How to replace Cams and Valve Covers?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 107
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How to replace Cams and Valve Covers?
Alright so i wanna put in a comp cam that will give my corvette a loud choppy/rough idle but i wont have to change to much stuff on the engine. Which style comp cam will work for what im looking for? Also how do you remove a cam? To you have to take the engine out? Do you have to do something with timing?
Also to put on performance valve covers, do i just unbolt the old ones and put on the new ones? Or is there more to it?
Also to put on performance valve covers, do i just unbolt the old ones and put on the new ones? Or is there more to it?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
Changing a cam does require you to know timing and setting the distributor down properly. If you don't drop the rotor where it's suppose to be, the car won't start. You can change the cam with the engine in the car. You'll have to basically remove everything that's in front of the engine. You'll also have to drop the oil pan. If it's a flat tappet cam you'll have to know how to properly break it in or else you'll have major problems. I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm just trying to provide you with some info that you'll need
. Is your car all stock? Auto, or manual? Valve covers are easy to install and you will need new gaskets. Provide us with a bit more info on your engine and goals for the car to get better help. Good luck
.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 107
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I want to restore the entire car sometime in the next year or two. Its a 1976 Stingray 350 with Auto Trans. This is the cam i want http://www.compperformancegroupstore...egory_Code=HRT
It is all stock except for the K&N Air filter and True Dual Exhaust.
What do you mean dropping the distributer down properly?
It is all stock except for the K&N Air filter and True Dual Exhaust.
What do you mean dropping the distributer down properly?
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Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
You do know that's a roller cam right? Do you know what's involved in changing over to a roller cam setup? You can't just drop the distributor in and fire the car right up. You have find top dead center(TDC) and adjust the distributor accordingly. You'll need to upgrade your entire valvetrain system to make that work, and of course once you switch cams you need more fuel/air, etc... There's a whole lot more to switch cams then what you think. Contact Comp Cams and ask them what they recommend for you to meet your goals. You should also visit their website and read through their tech articles on cams. There's a lot of good information there.
.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,096
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
You have a lot to learn and that's OK. There's plenty of help here, but you need to find a book or do some internet research to get yourself a better knowledge base. There's too much involved for a novice like you to just ask a few questions and hope to understand it. You need illustrations and some good, clear descriptions to shed light on the topic. There are a number of good books out there specific to Chevy smallblocks. Maybe somebody can suggest one or two of them. That will be far more effective than having us try to explain it a bit at a time. Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 500
Likes: 1
From: Philadelphia PA
I would frankly suggest that you find an engine builder near you, or a good car/engine mechanic. Drive the car over and talk to him. Most you'll find have the patience to find out what you want to do, tell you what's involved, and let you how much it will cost. You'll learn alot as well. And then let him install the cam. Someone should be able to tailor the setup to achieve what you want.
There's so much to your questions, that you need a generic primer on engine building and function, which the builder or mechanic can help you with. Or you talk to someone who has an carburated engine car. There are so many implications to the simple cam change question that you wont a complete answer to on fourm board like this.
There's so much to your questions, that you need a generic primer on engine building and function, which the builder or mechanic can help you with. Or you talk to someone who has an carburated engine car. There are so many implications to the simple cam change question that you wont a complete answer to on fourm board like this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 156
From: Navarre FL
Its not out of reach for a first time do it yourselfer. But as other have said you need to do some research first. Im not sure you understand how deep your in here.
I use this book here
http://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Small-...4300250&sr=8-2
Its a little light on the cam differences, but has a lot of good information. I linked a few articles below that deal specifically with camshafts. Im in the middle of my fist engine build (or I guess still in the beginning) and I found this information to be really helpful in making my choices. Its also a good idea to talk to an engine builder. On top of all the information I linked here, I spoke with the shop where I am buying my parts from. They were more than happy to help me make my decision and inform me on the pro and cons of all the choices. Good luck
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/p...ion/index.html
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ams/index.html
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec...fts/index.html
I use this book here
http://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Small-...4300250&sr=8-2
Its a little light on the cam differences, but has a lot of good information. I linked a few articles below that deal specifically with camshafts. Im in the middle of my fist engine build (or I guess still in the beginning) and I found this information to be really helpful in making my choices. Its also a good idea to talk to an engine builder. On top of all the information I linked here, I spoke with the shop where I am buying my parts from. They were more than happy to help me make my decision and inform me on the pro and cons of all the choices. Good luck
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/p...ion/index.html
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ams/index.html
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec...fts/index.html
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
:i agree:HICK727 Quote:
Why?
hey... we all got to learn somehow and somewhere... good start... like diving into a pool in January... in for a big shock, but he will learn a lot.
