Cam swap problem
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 99
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From: Colorado Springs Co
Cam swap problem
Hello All,
I am doing a cam swap on a 00 C5. It seemed pretty straight forward, spin the cam, insert 5/16" rod to hold up lifters, swap cams..
The drivers side slid right in, but the passenger side will only go half way. I've tried a wooden and steel 5/16" rod. The cam spin freely with no resistance, but still can't get it in.
I'm worried about pulling the cam and letting a lifter fall... Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
I am doing a cam swap on a 00 C5. It seemed pretty straight forward, spin the cam, insert 5/16" rod to hold up lifters, swap cams..
The drivers side slid right in, but the passenger side will only go half way. I've tried a wooden and steel 5/16" rod. The cam spin freely with no resistance, but still can't get it in.
I'm worried about pulling the cam and letting a lifter fall... Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
The lifter trays are supposed to hold the lifters UP in the tray when spinning the cam--inserting the rods keeps them up during the cam swap----It is not un common on an older car that the trays wear out and won't hold the lifters up---They are made out of plastic and age creates too much clearance and the won't stay up----If this happens----The only way to get them back up again is to remove the intake and heads--Big job----But I don't see any other way around it---Maybe someone else has some other trick---But I doubt it---Sorry
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 99
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From: Colorado Springs Co
I did taper the wood and the steel rod to help, but still didn't work. I've got the car torn apart to do the cam, springs, retainers, t.chain, oil pump, intake manifold, radiator, and super charger.. so it's tore down. But I really didn't want to pull the headers and exhaust to pull the heads..
But I will do what I have to, when I spin the cam, there's no resistance. I would think I could pull the cam??
Thanks guys for your input!
But I will do what I have to, when I spin the cam, there's no resistance. I would think I could pull the cam??
Thanks guys for your input!
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 99
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From: Colorado Springs Co
I went and got a pencil magnet this morning.. I found out that the rod goes into the indent in the middle of the lifter, I though it was going under the lifter. So I was afraid to get too aggressive pushing the rod in. I'm going to try the magnet. I've got my whole car tore apart and I hate to pull the exhaust / headers off to pull the heads! It's getting scary...
Thanks guys....
Thanks guys....
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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same thing happened to me and what I had to end up doing was flattening the full length of one side of the rod on a bench grinder to get it to slide in all the way
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Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 99
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From: Colorado Springs Co
so.. the drivers side went in first time no problem. The passenger side still doesn't want to go all the way. I can see the lifters trough the pushrod holes, so if I put magnet pens on the last 4, that should keep them from falling?
Right?
If I pull the cam now and nothing happens, then great. If one drops I will have to pull the heads. I hate to pull them without trying first..
Right?
If I pull the cam now and nothing happens, then great. If one drops I will have to pull the heads. I hate to pull them without trying first..
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
so.. the drivers side went in first time no problem. The passenger side still doesn't want to go all the way. I can see the lifters trough the pushrod holes, so if I put magnet pens on the last 4, that should keep them from falling?
Right?
If I pull the cam now and nothing happens, then great. If one drops I will have to pull the heads. I hate to pull them without trying first..
Right?
If I pull the cam now and nothing happens, then great. If one drops I will have to pull the heads. I hate to pull them without trying first..
Neutron is right, flatten one side. Grind a little under 1/4 of the rod away. Then when you slide all the way turn the rod so the rounded part is facing the lifters.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Yes, on some of the earlier motors this is required to use the rods. Note also that the rods will keep the lifters from falling out but not from dropping enough to cause interference with the cam removal and installation.