To check camshaft lobe lift and determine wear remove the valve covers now. Turn the number one piston to the top dead centre on the compression stroke to the cylinder with the exhaust valve closed and the intake valve open then place a dial indicator on the engine in such a way that the plunger of the dial will bear on the first rocker arm. Rotate the crankshaft until the dial indicator reading is zero and continues slowly until the needle should drop and is pointing in the opposite direction to the maximum cam lobe lift. Make a record of this measurement and put the piston at TDC, then move the dial indicator to number one cylinder push rod and repeat the check and record the results of each valve. Proceed with this for the other valves until all the piston are on TDC compression stroke and in line with the firing order. After the checks are done, one has to crosscheck them on the specifications; in case the camshaft lobe lift is below the specifications it is an indication that the camshaft is wore out and needs to be replaced. For removal, use the puller to remove push rods, valve lifters, timing chain and finally the camshaft sprocket and if so necessary, the radiator too. Use a dial indicator for checking the camshaft end play; when the figure is beyond the standard, replace the thrust plate each time you reinstall it. The camshaft thrust plate bolts should then be removed and a long bolt has to be screwed into the camshaft and then the camshaft pulled out with the help of the bolt carefully in order not to damage the bearings. Following removal, the camshaft and the bearing journals must be cleaned; these journals should be checked for signs of wear, pitting or seize; where damaged both the camshaft and bearings will need to be changed and this could require professional help. Using a micrometer, measure the bearing journals for signs of abnormal wear or out of roundness; the camshaft journals have to be inspected for any signs of discoloration, scoring or even a condition of uneven wear on the camshaft lobes. If there are no physical detorations on the lobes and dimensions adhere with standards, the camshaft can be ground and reused. For installation, apply on the camshaft bearing journals and lobes a liberal quantity of moly-based engine assembly lubricant, while mating the camshaft to the engine with using your hands to hold the camshaft near the block to avoid the bearing deformation. Place a lubricant on the thrust plate and sve the thrust plate on to the block tighten the bolts to the required torque. Replace the lifters, push rods, rocker arms, the timing chain/sprocket, and the timing chain cover and the valve covers, in the same manner as the removal sequence. Last but not least replace the oil and the oil filter before initiating the engine.
