Ford 2.3 Cam bearing install?

I bought a 92 Mustang with the cam locked up in the head. The bearings came out easy enough, but trying to install them in the car seems insurmountable. Has anyone achieved installing cam bearings in a 2.3?

I tried to fashion a tool using two wood blocks and a carriage bolt but only succeeded in cocking the bearing in the bore... Really no degree of squareness. Maybe someone has fashioned a tool I can copy?

I don't want to remove the head and go to the machine shop if I can avoid it.

In many years of playing with 2.3s, I've done it ONCE. I got a vice thing from Home Depot or Lowe's that had a clamping surface that was really wide, so I could cover the bearing with one side and the cam tower with the other without needing anything else to press against or brace with. I tossed the bearings in the freezer and hit the towers with the Berz-o-matic to heat them up. Once the bearings were cold, I quickly smeared some oil on one, lined it all up and squeezed it in.

Wasn't fun, wasn't pretty, but it worked. Just make sure you line up the oiling holes properly.

Vice thing eh? That would beat the snot out of my whittled driftwood DIY clamp. Sounds like a plan.

Was debating about the whole "Bipolar Temperature" method, but I'll give it hell tomorrow. I don't care how many sets of bearings it takes!

Thanks for the insight.

Any luck with a used 2.3L cylinder head? They practically throw away the four cylinder engines around my way for 5.0L swaps.

Cam towers are know to snap easily so be gentle...

can you use a regular cam bearing tool? Where are you located?

44

i have this unit ..

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.etoolcart.com/ProductImages/pictures/CBT18-L.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.etoolcart.com/browseproducts/Camshaft-Bearing-Tool---LIS18000.HTML&usg=__gSQIDJLFPoRwsWkf38adgirqSwA=&h=190&w=250&sz=8&hl=en&start=38&um=1&tbnid=d1FExDDIy9_JgM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcam%2Bbearing%2Binstallation%2Btool%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DMUS_enUS244US245%26sa%3DN

In reply to 44Dwarf:

Yes sir. Gentle, as opposed to ham-fisted is the key. I don't want to remove that head for ANYTHING, especially a cracked cam tower.

Columbus, OH. I think I'm gonna give the MikeSVO method a shot, failing that I'll break down and get the correct tool.

Don't get me wrong, usually I'm not one to cut corners, but this engine is a temporary fix to a permanent problem.

Success!

Torch is the key to all automotive problems!

Edit:... and money.