Help me plan my cam swap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
Help me plan my cam swap
I have decided to do my own cam swap and save the $ for a good tune or other goodies. I have not decided when to start but I figure I should start planning it out, it would be the first time i have attempted it. I need to start figuring out what are the other things that need to be replaced when doing the cam, since I have almost everything out anyway. I am looking for the stuff that you guys have ran into and either broke or should be addressed. Thanks.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
It's a good time to consider a better timing set than stock, and convert to an electric water pump. I've seen too many broken cam gears from big cam lt1's with stock timing sets. Depending on how many miles are on your lifters, and how big of a cam your going to, you might want to consider an aftermarket replacement.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
My ride has 63k miles, I have no reason to think they are abused miles judging by the past owners. I will go with Gm's Hotcam unless proven otherwise. I will go with a heavy duty timing chain .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: Madison Mississippi
All good advice, I would definately replace the plugs, wires, timing set, opti-spark and drop the oil pan completely to get a good seal. Good luck and have fun getting the front hub off. 
And also replace the water pump
And also replace the water pump
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 0
From: Olathe, KS USA
All good stuff, here's some more.. http://www.hashmarks.com/techtips/hot_cam.htmAlso you may want to up-grade your Opti-spark as-per the Corvette Fever Tip http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/16758
Last edited by C4Crazy787; Feb 10, 2005 at 11:23 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 834
Likes: 1
From: Keller Texas
Originally Posted by C4Crazy787
All good stuff, here's some more.. http://www.hashmarks.com/techtips/hot_cam.htmAlso you may want to up-grade your Opti-spark as-per the Corvette Fever Tip http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/16758
I am in the process of finishing the hot cam install on my lt4. It it a lot of work but I have no regerets of doing it myself. Its worth it and you will be glad you did it yourself. Make sure you lable all you bolts in a sandwinch bags
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 1
From: atlanta Georgia
doing it yourself is awesome!
not only do you save alot! and yes I mean alot of $!!
you get the pride of saying yea I did that. and when people ask you can say yea i do all the work on my car and they marvel.
I tell my friends that and they are like how the hell u find out how to do that. and Im like CF... I think after a yr on CF I could be a certified vette tech.
thanks to all the great people on here I am doing things I never would have imagined!
Good luck and remember if something seems odd or not right step back and run it but us.
Your friend
Sean
not only do you save alot! and yes I mean alot of $!!
you get the pride of saying yea I did that. and when people ask you can say yea i do all the work on my car and they marvel.
I tell my friends that and they are like how the hell u find out how to do that. and Im like CF... I think after a yr on CF I could be a certified vette tech.
thanks to all the great people on here I am doing things I never would have imagined!
Good luck and remember if something seems odd or not right step back and run it but us.
Your friend
Sean
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 4
From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by 94brick
Great advice guys thanks. I have a Chiltons manuel, is Helms better? I also have the hasmarks link book marked. I will address the opti and oil pan. Anyone else??
Some people also do an electric water pump when they do the cam swap. There are conflicting opinions on this but it will allow you to use a much much cheaper double roller timing chain. It will also allow for more HP.
I am going this route as you can see the Hashmarks link did too. There are lots of posts about this if you are interested.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 1
From: Green Bay WI
Originally Posted by 94brick
Great advice guys thanks. I have a Chiltons manuel, is Helms better? I also have the hasmarks link book marked. I will address the opti and oil pan. Anyone else??
