Don't worry, not another thread on cam timing! '95 355. I'm trying to undo the bolts on the cam pulleys so I can time my cams but they are 'F' tight. Anybody know any nifty tricks for getting these bolts out? I've tried locking the cams with the 'match book" trick but the cams still turn. I'm thinking of taking the cams out and putting the pulleys in the vice but the risk of damage is too high for my liking. Anybody got a technique to share? Thanks, Bob
I (and many) have used the matchbook methods with success. I find that you have to put the paper under more than 1 cam cap, up to 3. I also use an air impact wrench with that so there is much more torque. Short of that, removing the cam is a perfectly fine idea. Put it in a vise, wrapped with cloth to avoid damages, and use an impact wrench. They come right out.
Thanks for the reply. I'm currently blocking 2 caps with match books (actually I'm usung gasket paper). I'll wedge them all tonight and give it a go with the air gun. But is it usual for these bolts to be so tight? The WSM says 98Nm/103lbft with lubricated thread. That's not that much. I'm wondering if I've got corrosion or something. Thanks again.
I use four layers of paper per cap and still lock the caps down fairly hand tight. There is no corrosion possible in that place. It is full of oil from the cam shafts. Just use the impact air gun and it will spin off.
Put paper under several caps and it worked like a charm. Although one intake cam bolt refused to budge with the impact gun, needed a 1m breaker bar and the crack was so loud when the bolt moved that I thought I'd broken the bar! Makes me think the timing's never been done in 15 years (ie. at least 4 belt changes). Anyway, thanks for the advice, it was spot-on.
