Hey guys.

Doing a cam install in my buddy's 5.3. Got everything off including the retainer plate. I used small magnets to hold my lifters up when I did mine but, I don't have them with me.

He has 3/8" dowel rods. Will they work? I sanded down so one side has a flat edge but, when I insert them, put a pushrod in to push on the lifter and spin the cam the lifter still feels like it rides up & down on the cam. Does the dowel rod rest on the side of the lifter body and hold it in place with pressure or does it actually go underneath the lifter & hold it up? Also, when I start to pull the cam out maybe 1" it stops and it feels like it's hitting a lifter. Any help would be appreciated guys!!

 

It just pushs on the side of the lifter i think, iv never done it that way, I just leave all the push rods setting on the lifters then push them down then spin the cam to see if any fall. If one falls then thats the problem for shur, if you sanded down the rod on one side then put it in and it gets tight then this should hold your lifter but you will have to have it sanded down perfect other wise it wont hold all the lifters.

 

Spin the cam to seat the lifters in the trays. Install the unsanded 3/8 dowels. Use 2 water pump bolts to pull the cam or if you have a one bolt cam use the oem bolt to help with leverage (remove after half way). Once the cam is off the bearing journal let the back down some so it won't get hung up on the lifters and keep removing. Spin the cam at every journal as you get to it to make sure the lifters stayed up. Be careful of the bearings when pulling the cam. It should come farely easy. Sorry for the rushed reply. You get the point. I've done many cams and never had a issue with this method.

 

It's almost like the cam is stuck on a lifter. It will only come out maybe an inch or so then it will not come out any fitter even though I'm spinning the cam as I am trying to take it out.

 

Dont they and pull the cam if theres a lifter falling, Iv had them fall before, you dont want them falling once the cams out

 

3/8" dowels wont fit unless you grind or sand them 5/16" dowels work well too. Just put a little leverage on the water pump bolts and it should keep coming. Gotta try keep it straight.

 

what he said, but I used 5/16 steel brake line. better choice in my opinion..

 

Yea you don't want any wood to scrap off it get into your engine. I would get a steel dowel rod from lowes or a brake line like he said. I didn't want to run to the store so we used an aluminum arrow cut in half when we did mine