[clypsogreen93]

hey guys...
i need to know how to replace the front cam seal on our engines
can anyone help me?

[TOM RENZO]

Remove the timing belt cover. Remove the timing belt. Hold the upper gear with the ford gear holding tool. Take out the bolt. Pull the gear off . Pry out the seal and install a new one using the old one to drive the new one in. Install the gear and bolt. Use some sealer on the bolt torqure to specs. Replace timing belt with a new one. Inatall the cover and you are done.

[b_chandler]

Originally Posted by TOM RENZO

Remove the timing belt cover. Remove the timing belt. Hold the upper gear with the ford gear holding tool. Take out the bolt. Pull the gear off .

Or after you remove the cover and before you remove the belt, you can loosen but not remove the cam gear bolt. The timing belt will help prevent the cam gear from spinning. Not all of us work in a pro shop

Originally Posted by TOM RENZO

Pry out the seal and install a new one using the old one to drive the new one in. Install the gear and bolt. Use some sealer on the bolt torque to specs. Replace timing belt with a new one. Install the cover and you are done.

I prefer a small hunk of 2X4 to knock the seal in. It keeps my fingers out of the way of the hammer and is soft enough not to booger up the new seal. I've seen enough shade tree guys screw up a good seal trying to use the old one as a drift.

I'm with you on the timing belt replacement if the age of the belt is unknown or near the end of recommended service life. Otherwise, throw the old one back in place and let it rock.

[TOM RENZO]

Hi chandler how goes it. Yes i hear you about the seal driving procedure. Actually using the old seal upside down works pritty well. In the shop we use the authorized ford tools and it actually pulls the seal in with a bolt in the center of the cam. I try and keep it simple because i realize the guys are DIY types. Actually you can loosen the bolt by leaving the belt on then remove the bolt. But some guys install the bolt with the new belt installed. That is not really good to do. Here is a tip to make your own tool. Go to home depot and buy some flat stock app 1 1/2" wide and app 3/16 thick about 18" long. Then get 2- 2 1/2" 3/8 shoulder bolts and 4 nuts. Drill the bar so the holes are centered between 3 pulley holes in the cam gear. Then install one nut on each bolt all the way down to the shoulder. Then install the bolts in the flat stock that you just drilled the holes in. Install the other two nuts on the bolt threads that stick out from the bar and tighten them down. Presto you have an official ford holding tool. Now you can torque the bolt to specks properly and also be able to turn the gear to set the cam timing properly. I should have mentioned to set the belts timing marks in the proper position before removing the original timing belt. You can also use a plumbers pipe cap as a seal driver to install the cam seal. Just buy the right one that fits the outside of the lip. This way you can hit it in the center and drive the new seal in place. Sometimes you can also use a piece of pcv pipe to make a seal driver. The plumbing section in home depot is a great place to make seal drivers. Hope this helps TOM

[b_chandler]

So the holding tool is just basically a spanner style wrench? Good to know and thanks for the tip.

I also like the pipe cap idea for a seal driver.

What I could really use is a nice cam bearing tool.

[Marvin]

Chandler, I used a piece of exhaust pipe, (just a fit in the cam bearing) with a larger piece slipped over that to drive the bearing. Worked out pretty well.

[TOM RENZO]

Originally Posted by Marvin

Chandler, I used a piece of exhaust pipe, (just a fit in the cam bearing) with a larger piece slipped over that to drive the bearing. Worked out pretty well.

Its not recommended to bang in the cam bearings. I know guys do it but you can run the risk of breaking off the towers. Otc makes the cam bearing tool for the 2.3. It pulls the bearings in with a threaded rod. You can easily have a machine shop make you one. All it is is a puck that fits inside of the bearing And has a lip that is the exact size of the OD of the bearing. Then drill a hole in the center. Then use a reseaver on the other side that is bigger than the OD of the bearing. Put a plate across the reseaver with a hole in the middle . Place the bearing in the driver put it in the cam tower put a threaded rod through the hole of the reseaver. Then start tightning it up. Presto the bearing is drawn in to the tower. For the reseaver you can use the old trusty pipe cap with a hole in the center. TOM

[NavySVO]

Originally Posted by TOM RENZO

In the shop we use the authorized ford tools and it actually pulls the seal in with a bolt in the center of the cam.

yep, I know it well.

I also like to pre-lube the lip seal so it slides on smoothly. Cheap insurance

[TOM RENZO]

HI NAVY THATS IT. Thats the TOOL. You are 100% correct never install any seal without lube. Good point. Dam wish i knew how you guys put those neat photos on the threads. DAM DAM thats cool.

[NavySVO]

Originally Posted by TOM RENZO

Dam wish i knew how you guys put those neat photos on the threads. DAM DAM thats cool.

First, click REPLY and then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Then just follow the directions. IIRC the file has to be less than 240 kb

[TOM RENZO]

That might as well be brain sergury for me . I am the worst at this stuff. Thanks NAVY I an going to try it

[NavySVO]

Originally Posted by TOM RENZO

That might as well be brain sergury for me . I am the worst at this stuff. Thanks NAVY I an going to try it

C'mon Tom.....this is cake compared to rebuilding an engine