Will The Camshaft Come Out Without Removing The Thermostat Housing Or

[hadders 0 1 Cars]

I've started to release the cam caps in order to remove the camshaft. All of them are rising as I unscrew the nuts except for the one at the distributor end shown in the picture. Should this be the same? Is it possible that the tons of sealant used around the thermostat housing is holding it down? Cant find anything in the Haynes that says they need to be removed first but this end one hasn't budged at all and daren't try to lever it.

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll33/47austindrive/IMG_20150416_171753693_HDR_zps9gjro4ys.jpg

[koti 7]

Is there an allen bolt behind the dizzy holding the housing on that goes into the end cam cap? Can't remember for sure.

 

Almost certain the cam goes through the thermostat housing anyway- it's only half a dozen m7 bolts holding it on so not difficult to remove

[koti 7]

Just nabbed this off Google to show you -

 

[welshpug 1,661]

yep, housing has to come off due to the end of the cam continuing into the thermostat housing, not just that the top allen key goes into the first cap.

[hadders 0 1 Cars]

Brilliant! Thanks guys. So I need to remove the distributor and then the thermostat housing to get to the end of the camshaft.

 

Is that the remains of a gasket for the housing? Mine seems to be nothing but sealant. Or should i use both when i rebuild?

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

There should be a gasket there, I also use a LITTLE sealant too as it separates water from oil.

[welshpug 1,661]

later engines used sealant alone, but afaik the gasket is still available.

[hadders 0 1 Cars]

I'll see if i can get a gasket plus a smear of sealant too. The sealant used with mine seems to be silicone sealant. Is that right? What would you recommend I use? I have blue hylomar.

Edited April 16, 2015 by hadders

[Anthony 1,003]

A decent RTV sealant is fine without a gasket (as Mei says, that's how later cars were as standard), just make sure that it's properly degreased beforehand and that you allow it to fully set before adding fluids.

 

Oh, and remember that you only need a thin smear - you shouldn't have huge globs of the stuff splurging out of the sides as you tighten the bolts down!

[scbond 15 1 Cars]

Unbolt the end cap and remove the mess of sealant as it'll be that holding it there. You need to remove the dizzy to remove the camshaft but not the thermostat housing...once the last cap is off you can lift it out. Not seen anywhere selling the gasket...mine was fine so reused it. As others have said, a small amount of RTV will be fine.

[hadders 0 1 Cars]

Housing and dizzy off now. Anthony your description of how it shouldn't be is exactly what i had! Sealant everywhere, including all over the end of the camshaft. A right mess along with a gasket in two pieces. I've cleaned up the mating faces ready for RTV. Typically now I've inspected everything, I've also found that the vac advance on the dizzy is fubarred! Oh well another part to replace on Triggers broom. Thanks for your help.