Changing my cam...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Hickory Creek Tx.
Changing my cam...
Can someone tell me if I can change my cam on my 2000 FRC Ls1 without pulling the motor. Is ther enough room if I take out the radiator and what is involved just pulling the front plate and then swapping them out and then put it back together. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 225
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
no motor pull; rad.,fans,rack,h2o pump,front cover,valve covers for new springs
ck out www.ls1howto.com for a good overview
ck out www.ls1howto.com for a good overview
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
From: Placerville Ca
I'm not a mechanic, but understand the guys who swap out cams without pulling the motor have some special tools to hold stuff in place or it all will go very badly.
Also, are you planing to up grade the springs & push rods in your head. I understand that if you upgrade the cam and don't do this you could lose the engine down the road.
.
Also, are you planing to up grade the springs & push rods in your head. I understand that if you upgrade the cam and don't do this you could lose the engine down the road.
.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 1
From: Dripping Springs Texas
I don't understand why you'd want to pull the motor for a cam swap? Obviously you'll need the necessary clearance in front of the engine to actually pull the cam itself out so whatever needs to be removed in front of the motor goes. The lifters ride on the cam, pushrods-rockers above that so you'd probably want the lifters out of there so they don't simply drop down. You'll be upgrading the springs anyway so no biggie. So, what am I missing? This is the same basic V8 design that was running around in the 60's if I'm not mistaken. ... and I'm not saying that's a bad thing at all. 
edit: Thinking here, the only potential issue I can think of is not to let the valves drop down into the cylinders when you remove the springs. That can be done a few different ways... pumping air into the cylinder and by physically holding the valve in there. I haven't done this in a while and never on a Chevy so... do some research. Can't be all that difficult though.
edit: Thinking here, the only potential issue I can think of is not to let the valves drop down into the cylinders when you remove the springs. That can be done a few different ways... pumping air into the cylinder and by physically holding the valve in there. I haven't done this in a while and never on a Chevy so... do some research. Can't be all that difficult though.
Last edited by Hatdude; Sep 3, 2006 at 02:49 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
Originally Posted by connecticut
no motor pull; rad.,fans,rack,h2o pump,front cover,valve covers for new springs
ck out www.ls1howto.com for a good overview
ck out www.ls1howto.com for a good overview
This site will cover it all;
The only real issue to me is the PS rack. You can get by just moving it to one side as opposed to pulling it out, but either way, it's a pure PITA!!
The rest is fairly straight forward. Just read very closly about how to hold the lifters in place with the cam out or you'll be trying to fish them out of your oil pan
Oh; and depending on the miles, you might want to go ahead and replace the OP and timing chain while you're there. Chain is already off and oil pumps right there...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Hickory Creek Tx.
Thanks for your help, I was gonna pump air to hold them up but just curious about not changing the springs, I can understand if I went with a huge cam, but are the stock springs not capable of handle 430 hp?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville NC
Originally Posted by SultansDiamond
I'm not a mechanic, but understand the guys who swap out cams without pulling the motor have some special tools to hold stuff in place or it all will go very badly.
Also, are you planing to up grade the springs & push rods in your head. I understand that if you upgrade the cam and don't do this you could lose the engine down the road.
Also, are you planing to up grade the springs & push rods in your head. I understand that if you upgrade the cam and don't do this you could lose the engine down the road.
Springs & pushrods are a must...stock springs won't be able to function right with a higher lift cam. Hardened pushrods are necessary because the stock ones will flex under high RPM with a new cam/stiff spring setup.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,799
Likes: 11
From: dudley MA
Originally Posted by muncie21
Use a dowel to support the lifters while the cam is out.
Springs can be changed easily by rotating piston to TDC; valve has no where to drop to then.
Springs can be changed easily by rotating piston to TDC; valve has no where to drop to then.
unless i did somethin wrong which is common
