some_punk

As I was pulling the cam out, the last bit looks like it scored the bearing.








Does it look like I should replace it, I can feel it with my finger nails on the bit closest to the front? Whats the easiest way to replace it if I should?

LQC4

iTrader: (1)

If you can feel it with your fingernail, I would def. replace it. Better safe than sorry. There is another thread I just read on here tonight from a guy that replaced his front cam bearing using a universal seal and bearing install kit from harbor freight using the 59mm adaptor. http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piec...set-95853.html

I am personally going to be replacing the cam bearings in my lq4 this weekend or next week so I have not attempted to use this kit yet, so I don't know how it will work or if it will do all the bearings or just the front and rear. Here is another thread from a different forum...
http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332821

Good luck!

some_punk

problem is i cant move the car at all and it is in a position that I cant pull out the engine

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

You should be able to knock the front bearing out (into the engine) and it would fall on the crank. You would then obviously need to fish it out, then tap a new bearing through the front. Done. Fishing the old bearing out would be the hardest with the oil pan in the way.

joecar

You might get clever with a 3 legged puller and a slide hammer.

CRAZZ28

iTrader: (13)

it should be ok to run it that way. Mine looked worse than that when i swapped cams and oil pressure wasn't affected at all. I personally wouldn't change just one cam bearing. Its either all or nothing.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Considering the front bearing takes all the abuse from the downward force of the timing chain sprocket I would say it was worth it to change it.

CRAZZ28

iTrader: (13)

True. But the part that makes me say all or nothing is the tolerances in the motor. When all of the cam bearings are worn the cam will sit evenly. with a new bearing up front your cam COULD be a few thousandths of an inch higher in the front than in the back depending on how worn the rest of the bearings are, possibly causing that one new bearing to wear incorrectly and fail prematurely.

BlackScreaminMachine

iTrader: (17)

Unfortunately the Front cam bearing always looks beat up but that should not be an issue for pulling or as mentioned pushing it into the block and fishing it out.

SilverSS

iTrader: (30)

replace it if it makes you feel better. it will be okay if you don't. I've seen this dozens of time without a problem.

KCS

iTrader: (20)

I'd say it's fine. Maybe hit it very lightly with green schotchbrite and clean with laquer thinner.

5.3LJimmy

iTrader: (10)

This is what I would do. Just smooth the ridges with the scotch bright and let it eat. The engine oil creates a barrier between the cam and the bearing. Meaning the cam actually rides on a film of oil and not the bearing itself. The only time the cam should contact the bearing is on start up before the oil pressure builds. So polishing the surface to prevent galling is all you need to do.

Damian

iTrader: (89)

Agreed.

I've seen cam bearings way more boogered up than that one. Of course the pic may not do it justice, but as long as nothing is catching your finger nail when you rub across it than your fine. Scuff it up with a non-metal scotch bright, hit it with a very light dose of brake parts cleaner and you're good to go. I would recommend getting some Lucas "Oil Treatment" and using that as your cam lube. It's much thicker than assembly lube and provides a better cushion.

some_punk

I just tried the scotchbrite and brake clean thing, now my fnger nail doesnt get caught on the bearing anymore, but would that have removed too much material?

KCS

iTrader: (20)

It can if you rub it long enough, but I don't think that it would be a good idea. You really just want to remove any burrs that may be sticking up that would scratch the journal of the cam. The little grooves shouldn't hurt anything.

some_punk

looks like i am going to stick it in tomorow and see what happens later

Haans249

iTrader: (24)

Good choice. Your cam bearing looked ok.

O2Form

You could measure the bearing and see where its at size wise compared to the cam journal. I seriously don't think its a problem though.

some_punk

well I just installed all the heads and cam, torqued the heads 30/50/75 with arp head bolts