changing cam in car need to remove condensor?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
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From: North tonawanda NY
changing cam in car need to remove condensor?
For anyone whos changed the cam in their c3 without pulling the engine, I pulled the radiator, can I swap cams without pulling the hood and and ac condenser? It looks like it will be close but possibly doable? planning on going to a retro roller howards cam from my voodoo 262 cam.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: FL
Small block or big block?
I have swapped small block cams by just pulling radiator (no AC). Cam would just clear hood with hood still installed. With AC, you can probably pull hood and move condenser far enough forward to pull cam.
With big block, expect to have to pull everything.
I have swapped small block cams by just pulling radiator (no AC). Cam would just clear hood with hood still installed. With AC, you can probably pull hood and move condenser far enough forward to pull cam.
With big block, expect to have to pull everything.
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removing and reinstalling the hood is so easy. can't imagine why you would try to work around it. when I did the cam in my 77, I removed the condenser.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Cool Northern Michigan
No need to remove A/C condenser. There is enough slack in the lines to allow it to move forward. However, the brackets holding it must be removed, four bolts.
Then, using a piece of wood, jamb that between brackets and core support.
Get a helper to remove the hood and store it against a wall, cowl side down on the floor. Makes things so much easier. Take a black Sharpie and trace the hinges before hood removal. Each of you should have a socket & ratchet. Blankets on the fenders. Jamb a broom handle between firewall & hood. It helps.
After you get your timing chain & cam sprocket off, put the cam sprocket back on with one bolt. Use that sprocket as a handle for leverage when pulling the cam. As the sprocket nears the A/C condenser you can remove the sprocket.
Then, using a piece of wood, jamb that between brackets and core support.
Get a helper to remove the hood and store it against a wall, cowl side down on the floor. Makes things so much easier. Take a black Sharpie and trace the hinges before hood removal. Each of you should have a socket & ratchet. Blankets on the fenders. Jamb a broom handle between firewall & hood. It helps.
After you get your timing chain & cam sprocket off, put the cam sprocket back on with one bolt. Use that sprocket as a handle for leverage when pulling the cam. As the sprocket nears the A/C condenser you can remove the sprocket.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Jan 5, 2021 at 07:37 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
It is a small block.
I also plan to try installing the electric fan/shroud setup I bought to put in the car when I built the engine but didnt install at the last minute due to lack of patience at the time.
Last edited by augiedoggy; Jan 5, 2021 at 10:44 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Cool Northern Michigan
If your hood alignment is spot-on right now, it will be spot-on when reinstalling later, thanks the felt pen tracing marks.
If you have an automatic, this is a great time to add a small tranny cooler with the hood off. You don't have to hook-up the lines now, just mount the cooler, route the hoses for a later time. A thin 3/4" cooler will fit right in front and onto the A/C condenser vertically..
If you have an automatic, this is a great time to add a small tranny cooler with the hood off. You don't have to hook-up the lines now, just mount the cooler, route the hoses for a later time. A thin 3/4" cooler will fit right in front and onto the A/C condenser vertically..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
If your hood alignment is spot-on right now, it will be spot-on when reinstalling later, thanks the felt pen tracing marks.
If you have an automatic, this is a great time to add a small tranny cooler with the hood off. You don't have to hook-up the lines now, just mount the cooler, route the hoses for a later time. A thin 3/4" cooler will fit right in front and onto the A/C condenser vertically..
If you have an automatic, this is a great time to add a small tranny cooler with the hood off. You don't have to hook-up the lines now, just mount the cooler, route the hoses for a later time. A thin 3/4" cooler will fit right in front and onto the A/C condenser vertically..
or is this something I will need to beef up with the 200r4 future upgrade?
Last edited by augiedoggy; Jan 5, 2021 at 01:27 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: McHenry Illinois
My opinion on the trans cooler is that if you are not towing or road racing, there is no need for an external cooler. Millions of cars and trucks make it just fine with the factory set up. You will hear other opinions here, but facts are facts.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Cool Northern Michigan
Heat is the number one destroyer of transmissions. GM thought that the bottom of the radiator would be adequate enough for cooling of the trans. GM did not figure the C3s engine compartment is one of the hottest known to man with very little air flow.
I am just saying that a small cooler is a Godsend for the awful temperatures that the tranny has to endure. And there are millions of vehicles on the road right now with PS coolers and trans coolers that do not even have a trailer hitch.
Ironically, the day I installed my trans cooler, the water temps dropped by 15*. Win-win.
I am just saying that a small cooler is a Godsend for the awful temperatures that the tranny has to endure. And there are millions of vehicles on the road right now with PS coolers and trans coolers that do not even have a trailer hitch.
Ironically, the day I installed my trans cooler, the water temps dropped by 15*. Win-win.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Jan 6, 2021 at 08:33 PM.
One gear at a time
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
is the tranny cooler built into the aftermarket radiator lacking for a street car though? Its a stock TC and the cam is fairly mild https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hrs-cl111145-10
or is this something I will need to beef up with the 200r4 future upgrade?
or is this something I will need to beef up with the 200r4 future upgrade?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
The cam software show a decent bump in both torque and HP with either the howards or comp cam which have almost identical performance numbers in Dyno2000
Last edited by augiedoggy; Jan 10, 2021 at 12:26 PM.