[Z06] Cam swap
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Oh
Cam swap
Iam going to start my cam swap job on my 03Z soon. Iam installing a Comp Cam XR275HR and I need some advice please.
1. Can I run the factory timing chain? It has 36000 miles on it.
2. Do I really need to pin the harmonic balancer?
3. Iam not going to remove the heads so what brand of valve spring
compressor will work best.
Thanks for the help.
1. Can I run the factory timing chain? It has 36000 miles on it.
2. Do I really need to pin the harmonic balancer?
3. Iam not going to remove the heads so what brand of valve spring
compressor will work best.
Thanks for the help.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,639
Likes: 39
From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Iam going to start my cam swap job on my 03Z soon. Iam installing a Comp Cam XR275HR and I need some advice please.
1. Can I run the factory timing chain? It has 36000 miles on it.
2. Do I really need to pin the harmonic balancer?
3. Iam not going to remove the heads so what brand of valve spring
compressor will work best.
Thanks for the help.
1. Can I run the factory timing chain? It has 36000 miles on it.
2. Do I really need to pin the harmonic balancer?
3. Iam not going to remove the heads so what brand of valve spring
compressor will work best.
Thanks for the help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 9
From: Springhill FL
I did my cam swap at 26k miles. I have an 03 Z as well 
Your stock chain should be fine, its still practically new. I cant see replacing perfectly good parts as a "precaution". If you had higher mileage or were going with a radical cam it would make more sense.
I didnt pin my crank. Should only really be necessary if you are running a supercharger, which applies more load on the pulley. If this is something you may add in the future then do it now to save the headache later.
I used a cheap, but very effective tool developed by an LS1tech forum member. He sells it on ebay for $38. There are more expensive tools that allow you to do two springs at once... but how many times are you planning to do this job? I couldnt justify spending 2-4 times the money for somethign that becomes a decoration once the job is done
Your stock chain should be fine, its still practically new. I cant see replacing perfectly good parts as a "precaution". If you had higher mileage or were going with a radical cam it would make more sense.
I didnt pin my crank. Should only really be necessary if you are running a supercharger, which applies more load on the pulley. If this is something you may add in the future then do it now to save the headache later.
I used a cheap, but very effective tool developed by an LS1tech forum member. He sells it on ebay for $38. There are more expensive tools that allow you to do two springs at once... but how many times are you planning to do this job? I couldnt justify spending 2-4 times the money for somethign that becomes a decoration once the job is done
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Oh
Thanks guys. I'll look on Ebay for that tool. Iam only going to do this once so I dont need to spend $100.
Just insatlled LG longtubes, no converters using stock mufflers. Sounds great under power and civil at idle.
Just insatlled LG longtubes, no converters using stock mufflers. Sounds great under power and civil at idle.
Last edited by ohioman; Aug 4, 2012 at 08:05 PM. Reason: Needed a G.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Oh
I have the correct springs and other related parts from Comp Cams.
Thanks for the comperssor info. That one looks like it works out pretty good.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
