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95DAK318
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2006
07:26:44
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 Subject: Pull motor to replace cam bearings?
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Message:
I bought a new oil dip stick because mine was pretty bent up when I bought the truck. It did not fit, so I went back to the dealership and had one of the techs come out to prove it didn't fit so I could return it.
He said it didn't go in because the tube in the oil pan was probably damaged, which is why the one I have was bent up.
He said what could have happened was it threw a rod and damaged the tube. I asked if that could have anything to do with my oil pressure problem (sometimes when Imake a sudden stop, the guage zeros out for a second). He said if it did throw a rod, and the previous owner only rebuilt the bottom end, AND if the pump had been damaged prior to rebuild, the motor could have been starved of oil for a short time before rebuild and damaged the cam bearings. Which would cause the oil pressure problem. This guy is like MONK or Columbo or something, the way he came up with all of these details, after my dipstick didn't fit. So is he full of it, or does this sound reasonable?
I asked how extensive replacing the cam bearing is, and he said the motor had to be pulled to do it. Does anyone have any experience with that?
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crow318
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2006
07:45:32
| RE: Pull motor to replace cam bearings?
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Well, you are right about that columbo crap. That is one tech that missed his calling.
How long have you had your truck? How long have you had your oil problem? How many mile do you have? Things like that could help people figure your real problem.
Also, is there any indication of a problem with your cam? A short drop in pressure would indicate some type of pump problem. It may be as simple as a new oil pickup.
As for the cam bearings, they do require you to pull a majority of your engine apart. As for having to take the engine right out, at that point, you may as well.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2006
14:31:31
| RE: Pull motor to replace cam bearings?
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Message:
Just reading the dip stick situation, I'm guessing you just bought the truck the last week or so. Myself I have a serious problem with your truck. I'm betting money someone run it out of oil real bad and doctored up the truck to dump it on trade-in. No way would I do anything with it. I'd trade it in as fast as I could get to a car lot. Only way I would keep it would be if I got a really great deal on the truck to where you could dump a new engine in her. If it did throw a rod, you don't even know if the crank was turned and if not you also will be throwing a rod in short order. I'm not trying to scare you. Just making sure your aware of what you could possibly be getting in to.Pretty late to do this now but go back to the dealer and find out who traded it in. It's the only way your going to find out what your up against without a lot of work or expence. With the Info the tech gave you,I'm thinking they know more then you realize about this truck
So many problems .... So little time
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vern
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2006
15:48:29
| RE: Pull motor to replace cam bearings?
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Message:
yes the motor has to come out for cam bearings,you can,t change the back[last]one without removing the rear cam plug
does the oil pressure drop off alot after motor is up to temp? like 40-60lbs cold at idle to 5-20lbs hot at idle?[oil light may even flicker]if yes this is a good sign bad cam bearings
you may have a bad oil pump,pluged pick-up screen,sludge in motor
remove your oil cap, with a light look in valve cover to see if it has sludge or remove one cover
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Shatto
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2006
01:05:33
| RE: Pull motor to replace cam bearings?
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Today,March 15,2006. I finished replacing a camshaft in my 98 3.9. Miserable job, replacing cam bearings, but with the right tools (women can't fathom what I just said) it can be done.
Front and top of the engine come off. Radiator comes out. A/C condenser can stay in. Remove the fuel pump relay so you don't accidently pump gas into the engine if you use the starter and breaker bar to remove crankshaft pully. How'd I know that? Make careful notes as to the timing marks so you can get it back together right. Make note of where the bolts came from. And; you need a special tool to disconnect the gas line. Remove the cam carefully. You may discover you don't need to replace the bearings after all.
Price your local mechanic. Your time is money. I would have paid mine but he's booked another week.
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95DAK318
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2006
14:23:53
| RE: Pull motor to replace cam bearings?
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I have had it for a year. The oild problem just happened 2 months ago. I changed the oil and it went away. Then after 2 weeks, it'll do it once or twice a week during my 70 mile commute.
I don't think the tech knows the truck personnally as I bought it far from where I took it. I will be trying to trade it in in a few weeks (waiting on tax refund). Until then, I'll drive it as little as possible.
205,000 miles. Deffinantly not worth aa cam replacement unless I can rebuild the whole thing.
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Lesley
GenIII
3/19/2006
11:15:49
| RE: Pull motor to replace cam bearings?
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Message:
Yah, Shatto, can't fathom why you'd replace a cam in a 3.9 -me, I just replaced the entire engine instead. Silly woman...
(it's a 33mm socket that goes along with that breaker bar to remove the crank pulley).
97 CC Sport. JBA ceramic headers, Borla Turbo XL , 17 x10 Boyd Coddington Smoothies, FMS injectors, 52 mm Fastman TB, Quick D intake,
M1 2bbl , 1.6 roller rockers, KRC 210x cam, windage tray
custom built tranny with kevlar guts and transgo, MP torque converter, 3:92s
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junkyard
Dodge Dakota
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3/19/2006
17:14:53
| RE: Pull motor to replace cam bearings?
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www.car-part.com for a new engine if that doesn't solve the problem for the long term.
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