96 Lumina no oil pressure - Camshaft issue?

[Dave_R]

Hi all,
3.1L with 198K miles on it. Driving steadily at 50 MPH and all of a sudden the oil pressure died (engine started running rough and missing, oil pressure light on with clacking lifters, won't idle). I shut it down immediatelyafter about 10 seconds.
I am going to check the camshaft later (it's very cold now outside) to see if it is broken.
My question is - can the Camshaft be replaced easily without lifting the entire engine out? I have no problem cutting into the wheel well area if necessary.
And, if so, any tips on either a replacement cam and/or procedures?

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!

[maxwedge]

Way ahead of yourself here, , start by removing the valve cover and see if all the rockers move. If the cam broke more damage is done beyond just replacing the the cam though.

[wafrederick]

If the camshaft is broken,the block is junk right away taking out the cam bearings.3100s are known for eating cams.The only option is to replace the engine with an used or reman.If you want to know,Jasper found the problem and fixed it.The block was casted in China with offseted cam journals and GM put in cheap cam bearings.Jasper fixed this by align boring the cam journals and putting in upgraded cam bearings.A Jasper rep I know said this.