Everyone, i really need advice on this.

[Link85x]

I already emailed 89 about this, becuase this really hurt me. I was going over to a friend house 2day, to let him hear the new exhaust because he really likes my car. His father (pretty much a back yard mechanic who knows his stuff) and i got into a freakin debate. I was shooting me down i must say, and i really can't stand when someone tells you that can't do something, which is very possible. It was about changing the cam (which i get in about a week) while the motor is in the car. I was telling him that it has already been done before, but he was hearing it. Also that i would have to take off the heads completely, inorder 2 get the cam out. He told if i didn't that my car was and the whole chassis was gonna fall apart (i looked at him like he ahd six heads). I guess he feels/felt that since he has been working on cars for years and years, the he is right and i'm wrong. I made it seem like it didn't get to me, but i gotta shut him down now, it's my turn. I just really need you alls help now, just proof that it can be done. I'm not gonna show him documents or anything, i'm just gonna go to is house and do a massive burnout and tell him that it was done already and i'm not having any complications. I know certain things could use replacing (springs) but nothing like valves or anything serious, since it's not gonna be monster cam. I just need everyones help right now, the guy (who i give much repsect) kinda shoot me down hard, since that i can't do it, i know that i can and it can be done. Guys/girls, can u help a brotha out?

[FormulaLT1]

I read it but I fail to understand still, what are you looking for ?. Are you asking if it can be done even though it has already been done?. Cause you most certainly can change a cam with the heads in place . You need to remove parts from the head, like push rods and the intake manifold so you can take out the lifters but it without doubt can be done. Is that what your looking for?

[Link85x]

Yeah, i was actually waiting for you to respond aswell. I really want to show that i can do it, justed needed some verification from a master (...you...). Also needed a wicked confindence boost, which have now given me. Thanks formula, i new things like the pushrods and stuff would have to be removed, but you really should have heard this guy, he wouldn't listen to anything i said at all. He gots the mechanical exp., but he got all the facts mixed up really bad, and i can't convince him other, but to god ahead and install the damn cam. Once i get the springs and rockers, i gonna show him that i can do it. He told me before that i would have to get my headers fabricated and that putting exhaust on would be alot of money and you do that either (e was talking about true duals, but let's not get into that one).

[Link85x]

I'm also very tired, which would explain why some of this maybe confusing, brains on drain.

[blindeyed]

Yeah, I didn't really catch any of that. All I really interpreted was what Formula already pointed out and answered. Next time you get a chance, can you explain what the guy said about why he thought you couldn't. Or did he really think the car would fall apart? For a guy that has years of experience or working on cars.. he sure doesn't sound like he needs to be looking under the hood at all.

[Mr. Luos]

I am not familar with your motor.

How can you change the cam without the lifters falling? Can you get to them with the intake off and get them out so they don't fall?

[FormulaLT1]

Yeah, on SBC the cam holds them in place then you take out plates that are holding them from popping out, They make a special magnetized tool that is real easy to remove the lifters with but you can pull them by hand if there is not too much varnish or with plyers if you plan to never use them again obviously.

[Morley]

A backyard mechanic that ought to stick to working on backyards.
To pull the cam in car is pretty simple.
Remove the radiator and condensor (if installed).
Remove valve covers.
Remove distributor
Remove intake manifold.
Remove accessories to get to water pump.
Remove water pump.
Remove crank pulley and harmonic balancer
Drop the front of the oil pan
Remove timing cover.
Loosen rockers
Remove pushrods
Remove lifter retainer and lifters
Remove cam gear & chain
Remove cam.
Assemble in reverse order

[Rally Sport]

Oh yeah talk about waiting for a three day weekend. or break.

[instantkevin]

yes... you can install a cam with the engine still in the car... but that is the hard way of doing it. It is a lot easier if the engine is already out of the car.

the complications that most people overlook with a cam install are as follows:

1) factory heads normally will not have the necessary hardware for higher lift cams. valve springs often need to be replaced with stronger ones, which (often) requires machining of the valve seats, which would obviously require that the head be removed and taken to a machine shop.
2) additionally, higher lift cams will also move the pushrod closer to the pushrod hole in the head. the pushrod holes need to be drilled out to prevent the rod from being bent. (again, the head should ideally be removed for this process)
3) taller valve covers may be necessary to clear the rockers.
4) buying new lifters is always a good idea.

not to mention that there isn't an easy way of replacing valve springs with heads on the engine. i don't know how you would keep the valve from falling into the cylinder bore.

but on the positive side. the cam swap can be done without these problems as long as the new cam is not dramatically different than the original (in terms of lift). you can get a cam with similar lift and a longer duration that will give you more torque, for example. this way you won't have to do any machining or changing springs.... but what you really have to look at (in this scenario) is if the cam is not going to be dramatically different than the one you had before.... is it going to be worth all the work and time you put into it? would your money give you just as much a benefit from some other mod that is much easier to do, like exhaust system??

long story short: a cam install on an engine in the car is a big time and work investment. to make it worth it, the cam should (in my opinion) have a significant/drastic performance improvement in order to justify going thru the hassle.... (unless you want to do it for the learning experience).

I probably wouldn't do it. I would do other mods first. If you really want to do it... I would call your cam manufacturer and find out exactly what parts/specs you will need for that cam and find out if machine work will be necessary on your heads. It is not necessary to modify the exhaust system for a cam install.

read this article... http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...8_0405_choose/

also there is an article in one of my magazines about pitfalls you will encounter with you heads when installing a new cam (guideplates, rockers, machining, etc.). I'll go dig it up and post the info on it if you want me too.

Good luck.

[skibum1111]

It is possible to change valve springs with the heads still on. One trick to it is nylon clothesline, just feed it into the cylinder while the piston is at bottom, put as much in as you can make sure you leave some hanging out or you have to take the whole thing apart. Turn the motor until the piston is at top, the clothesline will push the valve up, leaving it in place when you take the springs off. Another way is to fill they cylinder with compressed air, most parts stores sell the adaptor to attach to a compressor. This is also good to see if you have any leaks in the cylinder, just don't put too much air in it or you will blow either a valve seal or a head gasket, depending on which is weaker. So yes, it can be done without taking the heads off, but given the amount of room in an f-body engine compartment, save yourself the bad language and just pull the motor and do it right, it will take about the same amount of time anyway if you are setup right.

[92zcamaroperson]

Im gonna wait on the cam for when I get my corvette heads. Build up the heads, port and polish and what not. then it should be easier( i think) to change a cam. I think that ill be pretty good then as far as power goes. Then the last thing ....turbo......

[Link85x]

Well, it's a stock LT1 cam, which really isn't a monster cam, but significantly better than my stock one, and from some research that i have been doing, the heads will be able to handle the lift without a problem. I will be changing the springs aswell, along with some 1.6 roller rockers.

[philly rs]

im sure if u know whats going on with what your doing u will be ok man. maybe because its not that easy to do it in the car hes just telling u not to do it to save u from messing something else up. i was told yesterday that after i get my new engine in the heads and cam could be changed with no problem while its in the car, because im putting so much money into the swap i wont be able to afford the mods untill after the first of the year, so i was thinking about leaving the engine out of the car to prevent having to take it out again. but like i said, they told me we can do it while the engine is in the car, and we all know how much room is in our bays with a damn ls based engine. now im not sure about 3rd gens at all because even the 8 cylinder engines have room in the bays which i thought was cool for working reasons, so u may have it made on that one.

[1986Z28]

yes it can be done, your friend is an idiot, the heads dont have to come off, ive done it many times and morley pretty has the process outlined, its a hell of alot of work but its well worth it