How to Install Camshaft Bearings

-

RustyRatRod

I was born on a Monday. Not last Monday.
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
104,303
Reaction score
101,440
Location
Georgia
RustyRatRod submitted a new Article:

How to Install Camshaft Bearings

I have been wanting to do this for a while now and since I got my 383, no better time than the present.

This is how to install camshaft bearings.

Although this is for a Chrysler big block, the procedure is similar for most any domestic V8, V6, I6 or I4.

First, you need the right tool for the job. I've seen people use generic bushing drivers in the past, but the right tool makes it stupid proof and will provide good results every time. Mine is the Lisle 18000 universal camshaft bearing tool. It will install and remove camshaft bearings in just about any engine made and it's a very affordable tool. I paid 115 bucks shipped for mine. You can easily offset the cost by telling your friends you have the tool and doing it reasonable for them. Here's how it's done.

First, remove all the main caps so that you can see STRAIGHT through the oil passages through the camshaft bores.

View attachment 1714969750

Pay close attention to this picture. Camshaft bearings have a specific placement in the engine. Notice each one has a different part number. USUALLY, they are in the box in the correct order, but you always need to read the individual part numbers on the bearings themselves, since the human equation loaded the box.
View attachment 1714969752


The tool looks like this. It is an arbor with a screw in collet that expands as it tightens and has interchangeable collets that slide on top of it.
View attachment 1714969754


I start from the rear with Mopars since that bearing is the smallest. Here is the rear camshaft bearing in the tool and almost ready to install. You slide the tool with the bearing on it through the front of the engine and install the rear bearing from the front side.
View attachment 1714969755


You need to lube the bearings up as you install them. Omitting this will result in a difficult install and will gall the bearings on the back side causing metal chips to possibly fall into the engine. I use simple petroleum jelly to get the job done.
View attachment 1714969756


Lining up the bearings with the main oil passages is nothing short of critical. It is also equally important to line them up as accurately as possible. If you get one in too far, or off center with a passage, turn the tool around and knock the bearing out and reposition it, or knock it back lined up with the oil passage. It's that important.
View attachment 1714969757


Position the tool with the bearing at the start of the bore. Slide the plastic cone up tight against the front camshaft bearing bore. This centers the tool and keeps the bearing driving in straight. It is near bout impossible to drive a bearing crooked using this method. Remember when I said "stupid proof"?
View attachment 1714969758


Continue gently tapping the bearing into place until the the hole is lined up with the oil passage perfectly. You may need to loosen and remove the tool to check the position of the bearing. It should look like this when right.
View attachment 1714969762


Bearings with multiple holes can be tricky. Simply look closely at the bore it's designated for. Look at how the holes are spaced apart in the bore. Then look at the bearing. Notice here, how there are two holes close together. Those holes correspond with the two holes in the camshaft bore that feed the right and left lifter banks. No need saying how important lining up these holes is. Notice the two holes in the camshaft bearing bore.
View attachment 1714969763


Notice the two corresponding holes in the camshaft bearing. They line up with the two lifter galley feed holes in the bearing bore.
View attachment 1714969765


Notice the single hole in the bearing. As with the rear bearing, line this single hole up with the supply hole from the main bearing bore. lube the bearing up, line the single hole up with the main bearing supply passage and drive it in.


View attachment 1714969766

View attachment 1714969767


When in correctly, the main bearing supply passage will line up with the hole in the bearing and the two lifter galley supply holes will line up with the lifter supply passages. This is perhaps the most important thing to get nailed, balls out on the money. Again, it will look like above when correct.



View attachment 1714969768

The rest of the bearings only have one hole, so they are not as tricky. However, it is still equally important to line the passages up with the holes in the bearings perfectly. Line the hole up with the indention from the main bearing supply passage and drive in the lubed bearing. I knocked this one in a little too far, so I reversed the tool, came in from the rear and knocked it back in the proper location.
View attachment 1714969769

View attachment 1714969772

View attachment 1714969773


Continue on driving the bearings in in the same manner. Lube the bearing up good, line the hole up in the bearing with the main oil passage and drive the bearing in. I use a heavy hammer, because I do not like hitting the bearings very hard. Gentle taps is all it takes. Anything more and something is wrong.
View attachment 1714969775

View attachment 1714969776


Now, on the big block, the front camshaft bearing is pretty tricky. The main oil passage is at an angle going toward the front of the engine from the bottom. It is somewhat difficult to see the hole lined up. So, here is what I did. I positioned the hole in the bearing even with one of the slots in the collet. This gives a reference so you know where the hole is. Lube the bearing up, line the slot in the collet up with the main oil passage and drive it in. Make sure there are no metal chips anywhere by wiping everything down good, put the main caps back on and you're done.

View attachment 1714969777

I hope some of yall will jump on your own install after this. It's really very easy to do and you can get it dead on if you take your time and go slowly.

Please thank my beautiful wife Kitty for all of the pictures. I could not have done this without her. Thanks.

Rob

View attachment 1714969779

Read more about this article here...
 
Last edited:
Great job as always Rob. That is some much needed information right there. And with machine shops disappearing every day. Many of us need this info to get the job done ourselves. Great Idea about, buying the tool and spreading the cost with other motorheads
 
Great post Rusty, got a link and part number to where you got the tool? Oh almost forgot thanks to Kitty for the great Pic's.
 
I got the Lisle 18000 tool. I hawked Ebay until I found one on the cheap. lol They range from 120 to around 200 if someone thinks they are made of gold. Great tool It does a nice job.
 
Lisle is a very good tool co. They have made many specialty tools over the years.
 
I'm diggin the yellow crocs....

Dead on RRR! I bought a cam bearing tool 15 years ago for 90 bucks - very much worth it. They are nothing to be afraid of. Great pics of the process, too!
 
Nice write-up Rob!

Kitty did a great job on the pics. Nice and clear.
 
Awesome job, Rusty!
Diggin' the croc's..umm, yeah. Ok.
Appreciate the effort (and the pics....thanks, Kitty!) you put into this thread. Hell, I'd almost attempt it myownself about now.......if I couldn't con a shop into doin' it for me!
Kudos to you, bud!
 
Nice write up Rusty, and it's great to put a face with a name :glasses7:
I learned something here :glasses7: ok a few things :D

Is this where you want this thread at ? or moved ? and what thread ?
 
Nice honest intelligent write up, Robert. I really appreciate, the attention to details , on your "how to" posts. I've done this, not often enough to remember day to day. FWIW:Always have had good luck( sales & personal use) , with the Lisle company tool line. One, of my favorites.
 
Thanks Tim. I am glad you liked it.
 
Great job Rob. Kitty also with the pictures. Thanks for sharing and both your efforts.
Takes the uncertainness and fear right out of taking on the bearings ourselves.
You wouldn't happen to have one of those oil pump drive bushing installers
in your tool box. Have always wondered how those worked.
 
Thanks RRR. Good instruction is worth it's weight in gold.
 
Thanks for the how to RRR. Just a little info the Lisle 18000 can be had at Amazon for under 145.00.

Anyone have a line on a good bushing driver set, that will do a 727 & 904 bushings ? And a good step by step like RRR would be great too.
 
Harbor Freights' bushing driver set might have the right sizes. On the Lisle deal I did not think it'd be worth it for only several uses till my shop quoted me 60-100 (likely cuz of the offset tendency of the 440 bore alignment requiring extra work)!
 
Nice!!!! "How to" with pictures, step by step will help folks for years......
 
Thanks. I am glad yall like it. I had almost forgotten about this.
 
-
Back
Top