Cam install in Cold Weather? Ok / Bad idea
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 112
A tip that may help
I did heads and cam last winter here in Toronto (cold) and I broke a couple of vaccuum lines and a wiring harness end before I decided to heat all of those connections with a heat gun before taking them apart. It seemed to help make them more pliable and I didn't break anything after I started doing that (evidently, I am a slow learner). Older, brittle plastic plays a role as well.
As long as you're dressed for it, doing the work at that time of year is actually much more pleasant than sweating like a pig in July.
Good luck
As long as you're dressed for it, doing the work at that time of year is actually much more pleasant than sweating like a pig in July.
Good luck
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 501
From: Monmouth County, NJ
I've been working on my motor the past few weeks in a cold garage. It helps to have a bright flood lamp to light everything up, the one I have gives off quite a bit of heat so I would put it close to me and it would keep me pretty warm. Even to the point where I would sweat in a decent jacket.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 329
From: Sugar Grove, ILLINOIS
I don't agree. Any engine related work should be done in a controled temp during assembly. There is a lot of expansion and contraction. I would at the very least install the cam when the block and cam are not cold. Not a big issue once it is installed with lube on it.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,800
I would not go trying to install a hot(tempature wise) cam in a zubzero block or anything as it may be slightly harder to slip past bearing but as long as it is all similar temps it will be fine.
I have a couple halogens and a infared bulb meant for those bathroom heat lamps I use to warm stuff up in winter so I can work in comfort. I find it helps motre to warm the objects you are handling than to worry about air temps. Long as the objects are warm and you are moving air temp is not that big a deal.
I have a couple halogens and a infared bulb meant for those bathroom heat lamps I use to warm stuff up in winter so I can work in comfort. I find it helps motre to warm the objects you are handling than to worry about air temps. Long as the objects are warm and you are moving air temp is not that big a deal.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,092
From: lakeville, pa
just be careful of the plastic connectors
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 459
I did heads and cam last winter here in Toronto (cold) and I broke a couple of vaccuum lines and a wiring harness end before I decided to heat all of those connections with a heat gun before taking them apart. It seemed to help make them more pliable and I didn't break anything after I started doing that (evidently, I am a slow learner). Older, brittle plastic plays a role as well.
As long as you're dressed for it, doing the work at that time of year is actually much more pleasant than sweating like a pig in July.
Good luck
As long as you're dressed for it, doing the work at that time of year is actually much more pleasant than sweating like a pig in July.
Good luck
