2002 Mercruiser 4.3 v6 camshaft bearing replacement

[dlogvine]

Im rebuilding this engine (2002 or so Chevy 4.3 v6 vortec block) and in my prior rebuilds I used the machine shop when installed my camshaft bearings. It was a $50 job that was done in a day or so, but recently I purchased the bearing installation/removal tool and decided to try it myself. I watched several videos on how to use the tool, looked like this was an easy deal. But I still have a couple questions. First: the bearings are different in size and location of the oil lubrication holes so they need to go into the bores in specific order. What is the numeration of the camshaft bores? Does it go from the front to the back or from the back to the front?

 

[dlogvine]

And the second question, since the bores have a groove, I saw recommendation to install the bearings not directly aligning the oil lubrication holes with the holes in the bores but a little shifted clockwise, instead of 12 set the bearing hole to 1 o'clock. Is it correct?

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[dlogvine]

Bt Doctur, this is even more confusing now. First of all, all installation videos and machine shop mechanics state NOT to use any lubrication on the outside bearing surfaces to avoid bearing slipping. Also, looks like the directions are for the different tool then I have. (I'll post a pic of the bearing installation/remover tool). And the videos show that the installation starts from the front bearing and goes one by one to the back.
Also the question of which is the bore #1 - front or rear?

 

[Scott Danforth]

the front is bore #1
you install bearings starting at the back and work forward
align the ports
use coated bearings where you can

 

[dlogvine]

I found the following diagram cam bearing positions
https://goo.gl/images/Hyhvog

 

[dlogvine]

I tried to insert the bearings using the tool. Was unsuccessful twice. The bearing gets scratched right on the inside of the edge where the tool is hitting it. I wonder if it happens because Im not tightening the tool enough? I'll make a photo of the damaged bearing. And will try to take the tool and the bearing to the machine shop for an advice from the professional. Anybody did the bearing installation on their own? Any word of advice?

 

[dlogvine]

I talked to the machine shop owner, and found out a couple interesting things. I was destroying camshaft bearings, because I was not tying the tool all the way, so the driver was sliding inside of the bearing during the installation and gouging it. This I suspected. The other thing is that he told me not to worry about the location of the oil feeding hole. Since my engine has a groove in the camshaft bore, it really does not matter where the bearing hole is located, only thing that really matters is that the hole on the bearing is alligned with the groove in the bore.