I have a 97 eclipse with a 2.0 non turbo. I am trying to rebuild the motor but have run into a snag. My trusty Haynes manual says I need a special tool to keep the cams from turning while I take the gears off. Does anyone know either where I can get one (possibly price?) or if there is another way I can do this? Any help sould be appreciated.

 

I'd say look at what the tool looks like and what it does as well as where it fits. Make one. The only places I know you'd be able to find specialty tools like that would be MAC, Snap On, or a dealer. All 3 will be expensive.

 

Also another idea is possibly having a friend take a strap wrench and wrap it around the cam gear to hold it still while you undo the bolt.

 

Undo the timming belt(if your rebuilding just cut it and replace it) then remove the retainer caps for the cams ****make sure they dont get scratched!!! Then take the cam out of the head and take it off like that.

 

There is no reason to remove the cam gears......but if you insist to, just remove the cams from the head and put the cam in a vice. Their are spots on the cam itself where you place them in the vice. You see a spot to put a wrench....thats the spot.Wala now you can remove the cam gears.

PS. Make sure to keep the cam caps in the same order you removed them, every thing is lined bored keep that in mind.

 

If you have air tools you the bolt comes right off without having to hold the cam. How are you getting the crank pulley off?

 

I've already pulled the timing belt off, and the crank pulley. I had thought of trying to fabricate a tool (it looks like a steel bar with two prongs that sit in the holes already in the cam shafts) but wanted to know if anyone had already had success making one. It must be pretty strong to hold the cams from moving because the torque specs say the gears are at 75 f/lbs. The turbo motors have a spoton the cam shaft to put a wrench, but alas, I do not have a turbo. I had thought of just leaving the cam gears on and removing the cams, but I don't think the cams will slide throught the back timing cover. I'm trying to go step by step according to my Haynes manual (this is the first time I've rebuilt an OHC engine, built plenty of OHV's), and the manual says the cams have to come out so the head can come off.