Cams on the 3.Sl0w
 

I have finally gotten the heads removed and am getting the valve job done for about $70 per head at a performance shop here localy. All that should go well, but I did notice some funny wear on the cams. I also did not see any bearings around the cams. Do they only run with an oil bearing or is there a machined piece that is no longer there?

Anyone have pictures of their disassembled cam?

they are oil bearing type deal...i done the same opperation and seemed stomped when i didn't see any bearings...check out a haynes toyota repair manual.. it tells u how to assemble the cams step buy step...u have to have the right clearence between the cam and the cam caps...

If your cams are worn you are screwed. Buy some rebuilt heads it will be cheaper.

70 bucks a head for a regrind is very cheap. I'd be scared because it is a lot of work to grind the valves and then most machine shope will grind the end of the valves to get the clearances right instead of buying new shims at about 10 bucks apiece.

This shop that I found does real good work. It turns out that one of my valves was bad, so I will have to pick that up and bring it to them with the valve stem seals and maybe new shims, although the shims looked in perfect condition. I'll buy them so as not to get the markup for them purchasing them. They are going to then do a full valve job, surfacing and set the valve gaps. All this should be no more then $300. These guys are very knowledgable and reasonable. They do a lot of custom work as well.

As for the metalic oil that was in there, I think that still may be my main bearings. :( They can rebuild those as well. All in all I think I am going to be able to rebuild this engine for under $1000 doing most the labor myself. In that case I keep the 3.0 until I win the lotto!!!!