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cam install help!!

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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 12:44 PM
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Default cam install help!!

I just purchased a cam for my zo6 and was wondering whats the best way to do the cam swap? When we looked up flat rate at a chevy dealership my buddy works at it said 20 hours to do the swap. For the quote it said that was pulling the motor out of the car due to clearance issues of the rack being in the way of the balancer. This isnt my first cam swap I have done f body's and just did a cam swap for a guy on a gto and the flat rate said to remove the bumper which we ended up not doing. So the question is is there a way not pull the motor and do it faster?
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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 12:53 PM
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You don't have to remove the motor. Move the rack out of the way of the balancer, takes 10 minutes.
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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 01:00 PM
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Originally Posted by nickolbag
You don't have to remove the motor. Move the rack out of the way of the balancer, takes 10 minutes.
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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 03:10 PM
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Not a tough job at all, follow the below link minus the heads section but now is a good time to change! I just completed H/C/I with the same write up. One tip that helped me was every single set of bolts you remove place them in a ziplock bag, label the part they belong to and the size.

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1

Any questions feel free to PM me.
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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 04:21 PM
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Just swapped my cam a few weeks ago - like others have said, just move the rack out of the way and go to town. Not a bad job at all. Good luck!

Gabe
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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by BlackHardTop
Not a tough job at all, follow the below link minus the heads section but now is a good time to change! I just completed H/C/I with the same write up. One tip that helped me was every single set of bolts you remove place them in a ziplock bag, label the part they belong to and the size.

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1

Any questions feel free to PM me.

....Many have cursed this part of their installs so when it came time to do mine, I was ready. I took mine all the way out but all you need to do is remove it far enough to get full access to the balancer.

MY cursing and high blood-pressure came about when I dealt with the harness bracket behind the passenger side head .....

Good luck......
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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 04:52 PM
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It took me about 15 hours or so from jacking it up to initial start. I have a well equipped tool box and air. I spent extra time cleaning all the debris out of the Radiator and Condenser, installing a Callaway Honker (cutting the shroud etc), new thermostat, then the comp 921 valve spring, retainer, seal kit.

I would not say moving the rack is a 10 minute job.

Get a valve spring tool and something to pressurize the cylinders to hold the valves up. 18mm stubby (not flare) worked best for me on the PS lines. Gear wrench set, wobbles / swivels all make it easier. I dropped a bolt down in the oil pan, thank god I have a 24" flexible magnet and was able to retrieve it w/o dropping the pan!
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Old Jul 7, 2009 | 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by ttribe

I would not say moving the rack is a 10 minute job.
Ok ok. 15 minutes

Its just a few basic bolts and its out. Guess my point was its a pretty simple job. Once you know what your doing it can be out very quickly.
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