Head swap
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
Head swap
Does anyone have a link to step by step instructions to doing a head swap on a C5? I have swapped a lot heads (and engines) over the years, but what I'm looking for are the "tricks" in pulling them on the C5. Issues like the infamous power steering bolt removal, and the brackets and lines on the back of the heads, etc. After guys have removed a few sets, they tend to find "shortcuts" to most jobs
LS1howto has a cam and head swap, but there are obviously a few extra steps included in the write up, but it's the best I've found so far.
LS1howto has a cam and head swap, but there are obviously a few extra steps included in the write up, but it's the best I've found so far.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Euless TX
ls1howto.com is pretty detailed. I chose to remove the intake and accesories, coils, valve covers, heads first before lifting the car. After I removed these parts I then lifted the car and removed all the accessories in the front of the engine.
Last edited by kendo347; Jan 21, 2006 at 09:25 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 833
Likes: 7
From: Midtown Motors Indiana
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by kendo347
ls1howto.com is pretty detailed. I chose to remove the intake and accesories, coils, valve covers, heads first before lifting the car. After I removed these parts I then lifted the car and removed all the accessories in the front of the engine.
I used this when I did mine
http://www.ls1howto.com/
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
What I have been doing is editing the LS1howto procedure to eliminate the steps required for the cam and insert the step I want to do in addition. This allows you to make a specific procedure, and since I am running Crane rockers I need to move the guide plates and studs as well to the new heads. I did the same for my cam installation.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by kendo347
ls1howto.com is pretty detailed. I chose to remove the intake and accesories, coils, valve covers, heads first before lifting the car. After I removed these parts I then lifted the car and removed all the accessories in the front of the engine.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
Originally Posted by kendo347
ls1howto.com is pretty detailed. I chose to remove the intake and accesories, coils, valve covers, heads first before lifting the car. After I removed these parts I then lifted the car and removed all the accessories in the front of the engine.
What are you removing from under the car. I was under the impression that the power steering pump just had to be "loosen and pulled forward" enough to remove the head.
VN
I will proably wind up doing what you suggested and removing the water pump to get to the PS bolts, but I sure would like to avoid it if I can.
How are you coming with your heads? I've almost finished with my 2nd one and will be getting them put back together soon. Not sure whether or not to put the shims put back with the springs. I feel like they used them to take care of the 625 lift they mentioned.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Belton Missouri
I'm getting ready to do a head/cam swap in my 98 vert. Going to a bigger cam than I already have, putting on a 90/90 combo and changing the stock heads. The write up on ls1howto.com is excellent but I'm having a problem printing it. I selected the printable version, but when it prints it only prints the LS1HOWTO.COM header and the rest of the page is blank. Yes, I have checked my printer cartridges and they are fine. Anyone else experience this? Suggestions? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Actually, the reason I am pulling the water pump is I am going to put a tube in the front of the block and pump out the block once the pump is off. Hopefully, this will keep the coolant from going into the head bolt holes and the cylinders. At least that's my theory 
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
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I am waiting on some very fine lapping compound and my Comp 918's. I am switching springs to get a more favorable seat and over the nose pressure for the rocker setup I run.
As for the shims, I came up with these values (computed) the way they were installed:
Seat - Intake: 136.5
Seat - Exhaust: 134.6
Based on my lift of 0.583"
Open - Intake: 360.4
Open - Exhaust: 358.5
It seems that they balanced them out really well. Depending on the cam you are running, you could reduce the seat pressure if you wanted to and provide a little more coil clearance.
I have also seen some guys buying the heads and then changing to the dual springs, I may PM a couple of them and see if they want to sell the original Dart springs. These are very good/expensive springs if you read up on them.
As for the shims, I came up with these values (computed) the way they were installed:
Seat - Intake: 136.5
Seat - Exhaust: 134.6
Based on my lift of 0.583"
Open - Intake: 360.4
Open - Exhaust: 358.5
It seems that they balanced them out really well. Depending on the cam you are running, you could reduce the seat pressure if you wanted to and provide a little more coil clearance.
I have also seen some guys buying the heads and then changing to the dual springs, I may PM a couple of them and see if they want to sell the original Dart springs. These are very good/expensive springs if you read up on them.
