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MG MGA - replacing camshaft

Has anyone managed to replace their camshaft with the distributor drive out but oil pump drive left in? I'd like to do this without taking the engine out and ideally not working from below and having to remove the sum and oil pump.
J H Cole

Oil pump and drive shaft have to come out.
Art Pearse

I believe it can be done without removing the oil pump drive gear. So far I've never had reason to try, so I could be wrong. The cam rear journal has to be finessed past the oil pump drive gear. Then the cam must be rotated progressively to get the rearmost cam lobes past the oil pump drive gear.

If in doubt, just try to remove the cam without removing the oil pump. If you can get the old cam out, you can also get the new cam in.
Barney Gaylord

X2 Barney
I've fluked a few with the oil pump still in by rotating the cam as you pull it out to get the lobes in a spot where the cam journals will pass past the pump drive but then on others there was no way in the world they would come out. As Barney suggested ,give it a try and if you are successful all is well ,otherwise it's sump off and oil pump out
good luck willy
William Revit

I recently changed camshafts without removing the sump on my 1622 engine. I did have the engine out of the car and on an engine stand. You do have to remove the pushrods and lifters and the distributor drive.
Ed Bell

OK, I'm a believer!
Art Pearse

I'll give it a go and report back if successful, otherwise it's a on my back below the car.
J H Cole

One other point
It also can depend on what position the crankshaft is in
The connecting rods can foul the cam on the way out
I would think that if you had the engine on TDC there wouldn't be a problem in this area
willy
William Revit

This thread was discussed between 01/10/2014 and 05/10/2014

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