Camshaft: Service and Repair

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove engine cover, then drain cooling system and oil pan.
3. Remove coil wires, then the spark plug wires and bracket from intake manifold.
4. Disconnect fuel pipes and clips from pushrod cover.
5. Remove two pushrod cover outboard attaching nuts, then loosen two inboard nuts.
6. Install one 6 mm hex nut on each of the two inboard studs, then jam nuts together.
7. Using a suitable wrench on inner nut, unscrew studs until cover breaks loose.
8. After breaking cover loose, remove jammed nuts from each stud, then remove pushrod cover from studs.
9. On models equipped with power steering, remove power steering reservoir from the fan shroud.
10. On all models, remove upper fan shroud.
11. Remove accessory drive belt, as required.
12. Remove fan and pulley, crankshaft pulley and crankshaft hub.
13. Remove timing gear front cover attaching bolts and the front cover.
14. Remove distributor cap and distributor.
15. Remove oil pump driveshaft and cover, then the air cleaner assembly and EGR valve.
16. Disconnect vacuum lines from intake manifold and thermostat housing.
17. Disconnect spark plug wires from rocker arm cover, as required.
18. Remove rocker arm cover, then the pushrods, lifter guides and lifters.
19. On models equipped with automatic transmission, disconnect transmission cooler lines from radiator.
20. On all models, disconnect hoses from radiator and remove radiator from vehicle.
21. On models equipped with A/C, remove A/C condenser baffles, then unfasten compressor, raise and block in position.
22. On all models, remove headlamp bezel, grille, then the bumper filler panel.
23. Remove cam thrust plate bolts, then plate.
24. Carefully remove camshaft from engine. Support the camshaft carefully to avoid damage to the camshaft bearings.

INSTALLATION
Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
1. Lubricate camshaft journals with suitable engine oil supplement.
2. Slide camshaft into engine block, using care to avoid damaging bearings or cam.
3. Rotate crankshaft and camshaft until valve timing marks on gear teeth are aligned, then install camshaft thrust plate-to-block attaching screws and tighten to specification.
4. Slide hub onto crankshaft with keyway in hub and key on crankshaft aligned, then install center bolt and tighten to specifications.
5. Install valve lifters, pushrods, pushrod side cover, oil pump shaft and gear assembly.
6. Rotate crankshaft 360°F to firing position of No. 1 cylinder, then install distributor in original position, aligning shaft so rotor arm points toward No. 1 cylinder spark plug contact.
7. Pivot rocker arms over pushrods, then tighten rocker arm bolt to specifications with lifters on base circle of camshaft.
8. Install water pump pulley and fan assembly, A/C condenser (if equipped) and radiator. Tighten water pump to specifications.
9. Refill cooling system and crankcase.