Swapping cams for a buddy, everything was going smooth as silk. Springs only took about an hour, and then got to the cam. Went to slide the JPR Lifter rods in, didnt want to go in. inspected everything, spun the cam again attempting to lock the lifters up, slid the rods in, then the cam would not spin anymore, nor would it come out. And I am not talking like being scared of the initial cam bearing lobe drop or something, like pulled hard, spinning and not, slid for and aft quickly no dice. Cam does not want to come out. Troubleshooting, the lifters are not fully going up or something. Was able to put the drivers side rod in, after a heavy coat of thick, cold oil, and the cam would still spin, but...as soon as the pass. side rod goes in, the cam will not spin anymore. I put pushrods in the lifter holes to watch the lifter actions, and oddly enough, when spinning the cam and placing light pressure on the p.rod, it feels like the cam lobe is more like a camel double hump rather than an egg shape. Following the lobe around, the p.rod raises slightly, then drops, then raises again like it should, it does this on #2 Exhaust and #4 intake, not sure of #6 & 8 though. Other p.rods follow up the egg pattern, then drop.
Car is an 02 SS, 11,000miles, fresh oil change, but the oil looks like ****, kind of watered down or something, no unusual smell like gas or antifreeze and its Mobil 1 5w-30. I am waiting for tomorrow morning to try some pen magnets on the pass side, and if it works inspect the cam for a possible turned lifter or something.

Charlie

 

TTT

 

Could it just be the journal getting stuck in the cam bearing area. If the cam isn't at the right angle it will feel stuck. You probably already know this but just trying to help. Otherwise sounds like a lifter has dropped. That would suck. Gook luck man.

 

I don't think the lifter dropped, it's like they won't stay up long enought to get the tool in.

We put the pushrods back in and turned the cam, all move up and down


I just did a cam swap the night before on my car, I had no problem what so ever

We're going to get some pen magnets tomorrow to hold the lifters up long enough to get the tool in, hopefully it works

 

I had a similar problem. I bought 16 pen magnets and raised the lifters. It took some trial and error, but the cam eventually came out. When the magnet attaches to the lifter you can feel it. Try pulling up on each lifter then try to remove the cam. If you got the JPR rods in there chances are you didn't drop a lifter. Leave the rods in and get the pen magnets. You'll get it eventually. Good luck!!!!

 

Well, dropped lifter is impossible at this point. The stock is in, hasnt come out yet and everything we tried couldnt get it to come out. Not stuck on the bearing for sure. It is something to do with a lifter, but not sure what as I have never encountered this problem before. The cam will slip for and aft about half a journal, about 3/8" I guess, but thats it. I tried letting it rest in the rear position and quickly pulling it out, nope, it stops banging on a lifter or something, but you can hear it. Wierd.

 

I've had this problem in the past, but not exactly as you describe. I was able to get the cam out about 6" (4 lobes exposed) and then it would hang up on something. I tried the pen magnets, but had no success until using the JPR tool. Funny thing is on the second cam install I had the same problem even with the JPR tool. I had to put the cam back in and try removing it several times until it finally got past the 4th lobe. Just plain old trial and error and a lot of curse words got the job done. In your case I would lube everything real well and insert the JPR tool that allows the cam to still turn after it is fully seated. Then I'd begin inserting the JPR rod on the other side all the while spinning the cam as you slowly push the tool into the block. You may be able to get it to work this way if you can keep the cam spinning until the tool is fully home. I would spin the cam in BOTH directions as you are inserting the rods. If this doesn't work you may be able to at least pinpoint the problem area once you reach the point where the cam will no longer spin as you insert the tool. The lifters are NOT supposed to be able to rotate. The only way a lifter could rotate is if the plastic retainer was damaged. The flat on the inside of the retainer face would have to be fractured or worn badly. By the time that happened you would have most likely experienced a catastrophic engine failure. That would be highly unusual. It would be interesting to know why you are feeling this double hump effect. You may end up having to pull the heads as much as your not looking forward to doing that, but if a retainer is damaged you've got no other choice. I would lean more toward the lifter sticking inside of the lifter bore or in the plastic retainer rather than the cam lobe actually having two humps like a double hump camel being the cause of why it feels that way.

 

The JPR is fine on the left side, cam will still spin. Put it in the rt side and it almost instantly binds the cam from spinning. Depending on the cam lobes once out, will be either pull heads or install new cam. Will try more tomorrow.

 

The tool just by being inserted should not cause the cam to bind. That's what's wierd about your problem. The tool does not touch the camshaft itself and only touches the lifters on the outside at the edge where the step is located that the JPR tool uses to keep the lifter from falling. The only thing I can think of that MIGHT cause this problem is if that first lifter on the side your having the problem on is all the way DOWN as you begin to insert the tool and the tool instead of holding the lifter up is actually holding the lifter down which would keep the cam from rotating. Maybe you can try to pull that first lifter up with a magnet and then begin to insert the JPR tool while at the same time spinning the cam in both directions. What else can you do short of pulling the heads which you might end up doing if you believe one of the plastic lifter retainers has been damaged. You can NOT take a chance on restarting that motor if you believe you have a damaged retainer. If you try using a magnet you should be able to actually feel the liter move up and down as you move the magnet up and down much the same way the pushrod moves up and down when the cam rotates. If you can feel the 1st lifter move freely then you can move on to the next lifter using the magnet to check for lifter freeplay by moving the magnet until you have checked all the lifters on that side.

 

Were you able to get the JPR tool all the way in on the right side? Since the left side is secured, I would take 8 pen magnets and attach them to the right side lifters, then pull out the right side JPR tool so you have the left side lifters held up with the JPR tool and the right side held with just the magnets. Then pull on the pen magnets and see if the cam slides out. If not keep playing with the pen magnets and try again to pull out the cam. Eventually you will have all the lifters clearing the cam and should be able to pull it out. It might take a few tries playing with the pen magnets. Don't be quick to discount this because it worked for me.

Hang in there, you'll get it!!

 

Hang on! I'll be right over. We'll get that sucker out

 

If all fail. Pull the heads and lifters out.
Do not force it by any means.

 

What do you guys think, if I use the pen magnets and get the jrp tool in everything should be good if the cam looks alright?

 

Andrew, thats my plan. Use the 8 pens to pull the lifters, up, try inserting the rod, and see if its the same thing? If its not locking the cam, then pull it, inspect the lobes and continue on. If its still binding, put it the **** back together and send it the dealer for warranty

eallan, was able to spin the cam (rod holding the left side up) with p.rods sitting on the lifters, watched the lifter go up, and insert the rod, and it can make it past the 1st lifter, sometimes, then end ups locking on a different lifter. So, we tried spinning the cam, insert the rod lifter by lifter, that didnt work to well either. Seems to get caught up on something and the only thing I can think it is, would be a lifter. I agree it seems it trapping the lifter in the down position but cant understand why. Well, will see this morning.

 

Thats just wrong man!

 

Yeah if the cam looks good then slap the new one in and let it ride!!

 

I would pull the heads and check the rest in there.better safe than sorry.

 

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...t=2002+lifters

 

you the man Scoob.

 

With only 11K miles on the car, just spin the cam and pull it out. The lifter retainers are still new enough that they will hold them up.