Porsche Repair: camshaft removal from cover, camshaft bearings, home mechanic

Question
I have a Porsche 944t(87) just pulled the cam tower, you know the one where all the lifters fall out when you pull it. How do I get the camshaft out of the housing- I have taken every nut, bolt, hex nut you name it off & nothing moves- And what I will call the far end has a cover that when pulled off shows a black round pc,it moves when you move the camshaft, on the other end, I removed the rotor, behind the rotor is the place where the belt goes on the camshaft to move it, it has a large bolt that looks like it might be a collar vrs. a thread- either way nothing is moving, I have to be missing something very easy but darn if I can figure this bugger out-- Help!  

Answer
Hi Monti,

Depending on your mood when you read this answer you will either say, "No wonder"... or you will say, "Those damn dealers"...or you may say both.

I haven't done the procedure myself, but here's what my reference manual says (it's usually pretty reliable in it's advice):

"Due to the special tools and techniques necessary, disassembly of the camshaft assembly (housing, camshaft bearings, etc) cannot be done by the home mechanic.  It is possible to remove the assembly so that it can be taken to the dealer or properly equipped shop."

Now, if this was me, I'd not give up so easily...at least I'd try to find out what tools they are talking about (I have a variety of special Porsche and Mercedes tools already, so I am not hesitant about buying them).  Then, and this is the tricky part, finding out about those special "techniques".

My approach, if I were you, would be to solicit the input of one or more 944 owners forums here on the web.  If you ask the question in the right way, you'll eventually get an answer.  Someone who's intimate with his 944 and who is NOT a dealer KNOWS about those camshaft procedures.

Good luck, sorry I couldn'y be more helpful.

Dave

PS.  And just so you know you're not the only one to have the experience...here's another line from my source: "Lift the assembly up off the cylinder head while an assistant holds the valve lifters in place so they don't fall out and can be re-installed in the original bores."  How many assistants with how many hands are we talking about here, I wonder.