Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

cam install from hell!! Pulley problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-25-2004, 01:55 AM
  #1  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
BriancWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Garage
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default cam install from hell!! Pulley problems

I did my cam swap and valvetrain upgrade Fri nite, no problem. When I went to put my new March UD pulley on it was just soooo tight. I tried the longer bolt but it just won't go. Got tired of screwing with it because I want to here this thing run, so I decide to put the stock one back on. Well the bolt I was using was a stock one with 1" added below the head via cutting/welding. The March pulley was so tight it had twisted the "added" part which is smaller diameter, to the extent it broke after barely starting the stock pulley on. There is about 1/4" sticking out of the crank and it is stuck!!! I am going to haul the car to my shop tomorrow and weld a wrench to it and try that. Are the pulleys that hard to seat back on??? What am I doing wrong?? A buddy and me have spent countless hours on what should have been one of the most simplest parts of the install. Someone please help as I am about to find the tallest bridge around and jump!!!!
Old 07-25-2004, 02:09 AM
  #2  
10 Second Club
 
Dustin 98TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Baton Rouge,LA
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I always take a propane torch and heat the inside of the pulley, usually it will slide right on.
Old 07-25-2004, 02:30 AM
  #3  
TECH Senior Member
 
PREDATOR-Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: BFE
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Dustin 98TA
I always take a propane torch and heat the inside of the pulley, usually it will slide right on.
I stuck mine in the oven at 250 for 5>10 min so it expends.
Old 07-25-2004, 02:30 AM
  #4  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
BriancWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Garage
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by Dustin 98TA
I always take a propane torch and heat the inside of the pulley, usually it will slide right on.
I've done the heat the carrier, freeze the bearing deal and it does work, but I was concerned about the fluid dampened March pulley. Would heating it be okay? Also when you say "slide" on, do you mean by hand or with the bolt. Hopefully I can get that bolt out, right now that has me worried
Old 07-25-2004, 02:33 AM
  #5  
TECH Senior Member
 
PREDATOR-Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: BFE
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

No with the bolt, on a cold engine with a little bit of lube on the crank area.
Old 07-25-2004, 04:29 AM
  #6  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
GTS346's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Even standard crank pulleys are a PITA to do.

Especially in the cold winter months here in Aus, today it took me about 1/2 hour to get the pulley on, once lined up I had 2 rubber mallets and kept hitting it around and even until I could get the bolt just enough til it held force on the pulley so it would bounce back and kept hitting with rubber mallets slowly and nipping up the bolt bit by bit.

I think next time I will use the torch and heat it up.

Lucky the engine was on the stand, in the car forget about it.
Old 07-25-2004, 09:16 AM
  #7  
TECH Addict
 
Another_User's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I'll vouch for the March pulley being tighter than the rest. It was an MFer. I used a threaded rod, a really big washer and a nut to push it on. I was so worried I was going to strip the threads out of the crank because it was tight as heck.
Old 07-25-2004, 12:49 PM
  #8  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
BriancWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Garage
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

I'm fixin to take it to my shop and try to get the bolt out, if I do I'm definately gonna heat the pulley. Thanks for everyones responses.
Old 07-25-2004, 01:40 PM
  #9  
TECH Junkie
 
Mike K.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Lakeland, FL
Posts: 3,242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

My ATI pulley was tight as hell, I was able to get it on by heating the hub in boiling water for a few minutes, using some antiseize lube and using the ARP bolt with no washer until I could get enough threads in to use the washer. Even still I had to use a shitload of force to get it on there.


Goot luck getting the bolt out for the pulley and lets us know how it goes.
Old 07-25-2004, 02:21 PM
  #10  
10 Second Club
iTrader: (8)
 
HAMRHEAD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 2,846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Putting them in the oven works! Just feels weird and takes awhile to explain to the wife what the hell your doing in her kitchen.
Old 07-25-2004, 03:08 PM
  #11  
TECH Enthusiast
 
kenkaru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I installed new timing chain gears so I placed the old crank gear against the pulley and wailed on it with a hammer to get it started enough to use the bolt
Old 07-25-2004, 03:45 PM
  #12  
King of Pigskin Knowledge
iTrader: (7)
 
BuckeyeROC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Ohio
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

So it is ok to put them in the oven @ 250* F with the fluid? I need to put a March on soon.
Old 07-25-2004, 05:22 PM
  #13  
TECH Addict
 
Another_User's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I put the end only in boiling water...no good. When you are going to put it on you should cover the crank snout in anti-sieze. Supposedly better than oil...I guess it helped. I hate that stuff because it gets on everything and never wants to come off.
Old 07-25-2004, 08:56 PM
  #14  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (25)
 
2xLS1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Warr Acres, OK
Posts: 5,649
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by kenkaru
I installed new timing chain gears so I placed the old crank gear against the pulley and wailed on it with a hammer to get it started enough to use the bolt
That is a good way to ruin the thrust bearing for the crank.
Old 07-25-2004, 09:01 PM
  #15  
Staging Lane
 
XIII's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Houston - Clear Lake
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 2xLS1
That is a good way to ruin the thrust bearing for the crank.

What are the symptoms of a ruined thrust bearing?
Old 07-25-2004, 09:08 PM
  #16  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Squintz Palladoris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Fayettenam, North Cakalki
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I just did heads n cam for a freind. He had the march pulley. I Used a brass tipped hammer and tapped (not wailed) on it untill I could get about 4 turns on the crank bolt. It took a long time to get it that far.

When I do mine I will put it in the oven and put some ice on the crank snout.
Dont worry about getting the pulley hot. How hot do you think it gets when its on the motor? Over 200 degrees I would be willing to bet!

Brad
Old 07-26-2004, 01:02 AM
  #17  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
BriancWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Garage
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Well the beast is alive again, I started it up around 5:00 sun afternoon. I wound up going and getting my welder and bringing it to the house and welding a wrench to the broken bolt. The Miller welder did the trick and I popped her loose. I then heated the pulley in a toaster oven outside the house, and got it on the crank. It was all down hill from there. Suprisingly the car fired right up without even turning over a complete revolution. It idled fine for a minute or two and then it wanted to die unless I kept it alive. I have driven it 100 miles or so and it still won't idle. When I come to a light or a stop sign I have to throw it in N and pedal it to keep it from dieing. My appointment at TEA for a tune on Aug 2nd is going to be a long wait.
Old 07-26-2004, 03:55 AM
  #18  
TECH Senior Member
 
PREDATOR-Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: BFE
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

Glad the oven trick worked for you.
Old 07-26-2004, 07:45 AM
  #19  
TECH Enthusiast
 
kenkaru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by kenkaru
I installed new timing chain gears so I placed the old crank gear against the pulley and wailed on it with a hammer to get it started enough to use the bolt
maybe "wailed" was too strong of a word I would say I tapped around to the perimeter of the gear as evenly as I could. I don't know if that's still bad for the thrust bearing though
Old 07-26-2004, 05:21 PM
  #20  
TECH Addict
 
Another_User's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I wanted to hammer my pulley on so bad. But I resisted. Don't do it!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:39 AM.