replacing cam bearings?

[falcon fanatic]

I'm getting ready to swap in a hotter cam (264-12 ??) as the car just needs some horsepower above 4000 rpm. I'd much prefer to slip out the old and slip in the new and not deal with replacing the cam bearings. In fact, that might be a deal breaker for me, depending on how hard it is. I've always had a shop press in new bearing when they prep a block for me, so I've never actually done it. That and I've mostly worked on overhad cam engines.

Must I replace the bearings? How hard is it to do? I welcome all encouragement to skip this step. 8)

 

[CoupeBoy]

If your oil pressure is good and there are no hideous marks on the cam bearing journals I'd just stick the one back in there and go. I've done quite a few cam swaps and none have ever required new cam bearings.

stick it in and go.
-ron

 

[aahsac]

Agree with Coupeboy. Also, it's a pain in the butt to replace the bearings with the engine in the car or even on a stand.
If your oil pressure is fine I would stick it in and go. I don't know that the bearing journals will tell you much as they are so much harder than the bearings.
I have the Clay Smith 264-12-B and it likes it above 4k even with the adapter mounted small carb.

 

[Asa]

I don't know that the bearing journals will tell you much as they are so much harder than the bearings.

in light of that, you might want to see if you can find something like a bore viewer for a rifle, it lets you see down into something (like when you check the bore to make sure it's not damaged), it might aid you in inspecting the bearings

 

[64falconsix]

I agree unless you have low oil pressure I would not worry about changing the bearings .also unless bearing drivers have changed in design lately cam bearings have to be driven in or out from front to rear or reverse which means the engine would have to be out of the car to gain access of the rear bore plug.

 

[rbohm]

8) like the others have said, if your oil pressure is good, and you see no serious wear or damage on the bearings, leave them alone they will be fine. i changed the cam bearings in my old 289, and while the job itself was easy, i did have one issue when i installed the new cam. the rear bearing was a bit tight at first.

 

[350kmileford]

No one's mentioned lifters. Can you handle replacing those?

 

[falcon fanatic]

No one's mentioned lifters. Can you handle replacing those?

Yeah, that's a no brainer. I've rebuilt several engines, from MGB to Nissan to Honda. however, most of what I've worked on is overhaead cam, and the MGBs I've done I had the machine shop press in the cam bearing while they where prepping the block (hot tank, etc..), so I've never actually replaced cam bearing, that's all. Everything else is pretty easy for me, at this point.

 

[CoupeBoy]

so are you ready to just do it yet?