DIY Cam Swap
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 240
From: Saint Louis MO
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
The official instructions are absurdly long and have incredible amounts of prerequisite postings.
Having spoken to many shops regarding the 'tricks' and caveats of the installs, I've never felt comfortable posting the instructions here (from the first day of having all of the info in 2013).
I'm not a huge fan of the 'just let a shop do it' attitude, but on this powerplant, I'd highly suggest finding a reputable, experienced shop do it. Too much to go wrong, otherwise, especially with the (questionably) poor design from the factory.
Having spoken to many shops regarding the 'tricks' and caveats of the installs, I've never felt comfortable posting the instructions here (from the first day of having all of the info in 2013).
I'm not a huge fan of the 'just let a shop do it' attitude, but on this powerplant, I'd highly suggest finding a reputable, experienced shop do it. Too much to go wrong, otherwise, especially with the (questionably) poor design from the factory.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 28
From: Aledo, TX
This is not a DIY but you can see what is involved
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...-lt1-cam-swap/
By the way their results were terrible compared to what tuners are getting out of these now.
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...-lt1-cam-swap/
By the way their results were terrible compared to what tuners are getting out of these now.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 50
From: Prosper TX
I'm not so worried of the price tag, but all the things that can go wrong on the install.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 28
From: Aledo, TX
Yup, including parts. Had a few shops price it out. They all said its not a fun job that they want to do. GM knows we love cam swaps on our cars, they sure made it difficult this go around.
I'm not so worried of the price tag, but all the things that can go wrong on the install.
I'm not so worried of the price tag, but all the things that can go wrong on the install.
I have been waiting for 2 weeks to get my heads back from Texas Speed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 28
From: Aledo, TX
No I am using this on a road course I am going the conservative route, not worth the extra power to me. I am going to get a MSD intake Manifold when it comes out but other than that I think I am done with upgrades. Going to drive it and enjoy it.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Tomball TX
Does anybody know why some aftermarket shops suggest lash caps on the fuel pump lobes? I know the swap is very labor intensive and nothing like the easy LS cam swaps.
How many shops are KEEPING the VVT and just deleting the DOD/AFM?
How many shops are KEEPING the VVT and just deleting the DOD/AFM?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 28
From: Aledo, TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
I think it depends of how big you go on your can change----
If you keep VVT and AFM a cam swap is basically the same as before--But you are very limited on the duration and lift of your cam---and even Comp has only maybe 4 choices and they all have the same lift---Only maybe a 35RWHP gain and no lopey ilde
Now if you want to DELETE the AFM and the VVT---the cam choices become huge---Texas Speed shows that even with a mid-rangish cam you can expect 100 RWHP !!
and the price of deleting the VVT and AFM can be 3 fold
If you keep VVT and AFM a cam swap is basically the same as before--But you are very limited on the duration and lift of your cam---and even Comp has only maybe 4 choices and they all have the same lift---Only maybe a 35RWHP gain and no lopey ilde
Now if you want to DELETE the AFM and the VVT---the cam choices become huge---Texas Speed shows that even with a mid-rangish cam you can expect 100 RWHP !!
and the price of deleting the VVT and AFM can be 3 fold
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 292
Likes: 55
From: Dallas Texas
I've always done all my own work/mods, and have done a ton of cam/head swaps. I was reading this thread thinking, "Man, these guys are pathetic! Its just a cam swap, you big babies!".
Uh...........Then I read the article linked above showing a cam swap on the new LT1.
Make room for another pathetic baby! You guys were NOT kidding. What a mother of a job, wow. Nothing in there that is too difficult, but the number of steps is terrible. The only thing you don't have to remove is the windshield.
Uh...........Then I read the article linked above showing a cam swap on the new LT1.
Make room for another pathetic baby! You guys were NOT kidding. What a mother of a job, wow. Nothing in there that is too difficult, but the number of steps is terrible. The only thing you don't have to remove is the windshield.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 50
From: Prosper TX
You betcha brother. It's a mother of a job. I really don't see myself going through this....disappointing to say the least.
I've always done all my own work/mods, and have done a ton of cam/head swaps. I was reading this thread thinking, "Man, these guys are pathetic! Its just a cam swap, you big babies!".
Uh...........Then I read the article linked above showing a cam swap on the new LT1.
Make room for another pathetic baby! You guys were NOT kidding. What a mother of a job, wow. Nothing in there that is too difficult, but the number of steps is terrible. The only thing you don't have to remove is the windshield.
Uh...........Then I read the article linked above showing a cam swap on the new LT1.
Make room for another pathetic baby! You guys were NOT kidding. What a mother of a job, wow. Nothing in there that is too difficult, but the number of steps is terrible. The only thing you don't have to remove is the windshield.