I am rebuilding My 4.0 in my 2000 Cherokee and am an experinced mechanic that has rebuilt many modern OHC engines but this throwback inline 6 with the camshaft bearings in the block has me a little befuddled. I know I can send it to a machine shop but is their another way for the home mechanic to do it. In the pastI have put them in the deep-freeze to slightly shrink them but don't know if this will work here. Any experience out there? Thanks

 

Get the same tool the machine shops use - it's called a "Camshaft Bearing Installer," and should run less than $100.

It's not something you'll typically find at the local parts house, tho - check with speed shops or mail-order supply houses (I most often go to Goodson Shop Supply - www.goodson.com)

It's really just a longish screw-based draw press that pulls the cam bearing into the bore. Yeah, you can do the work without it - but it's awfully difficult, and not recommended for the neophyte.

I wouldn't freeze bearings - you may alter the material (I'd have to check properties of bearing material to be sure.) But, I'm paranoid.

You do have to strip down the block and knock out the rear camshaft gallery plug so you can access the back hole - but if you need to replace camshaft bearings, you should probably replace that plug anyhow. I like brass - it lasts longer and is easier to work with than CRES.

 

For what you would spend on a tool that you may only use once you could have a machine shop do it for you and have it done right.