Howdy, I'm trying to get my cam bolt off to do an H/G replacement. Can't seem to get it, but a big part of that is keeping the cam from turning. I've tried wrapping some steel wires around it (broke a few wrapped together), but I'm worried about hurting the chain/cam. I've sprayed some Pb blaster on, we'll see what happens.

What's the proper way to "lock" the cam to remove the cam bolt? Or, what's the proper way that doesn't require an SST ;-)

 

When I did my timing chain I just left the truck in gear and the parking brake on and it came off easy.

 

Bout' the only way your gonna break those bolts lose (assuming it's the 3.0) is with an impact wrench, unless u have a an sst or can fab one up yourself. I did that job a year ago on my 95' and had to stop there because of the cams. Others have had good luck with jamming some sort of wedge between the gears and the block but i didn't like that very much. I would be most concerned with damaging the teeth on there. The impact takes em' right off, hope that helps

 

I'm considering locking the cam by putting a wrench on the crankshaft bolt and letting it lock against the frame. I'm worried about stretching/harming the chain though... is that a real concern?

 

Yeah, I figure that's equivalent to my idea of locking the crankshaft using a wrench on the crankbolt jammed against the frame (I've got an automatic, alas, so I probably can't get the truck into gear at this point). I'm still worried about applying that much force to the timing chain, reckon it wouldn't break but really don't want it stretched.

This is a 22re btw.

-Seth