Pi 4.6l 2v cam bearings

[Nick124]

I bought a set of 01 pi heads and when disassembly them I dropped one of the cam bearings and damaged it. Can I buy new cam bearing and put them in, or is a more lengthy process?

 

[RAU03MACH]

Do you have a picture of one of the cam bearings

 

[Nick124]

 

[lwarrior1016]

Good luck man. That repair is not very common. You might be able to look at the number on the bearing and find the manufacturer.

 

[lwarrior1016]

How bad did you damage the bearing? Can you smooth it out with scotch brite?

 

[RAU03MACH]

I was wanting to.look at the bad one

 

[Nick124]

I was wanting to.look at the bad one

the bearing got bent from being stepped on

 

[RAU03MACH]

Take 1 set of bearings to a machine shop get the size
If there a good machine shop they may have them in stock

 

[96blak54]

Possible ACL brand

Hard to provide a definite answer. The machine work to your head most likely is specific to your bearings regardless of brand. Looking at available cam bearing options for the modulars, the descriptions dont give technical data to the bearing dimensions.

You might get lucky and mend the bearing you have back into shape. Also, look at all the brand bearings, match your bearing up and make a choice. Hopefully youll get the same. I have a bunch of measuring tools and could figure out exactly whats needed. Just like a machine shop could. If you would be more comfortable letting a shop handle this, thats what you should do.....but youll still be buying bearings.

 

[Whiplash-Smile]

View attachment 42036

 

[Whiplash-Smile]

If you can’t source a new bearing, clean the bearing shell thoroughly, break out your 1/2” socket set and locate the socket that most closely matches the diameter of the cam journal - gently try to conform the shell around the socket by hand initially focusing on the middle of the shell and not the ends initially - gently is the key here, no kinks or marring the babbitt. Once you get the shape approximately what it once was place it back in the head(it’s actually easier to use the bearing cap in a aluminum jawed vice) and use a rubber mallet( not brass or steel) to gently tap the socket forcing the shell into the cap - it helps to apply pressure on the shell ends down into the cap while tapping the socket. So a second set of hands is.. well.. handy.
You can get it close just by the above technique.
Pop the followers out of the head so there is no valve spring tension on the camshaft.
Oil the camshaft and journals up then finger tight all the caps and see how easily the cam spins - you can spend a couple of hours and get it damn near perfect. It may be worth your time to do this rather than source a new head

Also torque the cap in question down once and then back it off until finger tight before attempting to rotate the camshaft by the timing gear - and do it by hand - you want to FEEL any drag. Gradually tighten all caps in factory torque sequence until you do or don’t feel drag. Any issues will usually show up at the cam ends - This might save you some money

 

[Whiplash-Smile]

I am looking at the pic you posted of the bearing shell - that looks to be just aluminum is that correct? No babbitt would likely make it a bit easier, but gentle and slow still applies