Gen3 V8 SHO engine disassembly for cam weld - pictures

[Qshiplvr]

What follows is my documenting the disassembly of my Gen3 ‘99 SHO motor for cam welding back in 2016. Since I’m not the mechanic doing all the hard work (JohntheSHOguy is), my descriptions may not be entirely accurate, but the SEQUENCE of photos should be accurate.

First, need to take off the cover, then the intake manifold.

Start


Appearance cover off


Appearance cover off, now wire loom appearance cover


Use flat blade to undo the (brittle) tabs along channel



Unfasten the butterfly control square box IMRC (Intake Manifold Runner Control)


Direct overview of IMRC square box unfastened

View from passenger side of IMRC square box unfastened


Removal of wire loom attachment point to get to front head


Disconnect factory hose clamps w/ needle nose pliers


Hose loosened

Unbolt rear head intake


Unbolt rear intake


Unbolt Rear Intake runner hose clamps


Remove rear intake runner

Use rags to cover intake runners so as to prevent foreign objects dropping into engine


Loosen inner track intake runner hose clamps

Unbolt inner track intake runner


Lift off inner intake runner

Lifting off inner intake runner


Lifting off inner intake runner

 

[Qshiplvr]

Half of the intake runners disconnected and removed


Closeup of surge tank



Start unbolting intake runners to front head


Unbolting front intake runners


Three-fourths of the intake runners removed


Close up of surge tank



Use rags to cover intake runners so as to prevent foreign objects dropping into engine


Last intake runner removed





Use rags to cover intake runners so as to prevent foreign objects dropping into engine


Disconnect surge tank hose clamps


Driver’s side view of surge tank


Unbolting surge tank


Disconnecting hose to rear of surge tank

Rear surge tank clear

Unbolting rear surge tank


Rear surge tank unbolting

Surge tank ready to come out


Disconnect hose to surge tank


Surge tank coming out


Surge tank removed - Rear valve cover exposed

 

[Qshiplvr]

Surge tank out of the car by JohntheSHOguy

Rear of the surge tank that faces firewall - this is what you need to unbolt blind


Parts that came out of the SHO so far


Rear valve cover lurking under the now removed Surge Tank

Use rags to cover intake runners so as to prevent foreign objects dropping into engine


Remove rear valve cover


Use rags to cover intake runners so as to prevent foreign objects dropping into engine (I can’t stress this enough)


Take off passenger tire, inner fender liner to get to crank and pulleys

Suspension and CV joint detail


Crank pulley


99 Front SHO strut detail and part number


Draining radiator fluid (must mention that JohntheSHOguy was in the process of replacing all fluids and adding a B&M supplemental trans cooler while the car was down for cam weld…I had just bought the car from previous couple who were neglecting the SHO due to new baby)


Radiator drained


Tensioner pulley (?) being removed

Pulley and bolt detail


Power steering pump removal (part of all fluids refresh)

Pulley detail


Closeup oil pump pulley detail

Power steering pump space


Better access to “front” (i.e. passenger side) pulley side of the engine

 

[Qshiplvr]

Removal of oil pump, removing wire harness plastic tract


Exposing the dreaded “Y” coolant connector that WILL fail (becuz it’s made of plastic) if you don’t replace it with a metal one.

Like this one


Closeup of OEM plastic “Y” coolant connector in engine valley


Engine valley detail


Oil pump removed, Front head coilpacks removed


Moving wire harness out of the way


Removing front valve cover


Front valve cover coming off



Driver side of front valve cover coming off


Front valve cover off, inspecting underside for any signs of sludge/burnt oil/shavings


Initial view of front head under valve cover


Front head camshafts UNwelded


Front head camshafts UNwelded detail closeup


Front head cams overview


Front exhaust camshaft UNwelded


Underside of front head valve cover detail


Underside of front head valve cover


Front head cams UNwelded


Front head cams UNwelded closeup

 

[Qshiplvr]

Front head uncovered



Front head uncovered driver’s side view

Checking valve shim clearances w/ feeler gauge

At this point, I have to admit, we ran out of time (daylight) and had to stop documenting the rest of the camshaft removal process. Basically unbolting the caps and removing the camshafts. The next picture I have is of WELDED camshafts after JohntheSHOguy re-installed them.



WELDED cams reinstalled

Compare vs UNwelded

I hope this step-by-step pictorial will help anyone who needs to tear into their V8 SHO for any reason. I want to thank JohntheSHOguy for his expertise and friendship. I think mine is the 42nd cam weld he has done.

 

[Devin]

Never having the V8 before, I didn't realize how much had to be taken off to get to those cams!

 

[luigisho]

Great documentation on this.

 

[AREA 91]

Nice job!

 

[SM105K]

Never having the V8 before, I didn't realize how much had to be taken off to get to those cams!

Yeah, I had no idea either.

 

[Zpak]

Excellent write up!