Before taking off the head I didn't set the engine to TDC, thought it was going to be a quick head gasket job, but of course that's not the case.

Metric Motors is going to rebuild the head and they want me to take off the cam and the rocker arms before they start the work. Do I have to turn the cam to TDC when taking off the cam and how will I turn the cam with the head off and no sprocket attached?

Thanks.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Put the cam gear back on and use a strap type wrench to turn the cam gear or a square sided screwdriver between the cam gear bolts and the nose of the cam.

Only unbolt the rocker arms when they are in a position without any valve spring tension on them, rotate the cam as necessary to achieve this position. The threads in the head for the rocker arm assembly bolts are weak and susceptible to stripping. Revised/longer bolts were available to counteract the stripping. Use a torque wrench to re-install them and only tighten them down when all valve spring pressure is relieved on the assembly being tightened. Be careful with the front rocker assembly to capture the half moon piece that controls end play of the camshaft.

Keep everything in order and watch for the little cups on top each valve. They are easy to lose.

Everything will have to be in time to re-assemble, when rotating the crank to TDC keep upward tension on the chain so it does not get bound up.

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Now I understand why Metrics doesn't want to take of the cam and rocker towers. And thanks, this helps a lot.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

This may not be as critical during disassembly as assembly but I'd still do it, remove the rocker assemblies starting at the ends first alternating from one end to other toward the center. For installation, install the center first and work out towards the ends.

All fastener loosening and tightening must be done with both lobes of the cam on the respective rocker assembly on the base circle (i.e., opposite of the lift) of the camshaft to minimize valve spring tension against the rocker assembly bolt threads.

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer