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Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 10:29 pm
by DatsunNoob
Hi, I'm dismantling an R16 and have run into a problem removing the camshaft.
The cam retainer came off easily and the camshaft moves about 2 mm front to rear but the front most lobe (number 1 exhaust, I think) bumps against the front cam bearing.
I always thought the lobes were smaller than the bearing. This seems to not be the case.
My question is simply how do I remove the camshaft? Do I need to pull the front bearing first?
Thanks!

Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 10:33 pm
by Habitat.pat
Cam lobes should go through the bearings. Did you pull the distributor/oil pump drive gear?
Peace,
Pat
Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 10:42 pm
by spl310
Did you invert the block to get the lifters out of the way?
Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:02 pm
by david premo
If you don’t invert the block you need to hold every lifter up to get the cam out.
Dave
I have never tried to hold all the lifters up, that would take a lot of magnets to pull it off, I just turn the block over.
Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:27 am
by DatsunNoob
The block is inverted, I think I've got the lifters out of the way but I will double check those.
Really frustrating as the cam rotates fairly freely and does have that forward/backward movement but it bumps into a hard stop and I don't really see what that is.
I'll get back to it later and report back what I did to resolve it.
thanks!
Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:27 pm
by Bwk2000
Fuel pump off? (I’m reaching. All the good reasons were already taken

)
Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:49 pm
by spl310
The only things that I recall that would stop the cam from coming out are the retainer, the lifters, the fuel pump and the distributor gear - you have to pull the distributor base to get it out. The oil pump may be in the way as well. It's been a while since I have been inside a block.
Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:37 pm
by unklpat
Also, a little bit of play at the front of the motor can cause the cam to hit the bushings at the rear. Do take all the lifters out. Pat
Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 9:08 am
by Bwk2000
Any updates on your progress John?
Re: Cam Removal help needed
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 7:16 pm
by DatsunNoob
Got to it this morning. Unfortunately I don't have a definitive answer as I turned it over upside down, gave the cam a couple of taps and it popped loose.
I suspect that it was hung up on a lifter because when I left it, I turned it right side up and spun the cam several turns. I think this pushed the lifter out of the way for me this morning.
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