Hi,

Don’t know how you managed to get marks there but that looks like you only scratched off some varnish or coked oil stain. Those surfaces are almost as hard as glass but only “skin deep” as the saying goes! (:-)

Like Aramin said, nothing rides on the backsides or opposite the lifting lobes.
Also like he said, back the nuts off carefully as there will be valve spring tension in various places along the length of the camshaft.
The heaviest amount will be where yo see the cam lobe rolled and pointing downward!
Come up evenly by watching the caps rise off their seats.
Same going back on too! The last thing you want is break a cap by being crooked.

If you decide to pull that cam be sure to keep the bearing caps in the same “exact” order and direction as they come off.
They may or not be numbered, so keep your act together on those.
It is crucial that they fit back correctly as they have “run-in” with their own wear pattern or location of oil clearances.
These things are in-line bored straight but as the head has heated up and down they are worn into where they have to be, to run smoothly.

Next thing don’t you dare drop it or twist it out of the vise.
I’m sure you understand he wants you grip the thickness of the sprocket.
The rest of the camshaft will be hanging out there! Keep it close over to something in case the bolt snaps or some other, unforeseen happenstance, could occur with this miserable bolt!



Two vise grips huh? Wow! Did you try use some aluminum soda can shim under the bite or jaws of those vise grips?
You are placing harden steel against harden steel as those teeth are hard. No metal to pile up around those teeth!
So consequently, they have no “bite-in” capability but only friction.
Shame to have use that method to begin with!
I personally think leather strips would help increase the surface area of tightness farther around the whole diameter. It will help match up to the jaws in width and length.
Are you using “curved jaw” vise grips? At least a number 10 size! No needle-nose models are allowed here!

Good luck!
Phil