Cam Gear on for lifter R&R

[JShadzi at aol.com]

Scott, here was what you stated in your post:

"The you can't do the lifters without removing the cam
gear - per my comments on the 10v I5 cars in the same post.   You guys crack
me up worse than an overheated unsupported EM with a bad motor mount.

Next time, complete the redundancy guys.  If it's 10v car, then cam gear has
to come off to do lifters."

Twice you assert that the lifters cannot be changed without removing the cam
gear.  My reply was that it can, and that I have done it on occasions where
the front cam seal did not need replacing.  Generally, if a significant
amount of time has passed, I will change the cam seal if it needs it.  IME,
the cam seal has never been a big source of leaking anyway, I have only
changed it as a matter of procedure.

Removing the cam gear is a less than 1 minute job for me, infact, I have
built a tool to lock the camgear in place so that it can easily be loosened
and torqued without rotation.  But, in the occasion it does not need to be
removed, I would rather complete the procedure with the cam gear in place,
and a piece of duct tape also ensures that the cam belt never comes off the
gear, and that the woodruff key can't fall down into the lower crank pully,
BTDT.

Anyway, your posts didn't say "the cam gear should be removed for so-and-so
reason", you said "it can't be done", and I wanted to point out that that
specific statement was incorrect.  Generally, if it has been more than 60-80K
miles, I also would recommned that the cam gear be removed and the seal
changed.

Regards,
Javad

<< Why?  What do you do with the cam seal?  As a home repair I might risk the
bend of the rear cover, the nick of the front cam journal, and the high
propensity of a leaking cam seal.  BTDT too many times to count?  Are the cam
gears bolts that hard to come off?  Given the procedure involved vs risk, I
don't see 5 minutes and a 5USD seal saving anything and risking alot.  I'll
stick to NIMBY theory on this one.  Your procedure may vary.  If you want to
claim it's the way to go, you should post the exact procedure.
  >>