Cam Install
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 4
From: Mililani HI
Cam Install
How many members here did your own cam change? What was the difficulties? Any and all information is greatly appreciated.
Reason being is I have my cam in which is a Comp Cams XR275HR which is a 222/224, 566/568, 112 LSA.
Reason being is I have my cam in which is a Comp Cams XR275HR which is a 222/224, 566/568, 112 LSA.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,949
Likes: 263
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
LS1howto.com has excellent step by step that many have used.
Good luck! I never wanted to deal with the rack and getting 240 ft lbs on the balancer bolt without a lift. But I respect those who dare! Here in FL you can get a cam install and tune in a day or two for $2k so its not worth the hassle. Given that cam is $400, springs $250 and dyno tune $500, various bolts and fluids $100, it's not a bad deal at $2k.
Good luck! I never wanted to deal with the rack and getting 240 ft lbs on the balancer bolt without a lift. But I respect those who dare! Here in FL you can get a cam install and tune in a day or two for $2k so its not worth the hassle. Given that cam is $400, springs $250 and dyno tune $500, various bolts and fluids $100, it's not a bad deal at $2k.
Last edited by Joe_G; Jan 2, 2008 at 07:58 AM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: ca
Me and a buddy just finished a QM 600cam in his z.Hard part getting the rad and ac core apart.Lower hose on the ac core is very tight to the radiator.We didnt discharge the freon.Tools you will need a good puller snap on,balancer install tool or longer bolt,and a ls valve spring tool.Its not as bad as it looks .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
I did the cam in my 01 Z28 a couple of years ago. Wasn't too bad, took me about a day and a half one weekend. However, if you aren't replacing the timing chain with a double roller like I did (and you don't need to with the LS2 or LS3) it would have saved a bunch of time. You have to space out the oil pump and then it becomes a nightmare getting the oil pickup tube back in the pump without pinching the o-ring. The only other tricky items are:
1) Rent the 3 jaw puller from Autozone to get the harmonic balancer off, this was pretty easy.
2) Putting the harmonic balancer back on, get a longer bolt from NAPA to start it and pull it on, then torque it down good with a new bolt. Then use a good breaker bar with your floor jack handle as a cheater bar to get the additional 140 degrees of rotation on the bolt (this is tough).
3) Buy a good tool (Crane is the best) to compress the valve springs. I used the Larry tool, it's cheap and works fine. Put grease on the valve keepers to keep them from falling all over the place.
Good luck,
Glenn
1) Rent the 3 jaw puller from Autozone to get the harmonic balancer off, this was pretty easy.
2) Putting the harmonic balancer back on, get a longer bolt from NAPA to start it and pull it on, then torque it down good with a new bolt. Then use a good breaker bar with your floor jack handle as a cheater bar to get the additional 140 degrees of rotation on the bolt (this is tough).
3) Buy a good tool (Crane is the best) to compress the valve springs. I used the Larry tool, it's cheap and works fine. Put grease on the valve keepers to keep them from falling all over the place.
Good luck,
Glenn
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,093
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I have done quite a few on C5's and C6's.The 240ft lbs on the balancer isnt a issue. The steering rack is 30 minutes at best. Just go step for step as you see it n the LS1www.howto.com writeup.
Figure 12-15 hours if your really good at this stuff. My first one took 30 hrs because I was being **** and also because I fell asleep under the car while resting my eyes a couple of times.
One recommendation: When you align the cam and crank dots, be well rested and have another person look at it or post the picture on here for us to look at it. This mistake will cost you an engine especially if you have hollow stem valves. Rotate the engine by hand once you get the rockers back in the car (plugs out makes this easier). If it gets hung up you did something wrong. Use a TQ wrench and when in doubt, use locktite. Dont use single springs; its worth the extra 200 bucks for a dual spring and if one breaks you will know why. Try to do this stuff on a saturday with a parts place open just in case.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 4
From: Mililani HI
I have done quite a few on C5's and C6's.The 240ft lbs on the balancer isnt a issue. The steering rack is 30 minutes at best. Just go step for step as you see it n the LS1www.howto.com writeup.
Figure 12-15 hours if your really good at this stuff. My first one took 30 hrs because I was being **** and also because I fell asleep under the car while resting my eyes a couple of times.
One recommendation: When you align the cam and crank dots, be well rested and have another person look at it or post the picture on here for us to look at it. This mistake will cost you an engine especially if you have hollow stem valves. Rotate the engine by hand once you get the rockers back in the car (plugs out makes this easier). If it gets hung up you did something wrong. Use a TQ wrench and when in doubt, use locktite. Dont use single springs; its worth the extra 200 bucks for a dual spring and if one breaks you will know why. Try to do this stuff on a saturday with a parts place open just in case.
Spin and the rest of the guys, thanks for responding.
I have fallen asleep under and also while leaning over the engine my oldest daughter still reminds me of those events.
I do have the Comp Cams valve train kit with dual springs, seats, locks, seals and pushrods.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,902
Likes: 2
From: RIP Lotus
St. Jude Donor '09
LS1howto.com has excellent step by step that many have used.
Good luck! I never wanted to deal with the rack and getting 240 ft lbs on the balancer bolt without a lift. But I respect those who dare! Here in FL you can get a cam install and tune in a day or two for $2k so its not worth the hassle. Given that cam is $400, springs $250 and dyno tune $500, various bolts and fluids $100, it's not a bad deal at $2k.
Good luck! I never wanted to deal with the rack and getting 240 ft lbs on the balancer bolt without a lift. But I respect those who dare! Here in FL you can get a cam install and tune in a day or two for $2k so its not worth the hassle. Given that cam is $400, springs $250 and dyno tune $500, various bolts and fluids $100, it's not a bad deal at $2k.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton FL
Something I picked up when reinstalling the UD pulley on my/friends GTOs was to heat up the actual cylinder part of the Pulley with a torch just enough so that it will create enough clearance to slide on, Goes on like Butter (Literally).
