Tips for cam install....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: St. louis, Missouri
Tips for cam install....
Plan on doing a LPE blower cam to go w/ the Maggie that was installed last year by LPE. Any tips or advise for doing this install at home. I've read about using pen magnets to hold the lifters or put some sort of dowl rod in the front of the motor to hold them up. If anyone in the St. louis area whats to help out, let me know 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Good deal, another LPE GT2-3 fan. I'm enjoying mine..
Anyway, you really owe it to yourself to surf on over to LS1howto.com
Very informative site.
I used dowel rods during my swap, but you know what? If the retainers don't hold the lifters, you'll still have issues trying to remove and re-install the cam. So you may need both (magnets and rods), just to have all situations covered.
When I did mine, (while the cam was still in the motor of course), I tested how well the lifters were seated in the tray. I had to use a good deal of force to get them to pop back down, pushing on the top of the push rod. So unless your lifter trays are worn out, you shouldn't have an issue. A lot of folks do the swap without any "security measures" at all.
Good luck.
Anyway, you really owe it to yourself to surf on over to LS1howto.com
Very informative site.
I used dowel rods during my swap, but you know what? If the retainers don't hold the lifters, you'll still have issues trying to remove and re-install the cam. So you may need both (magnets and rods), just to have all situations covered.
When I did mine, (while the cam was still in the motor of course), I tested how well the lifters were seated in the tray. I had to use a good deal of force to get them to pop back down, pushing on the top of the push rod. So unless your lifter trays are worn out, you shouldn't have an issue. A lot of folks do the swap without any "security measures" at all.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Good deal, another LPE GT2-3 fan. I'm enjoying mine..
Anyway, you really owe it to yourself to surf on over to LS1howto.com
Very informative site. LS1tech.com has a ton of posts on cam swaps as well.
I used dowel rods during my swap, but you know what? If the retainers don't hold the lifters, you'll still have issues trying to remove and re-install the cam. So you may need both (magnets and rods), just to have all situations covered.
When I did mine, (while the cam was still in the motor of course), I tested how well the lifters were seated in the tray. I had to use a good deal of force to get them to pop back down, pushing on the top of the push rod. So unless your lifter trays are worn out, you shouldn't have an issue. A lot of folks do the swap without any "security measures" at all.
Good luck.
Anyway, you really owe it to yourself to surf on over to LS1howto.com
Very informative site. LS1tech.com has a ton of posts on cam swaps as well.
I used dowel rods during my swap, but you know what? If the retainers don't hold the lifters, you'll still have issues trying to remove and re-install the cam. So you may need both (magnets and rods), just to have all situations covered.
When I did mine, (while the cam was still in the motor of course), I tested how well the lifters were seated in the tray. I had to use a good deal of force to get them to pop back down, pushing on the top of the push rod. So unless your lifter trays are worn out, you shouldn't have an issue. A lot of folks do the swap without any "security measures" at all.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
When we did ENGLANDGREENS cam, we used the dowl rods and they worked EXCELLENT! I got the wooden dowls at home depot for a whopping 63 cents each. Nothing special, just wooden dowls. I need to ask Connecticut or EG what size the dowl was.
I have pictures of them in the engine somewhere. I'll see if I can find them.
NICE Picture CT!!
BC
I have pictures of them in the engine somewhere. I'll see if I can find them.
NICE Picture CT!!
BC
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: St. louis, Missouri
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
we used the dowl rods and they worked EXCELLENT! I got the wooden dowls at home depot for a whopping 63 cents each. Nothing special, just wooden dowls.
BC
BC
I was hoping I could do the same. Saw some aluminum ones, made just for doing cams and they were $75. I'll go w/ the .63 cents
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If your changing the cam, you will most likely need to upgrade the valve springs and push rods. EG had a cool valve spring compressor. I think he got it from Thunder Racing. We also installed a new double roller chain and ported oil pump.
Here are all of the pictures that I have. Sorry. none have the dowl rods.
PORTED OIL PUMP
BC
Here are all of the pictures that I have. Sorry. none have the dowl rods.
PORTED OIL PUMP
BC
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
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
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: St. louis, Missouri
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
If your changing the cam, you will most likely need to upgrade the valve springs and push rods.
BC
BC
You guys that did the install, What was the hardest part??
I've read that lining up the dots and get the cam gear on takes the longest