In a 3rd gen TA, Can the cam be swapped with the moter in the car. This might be common knowledge, but i have never tried this before in a f-body and want' for sure if there is enough room for it.

Thanks

 

thats iffy...never did it tho, i just take the motor right out...

 

I have no experience with it, but a guy I know that rebuilds engines with his dad told me he took the front end off of his f body and the cam comes right straight out.

 

take out the radiator and the A/C condensor and it should come out.

 

I just did a cam swap about three weeks ago on an '88 with a 385 in it. Like mentioned above, remove the radiator and a/c condenser and you will have enough room to pull the cam out.

 

i bet its a bitch tho

 

I have heard that you need to take the front clip off, as well as a few other things that may get in your way. IOW, a BIG pain in the ace!

 

i doubt you gotta take the front clip off, i think if you get the radiator and ac condenser out you should be good....alot of people have this vision that a cam is like 18 feet long or something, btu they aren't, they are actaully quite small when you see them in person...i just think leaning into the engine bay bent over would just be a bitch and try to slip a cam in a hole at the same time...it can be done, have fun

 

^You are right, they *do* seem like they would be long, but in reality are like.. 2 feet long. But still, there is a LOT of stuff in the way. Besides, who in the HELL wants to stand squatted over the engine bay for hours on end

 

yes u can do it with the motor in the car, i just did a cam in my 91 z28 this weekend, what i did was removed the rad and just took the ac condensor(sp) and moved it forward then lifted it up on the side and tied it there while i did it, so i would not have to recharge the ac. the only problem i had was the last 2 inches and the frist 2 inches on the new cam cause of that x brace infront of the rad, but it was worked around very easy, good luck with urs

 

Thanks guys. The motor just went in the car not too long ago, so that is why i don't want to pull the entire engine out to change the cam, i expected to remove the radiator and i have already gotten rid of the condenser.

matt