crank doesn't have to come out but you should should condider a full rebuild.  You will get metal shavings when installing the new ones.  If the cam bearings are bad it is likely the rods and mains are bad as well.

[bake315]

The crank doesn't have to come out but you should should condider a full rebuild.  You will get metal shavings when installing the new ones.  If the cam bearings are bad it is likely the rods and mains are bad as well.

Ugh...  I didn't really want to have to go there, yet.  Just out of morbid curiosity, if one didn't pull out the crank, how would one replace those bearings?  Through the front?  I could see pulling them all out that way, just not putting them back in.

[Blazin]

You will need a cam bearing removal / installation tool. They go in one after the other from the front.

[VileZambonie]

You're gonna have to pull the engine to do it.

[bake315]

You're gonna have to pull the engine to do it.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking is going to happen.  I worry too much about damaging those bearings by pushing them through so many holes - seems it would weaken them too much.

Oh well...  Pulling the engine isn't so bad, I guess.  Here's a pic of how it sits now - I'm practically there already.

[bake315]

OK, here are some shots of the cam.  I do this because I'd like some feedback about its state of wear, and possibly ID-ing it.

[bake315]

And here are three more.  I see "GM 12" and "304" stamped on it.