looking to purchase a camshaft for my 87 22re, am i going to be able to change it without replacing the headgasket?

just lookin for any tips or advise.

 

some people have reported being able to do it.
the problem is you have to remove the rocker shafts to get to the cam bearing caps, and the rocker shafts are held down by the head bolts. once those bolts are out, it doesn't take very much to shift the head.

 

Did you buy the cam off the Vancouver CL for $20 or something? I saw that one.

You might be able to take cam straps (for holding canoes etc to the roof of the truck) and hold the head down tight.

 

You are just asking for problems if you do not replace the head gasket. Since the head bolts have to be removed in order to access the cam, replace both gasket and head bolts. Cheap insurance if you are spending money an a new cam.

 

It's doable for sure.. and FYI you can't shift the head unless you deliberately try to. Theres two guide pins ontop of the block that the head fits onto that align it.

The issue is fluids leaking once the pressure has been released (ie undoing the headbolts). Which could possibly cause issues (like coolant seaping between the HG and the block and the head).

I've thought about this process for installing a new cam without the HG before but when i did mine i was installing a new head.. =p

To be safe, I'd drain the coolant and as mentioned by someone else, use some ratchet straps to keep the head down for caution.

but I think it's totally doable.