Im looking to do my first stage 2 cam upgrade and wanted to hear from those that have used the autozone cam tool. There doesnt seem to be anything to hold this steady or in place like the oem tool with the mounting plate.
How hard is this going to be holding by hand and lining up by eye? Loks to be a slide hammer type application.
Any tips, tricks, pointers or what to look out for would be appreciated.
I just dont want to mess this up and have bearings end up in lower end. TIA

Heres pick of oem blind hole puller that can be rented at autozone.

 

That tool is for removal; you will need another tool to install or go "caveman" and use an old cam shaft to tap the inner cam bearings into place.

 

How hard is it to use the cam I take out to tap the new one in?

 

Not hard, just have to be careful. Some will insist the a proper install tool must be used to insure the bearing is seated to a precise depth. Can't argue that but also don't believe that the bearing can't be seated to proper depth without the install tool.

I have installed a few using a cam shaft but I started doing more cam R/Rs for friends, etc. and did breakdown and buy the tool.

The ones I installed were easy. Freeze the cam bearings overnight, apply liberal amounts of assembly lube to the bearing cage and boss, install numbers facing out. The back side of the bearing cage has a slight bevel to facilitate proper alignement in the bearing boss. Tap the bearing in bit and check that it is going in straight. You don't have to pound on the bearing, you can distort the cage if you hit is too hard. Just a light tapping is all that is required. Stop when the face of the bearing cage is flush with the boss. Insert a finger into the bearing to be sure none of the rollers have been "cocked", all must roll freely.

Or you can but Geary Beatty's R/R tool for about $95.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ller-tool.html

 

I have the George's Garage set of cam tools. Yes, it surely can be done using other stuff, but for the price? Can't beat it. I also like the Gary tool.

Why not simply buy the correct tool for the job? Remember this fact... once a person does a set of cams, they WILL continue and do all kinds of crap to engines as they learn and become the 'go to' guy of the group.

You will want to keep the tool when done.

 

i just did my inner cam bearigns using a simaler approach. before you start toss your new torrington bearigns i nthe freezer over night. when your ready take some hard wheel bearing grease * the thick sticky stuff* and coat your old bearings with it like goop that stuff in there good. * coutn the needle rollers in each old ebarign before and after you pull them.* if you have a professional heat gun or even a hair dryer warm up the surface around the old bearing with it. fidn the right collet that fits snugh before tightening and GENTLY slide the hammer weight back you wotn and dont need alot of force to pull the bearings a few good wraps and the bearign should pop right out. remember to count your needles, the hard grease helps keep any that might pop out from falling into places you may not enjoy them going. got the bearign out without losign any needles down the flywheels ? Great now clean out the bearing pocket with soem brake clean and a lint free shop towel. and re warm it up pull your new bearigns out of the freezer oen at a time and slide them on to the old cam journal * i liek the rear cam as its longer* now put some assembly lube or 20w50 on the bearing and GENTLY tap it into place with the old cam and a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer. little taps until you hear it hit bottom remmebr the numbers on the face of the bearing want to be lookign at you so you can read them when the bearign is installed.

if you have the $$$ i recomend pickig nup the installer/removal tools the proper ones. it makes the job so much easier and you can now rent them out to folks who cant afford them or start doing other peopels bearigns for a bit of $$$ to recoupe the tool costs * yesi ordered the proper tools for down the road *

 

I wouldn't use anything steel to tap the bearings in,get a piece of derin (or nylon) and have it machined to fit the bearing & use that.dont forget,number side out on the bearings