Hi All,
Can you change the camshaft and bearings in a 1972 142S , in the car without taking the motor out ?
Thanks,
Dave

Why do you think the bearings need replacing? ALL of them are good for at least 250,000 miles excluding major problems. Tha cam itself is pretty easy to do in car.


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Three 164's, Two 144's, One 142 & a partridge in a pear tree.

I have seen a few front cam brgs fatigued and chewed out, caused by thrust of timing gears. Check carefully as they are only Babbitt. machine shops usually have stepped dollies turned up .001" over top tolerance to prevent crushing and provide oil clearance. It is virtually impossible to fit brgs insitu, it is a job for machine shop if there is any doubt. too much clearance on front cam brg will close tapper clearance when engine is running due to thrust of cam gears pushing shaft up

+1. Plus, I can't imagine trying to ream them in-line with the motor in situ. You gonna pull the pan to do clean-up after that? What fun that sounds like.

Cam bearings are normally optional, btw, and they are not done as a matter of course when changing cams. Unless you know you have a reason to replace the bearings (e.g. your cam is odd-sized and requires special bearings?) it's totally okay to just replace the cam without changing the bearings. Many people have a religious objection to re-using bearings, but that's what you should do in this situation. Leave well enough alone. Cam bearings are normally done when, and only when, you're already hot tanking the block for major work. A cam swap? Just leave the bearings where they are.

+2.
Don't the cam bearings have to be line-bored after installation?
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"Differences of opinions should be tolerated, but not if they're too different' - Sharon Craig

Many of the sets I have gotten were "pre-fit". The cam fit OK without boring.
And on the B18/B20 they are THREE different sizes! All the same on the B30.
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George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Hello,

The cam bearings that Volvo sells do need to be reamed to fit.

Most of the aftermarket cam bearings are pre-fit.

We have NEVER had to change cam bearings during a routine camshaft replacement for a B16, B18, B20 or B30 Volvo engine.

It is SOP to install new cam bearings when we are rebuilding an engine.

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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Hello,

The camshaft can easily be changed with the radiator and A/C condenser(if equipped)removed, which should also give you enough room to change the front and middle camshaft bearings.

But you need access to the back of the block to change the rear cam bearing, so you will have to remove the transmission as well.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502