I’m changing the cam in an engine that’s still in the truck. I’ve removed the lifters, oil pump, distributor and fuel pump, timing cover and sprockets. The cam turns smoothly, but only right in it’s spot where it must have been running. Moved forward or back even a little bit and it binds right up. So, in short, I can’t get it out. Any ideas? Thanks!

Put the cam bolt back in and then put a vice grip or slide hammer type device on the bolt to get it started out.

you probably just have to break through a layer off sludge or crud on the bearings I am guessing.

Also if you remove the rear cam Plug you can get a piece of wood or deadblow hammer to remove it that way too.

Greg

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Cant get to the rear plug, cause the engine is still in the truck. Pretty sure I could use a puller or slide hammer to force it, but worry that I’d move a cam bearing with no way to know it or fix it.

I've never hoid of that but it'd be super easy...just put a piece of all-thread into the cam hole, then use a 2" length of pipe and a nut and some washers to make a puller. The pipe would be larger than the can journal diameter and would touch the block. A 7/16-14 piece of all thread can exert all kinds of pulling force.

If your cam is that stuck, chances are the cam bearings are gonna be the wear item, not the cam. So I wouldn't worry much about damaging them....they're already damaged.

Not worried about wear, but about moving them in the block and not knowing it or being able to fix it. (Engine is still in the truck with pan in place) My most recent plan is to remove the gallery plug behind the cam gear, and make a pipe fitting funnel arrangement where I can keep the cam bearings flooded with solvent, and just work it gently til it comes free.

One idea is to thread-in a 7/16-14 stud until it bottoms-out, then grab the other end with a drill motor, spray everything with lube, spin while pulling froward.
You may have to "work-it" in & out for a while, to knock-down the high spot(s).
DD

ever get it out? Something that concerns me came up when I pulled the cam bearings out of my latest project slant and saw the chunks missing from its cam bearings. which may be what is holding you up. And which means the cam bearings would need changed out anyways.... and no, I don't think that cam removal would be the cause. Ive seen this before on other engines, that the cam came out fairly easily.... but something I seem to forget about at other times when I'm chasing an issue such as low oil pressure.

I've had great luck using brake cleaner with getting stuck lifters out of their bore's, don't know how it'd work with a cam? Spray and keep working them until they pop free. Good Luck

Thats how I got the lifters out, cause I’ve had BAD luck once using the “slide hammer” feature and busting the lip off a lifter once..Gumout and gentle persuasion. The cam is out. I made an extra long, 90’ tube for my gumout to spray cam journals while working it with a drill. Worked great.