bugs1961

A question on how to remove the crank and cam bolts seems to come up fairly often and I have described the tool I made for the job several times, but to help with the search function I thought I'd make it a thread.

You can build a tool at home that makes the job of removing the bolts simple and quick. In picture 2, I drew a diagram of the tool showing the dimensions and layout. Picture 3 shows the tool in the crank bolt configuration ready to be bolted onto the crank pulley. Picture 1 shows the cam bolt removal configuration.

Materials:

- One 4-foot long piece of steel barstock. Cut one foot off to have a 3-foot and a 1-foot section. The barstock is 2 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick.

- One 3/8" x 1" bolt and nut, and 2 washers. Used to attach the two pieces of barstock. Grade 5 or 8.

- Two 7/16" x 2.5" bolts, 4 nuts, and 4 washers. Used in the cam configuration to go between the spokes of the cam pulley. Grade 8.

- Two 8mm x 1.25 x 40mm bolts and two washers. Used to bolt the tool to the crank pulley. Get grade 10.9 bolts and washers or they will bend the first time you use them and will have to be replaced each time. (I'm a slow learner on this one!)

Bolt the tool onto the crank pulley where the threaded holes (8mm x 1.25) are and it will hit either the floor or frame and stop the crank from turning while you remove or install and torque the crank bolt.

Install the two 7/16" bolts in the tool and it can be use to hold the cam pulley from turning while loosening or re-torquing the cam bolts. Place the bolts through the openings between the spokes of the pulley and then use a pipe on a breaker bar to loosen the cam bolt while you hold the tool to keep it from turning. Don't be surprised when the cam bolts make a sound like a gun going off when they break free--it's normal.

Take care and have a great day,
Bugs

bugs1961

bump

Make this tool and never have a problem removing or reinstalling cam or crank pulleys again!

TehDago

Great idea!!

I just made this tool, and improved upon the design slightly. Where you drilled the 2 x 9/16" holes I drilled 2x smaller holes. Just large enough for the 8mm x 1.25 x 40mm bolts for the crank pully. This should help with the bending. I drilled the holes for the 7/16" about 1/2" inward.

Thanks for the idea!

arielb1

Thanks for taking the time to share this.

This is fantastic..thank you, Bugs

Tubbyfatty

Ive made this tool before, works great.

But getting the crank bolt loose is easy if its still in the truck, and you have a manual, just put it in 5th with the e brake on.

weaselman

make this a sticky!! lol

jasonbrink

X2!
This tool was indispensable in the timing belt/cam & crank seal/water pump replacement I did last year. Along with air tools for the cam and crank bolts.

Thanks again Bugs!
Jason

betelnut

Wish I'd done this when I did my t-belt. My method was fugly.

Small addition:

To break the bolts, use a 1/2" drive breaker bar and sockets (IIRC, 17mm on cam, 19mm on crank), and have a good cheater bar around. A 3/8" drive breaker (or adaptor) is NOT strong enough, and a 1/2" drive ratchet is NOT strong enough. Must be a 1/2" drive breaker bar and sockets, no less.

Tubbyfatty

My crank bolt is a 21mm....haha but I get what you mean

weaselman

what crank pulley bolt are you using!?
v6?

Tubbyfatty

Yeah. Its a 20 or 21, 19 doesnt fit haha

weaselman

just goes to show how much i kno abt that stupid v6... lol. just kidding.. my specialty is my 22re tho.

n2o302

Hey guys just to let you know I didn't have to even fab that tool I gave it a shot with my brothers 1/2" Impact gun and it loosened both cam sprocket bolts like nothing with out the camsprocket moving at all was really surprised I thought that they weren't torqued on tight and maybe I was lucky so I tested the impact on spare 3.O motor with 190,xxx miles and still stock down to the original hdgskts and it loosend both cam bolts like nothing.

Larryb

I wish i was so lucky. My 1/2" impact would not budge the cam shafts or crankshaft bolts. I even borrowed my buddies MAC impact with no luck so i fabricated the Crankshaft and Camshaft Bolt Removal Tool. My cam bolts were so tight that i actually bent the tool loosening the cam bolts. Either someone was pissed off that day or had one hell of a impact gun when they installed the cam bolts. The crankshaft bolt came right off with the tool, definitely handy to have.

betelnut

Hey n2o302, without the tool, how will you torque them back down?

betelnut

Nevermind, I found the answer on the Internets. I feel like such a noob.

a4runnerfreak

ok, thats great, but what if you have an impact that has an adjustable setting?

874runnersr5

your kidding right...they make torque wrenchs for a reason.

toylocost

I leave the timing belt on and zap em with the impact. Takes about 30 seconds lol.

a4runnerfreak

No, was being sarcastic....without being too sarcastic.....