doing a head gasket..my cam is out...can I install the head without the cam being installed??

My thought was to put the crank #1 TDC and then when I put the cam in set it in and tighten the rockers with it sitting at #1 TDC??

Will this work??

 

you have to torque the head down befor you button the cam in,theres a few head bolts that you can not get to with the cam in the way.and for the cam at tdc issue , dont quote me on this but i dont think it matters ,adjusting the timing will take care of it.
next time include your engine type,and maybe some more details .

 

a sohc you can do it with no problems. no head bolts are blocked by the cam. on a dohc, like you stated, need the cams removed.

as for cams on a tdc. that is a true statement. it DOES matter. sometimes it can be a pain but its not hard at all. just think if you had you cam in at tdc on cylinder 3 and your crank at tdc on cylinder 1..... can you say valve catastrophe?

 

I just use a screw driver through the spark plug hole and then use the timing marks on the cam gears.

 

yeah you can put the head on without the cam installed....I would retime it after you put the cam in and button everything up though...