imho, to the OP... FIRST go to the book store and buy the book, how to build SBC motors, it will answer many many questions, then there are a lot of very smart guys here that would help you through the tough parts, and there will be several..... now that being said, do you have the proper tools to do this job? do you have a good place to do the work? do you have plenty of time for the car to be down? This is a big task for a first timer, but it can be done
Last edited by pauldana; Sep 12, 2010 at 11:15 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Ok thanks everyone for the wake up. I guess my main concern is that i never no what everyone is talking about when they sat telling me what i need or have to to do. Im gonna hopefully take a Automotive Class at a local college. Hopefully that will help
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Manahawkin NJ
Swapping a cam is not that hard. Take your time, work neat and mark everything. Ask alot of questions and go slow. I have done many both in and out of the car, The biggest mistake I have made is picking too big a cam. For your application I would go with the following: COMP Cams CL12-600-4
I think that the 279/287 @ 0 and 227/241 @ 050 combined with a 107 degree lobe separation angle will give you the idle your looking for. The 107 LSA will move the torque lower and increase static compression. This should work with the stock converter.
I would like to hear others opinion of this cam selection.
I think that the 279/287 @ 0 and 227/241 @ 050 combined with a 107 degree lobe separation angle will give you the idle your looking for. The 107 LSA will move the torque lower and increase static compression. This should work with the stock converter.
I would like to hear others opinion of this cam selection.
Last edited by Tom Sarno; Sep 12, 2010 at 06:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Swapping a cam is not that hard. Take your time, work neat and mark everything. Ask alot of questions and go slow. I have done many both in and out of the car, The biggest mistake I have made is picking too big a cam. For your application I would go with the following: COMP Cams CL12-600-4
I think that the 279/287 @ 0 and 227/241 @ 050 combined with a 107 degree lobe separation angle will give you the idle your looking for. The 107 LSA will move the torque lower and increase static compression. This should work with the stock converter.
I would like to hear others opinion of this cam selection.
I think that the 279/287 @ 0 and 227/241 @ 050 combined with a 107 degree lobe separation angle will give you the idle your looking for. The 107 LSA will move the torque lower and increase static compression. This should work with the stock converter.
I would like to hear others opinion of this cam selection.
Couple stupid sounding questions:
1. It says it has a RPM Range: 2000 to 5800. What doe that mean? I cant go past 6,000 rpm?
2. Whats a converter? It says it will work will stock converter. Whats that?
3. It says it needs minimal maintenance. What kind of maintenance will it be and how often?
4. What else do i have to change to make this work? My engine is all stock.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Changing a cam does require you to know timing and setting the distributor down properly. If you don't drop the rotor where it's suppose to be, the car won't start. You can change the cam with the engine in the car. You'll have to basically remove everything that's in front of the engine. You'll also have to drop the oil pan. If it's a flat tappet cam you'll have to know how to properly break it in or else you'll have major problems. I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm just trying to provide you with some info that you'll need
. Is your car all stock? Auto, or manual? Valve covers are easy to install and you will need new gaskets. Provide us with a bit more info on your engine and goals for the car to get better help. Good luck. Not meaning to be negative but I can not think of anything that will screw up the performance and cause more problems to an engine than the wrong cam or an incorrectly installed cam
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Ok this is my plan. My grandpas friend owns a mechanics shop. I think what ill do is ask if they can help me install this kit that way i can help and learn how to do it also.
This is that same cam Tom Sarno recommend but it comes with brand new stuff also.
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...gory_Code=HFTT
Sound like a good idea?
This is that same cam Tom Sarno recommend but it comes with brand new stuff also.
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...gory_Code=HFTT
Sound like a good idea?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
When you choose a cam you will need to include matching springs, and many other things, to go with it so that you won't have problems. Looks like you're really determined to get that Thumpr cam, but do you want it just because of the idle characteristics? If so, that's not the correct way to choose a cam. When they say that it works from 2000 to 5800RPM, that means that that's the RPM level where the power is made. I'd advice you to go over to a good performance shop and ask them a couple of question about cams. Tell them your goals and they will work with you to tell you what you need. I read over your profile and I saw that you are in high school. You remind me of my self a couple of years ago. I use to think I could just drop in a cam and go, but there's much more to it then that. I learned a lot by reading articles on the internet, going to local shops, and here on the forum. Go and do more research and then choose the right cam for your car. Here is the same cam, but as a complete kit that comes with matching springs, lifters, etc...
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-K12-600-4/
. Here is the same cam, but as a complete kit that comes with matching springs, lifters, etc...http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-K12-600-4/