heck, i just yoked my oil pan off with everything in place ! just had to loosen the starter, and drop the sway bar bushings, so i could twist it outta the way. man, i love old cars, you can actually get at stuff!:bananaman
I do a lot of my work with 2 engine mounting bolts removed, and the other two just one or two threads in (to keep it lined up for when I put it back together). In fact, just did it for the second time this week about an hour ago, and it is still jacked up. I had to squeeze the water pump pulley out without taking off the radiator and electric fan. Loosening the bolts can give you lots of clearance, especially around the shock towers and lower crossmember. Just be sure to NOT jack it up by the oilpan. I use the transmission bell-tower.
Although I've never done it nor even seen it done, there's a way to change out the cam with the heads still on the car. Compressed air is used to hold valves in the open position. (google?) Otherwise, head removal is a must (and don't we just love doing that. ). If someone thinks my info is incorrect, please jump in.
I think I left my heads on.... Cam change was taking off the radiator, water pump, and intake manifold. I pulled the lifters out with pliers (most were pretty stuck in there). I don't recall having to take the heads off for that job.
I think Rick meant in order to put matching valve springs on without removing the head you can use an air hold fitting to hold the valves in place to remove the spring. A length of rope inserted in the plug hole and turning the crank by hand will also hold the valves in place during the procedure.
okey, first THANK YOU now I have my maverick home and have started to tear it a part removed quite a lot of "stuff", my mission is to change heads and camshaft, possibly intake, carburator and fuelpump also AND oilpan seal, all this without taking engine out of enginebay, possible ?? how much time it will take ??
thats all very possible. as for time..be patient ,move slowly, think fast. you only have time to do it right once, but all the time in the world to re do it. dont forget to flush out your radiator, and use some good assembly lube.
It could be done, slowly and carefully, in a weekend. Get help with putting in those heads. It is a good way to throw your back out, leaning over the fender holding 60 lb heads over the engine bay.
I've done it .... yeah ... and lifting iron heads out is not fun ... putting them back in is even trickier ... I've done the cam also ... it clears if you pull the radiator out first ...
