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My Head/Cam Install

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Old 10-19-2010, 06:09 PM
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Default My Head/Cam Install

Okay so I recently decided to swap the heads and cam in my 2000 Camaro SS M6. The car currently has 60,000 miles. I am doing all the work myself and this is the first time ive ever done anyting this major to the vehicle. Current mods are ls6 intake, kooks LT's, SFC, LID and TSP true dual exhaust. Any advice or input on my setup or anything that could make the job easier feel free to post. I currently am on day 2 and have pulled the heads and the pulley and will be attempting to pull the cam tonight when I get off work. I am also using LS1howto.com. Is this the best write up there is? Thanks for all the help in advance. Pics coming soon!

Setup I chose.

TrickFlow As Cast 220cc Cylinder Heads- 3.90 Bore
Fully Assembled Including .650 Lift Springs
Mill to Desired Compression-61cc
Hardened Pushrods
228/230 .588/.592 112 LSA Camshaft
Comp Trunion Kit
GM MLS Head Gaskets
ARP Head Bolts
FAST Intake Gaskets
Front Cover Gasket
Front Cover Seal
Waterpump Gaskets
GM Crank Bolt
Powerbond 25% Underdrive Pulley with Gates Belts/GM Bolt- F Body
Comp Drop In Hi Performance Lifters
Katech C5R Timing Chain
Melling Hi Volume Oil Pump for LS Engines
SVO 42# Fuel Injectors
GM MLS Exhaust Manifold Gaskets
Poly Motor Mounts

Is there anyting else I should do while I have the engine stripped down to this point? Thanks!



Last edited by splitfinger09; 10-28-2010 at 11:31 PM.
Old 10-19-2010, 09:08 PM
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Looks like you got everything you need. The LS1Howto is a good writeup. Be sure to clean gasket surfaces throughly, and either suck up or blow out all coolant from the head bolt sockets. Be careful with the oil pump oring and don't drop the the pump bolt in the pan. When reinstalling the balancer put it in the oven at 250 for about 10 or 15 minutes it will help get it back on. Good Luck.
Old 10-19-2010, 10:03 PM
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Looks like you got everything. I'd get a pulley installer tool so you don't have to beat on your new pulley with a hammer to get it on or strip your crank threads with a longer bolt. Search ebay for (gm lsx pulley installer) very nice pulley installer.
Old 10-19-2010, 10:23 PM
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would rod bolts be necessary at this point? also do I need to replace my intake manifold gaskets? I replaced them about 2 yrs ago when I did the ls6 swap.
Old 10-19-2010, 11:25 PM
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no and no
Old 10-20-2010, 11:56 AM
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would now be a good time to replace the motor mounts? ive heard of people doing this, but not to sure what it helps.
Old 10-20-2010, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by jsteele90
no and no
ive had a few people seriously urging me to chnage the rod bolts. y do you think this would not be a good move? thank you for the help!
Old 10-20-2010, 12:07 PM
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In my opinion the rod bolts aren't needed if the motor isn't gonna see over 7000 rpms and or if it isn't getting any power adders forced induction or nitrous.
Old 10-20-2010, 06:08 PM
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I would change the motor mounts.looks like a great build.is there budget for a fast intake?
Old 10-20-2010, 06:12 PM
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Don't you have to pull the motor out to change the rod bolts?
Old 10-20-2010, 10:59 PM
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You'd have to pull the motor out and take it apart to change the rod bolts. Not necessary at this point. If you're going to do that then rebuild the whole motor with forged internals and spray it.
Old 10-21-2010, 12:17 AM
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Originally Posted by garygnu
I would change the motor mounts.looks like a great build.is there budget for a fast intake?
how hard is it to change the motor mounts and how much are they? fast intake not really in the budget at the moment but soon! how much more would a fast get me with this setup?
Old 10-24-2010, 06:26 PM
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Not too hard, and definitely recommended.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...otsa-pics.html
Old 10-24-2010, 08:16 PM
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I would definitely do the motor mounts if you still have the stockers. It is very easy to do with the heads off and exhaust out of the way. It's a royal pain with everything in place.
Old 10-29-2010, 11:15 PM
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Christmas came a little early this year boys ......

ups man finally showed up!


Still waiting on cylinder heads and injectors. A few questions?

1. Which color O ring do I use. I got the melling pump and theres a choice between a green and black?

2. What do I use to clean the cam? It seems to be pretty dirty.

3. The inside of my LS6 intake is pretty oily. Is there a way to clean it out?

4. The lifter instrucions talk about preload? Basically I want to know how to install the cam, the lifters, pushrods, and rockers the correct way. How do I torque the rockers etc...

5. Do I need to use RTV if I got a new front cover seal?

6. Which bolts do I need to apply loctite to?

Thanks for all the help everyone!!!!!
Old 10-29-2010, 11:58 PM
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Clean motor!! You say you have oil in your intake. One thing i would HIGHLY recommend while you're in there is the 04+ LS6 valley cover. It eliminates the old LS1 style PCV. The 04+ LS6 VC has a built in orifice/oil separator. Since I installed one, the oil consumption is pretty much non-existent now.
Old 10-30-2010, 12:06 AM
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Originally Posted by splitfinger09
1. Which color O ring do I use. I got the melling pump and theres a choice between a green and black?
Black one, green is for trucks
2. What do I use to clean the cam? It seems to be pretty dirty.
Leave the residue on it until you are ready to stick it in. I hose them off with brake parts cleaner and wipe them down with a clean rag. Then use assembly lube on all the lobes/journals as you are installing it.
3. The inside of my LS6 intake is pretty oily. Is there a way to clean it out?
Remove the MAP sensor on the rear, and hose the inside of it down with Brake parts, degreaser, water hose or whatever else works.
4. The lifter instrucions talk about preload? Basically I want to know how to install the cam, the lifters, pushrods, and rockers the correct way. How do I torque the rockers etc...
You need to measure for pushrod length, search around, it's posted a bunch of times here
5. Do I need to use RTV if I got a new front cover seal?
All LS1 gaskets are the dry type. Some will RTV anyway though, I don't
6. Which bolts do I need to apply loctite to?
Rule of thumb for me, if it goes into aluminum I use anti-seize, if it goes into steel, I use blue or green loctite.
Thanks for all the help everyone!!!!!
Thats what we're here for

My thoughts in bold.
Old 10-30-2010, 12:22 AM
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Originally Posted by 01ssreda4
Thats what we're here for

My thoughts in bold.
Well everything came as a package so Im assuming that I have the correct length pushrods. Im using LS1 how to for the install and I take it that still is a correct and good write up?
Old 10-30-2010, 12:37 AM
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Yeah, but go ahead and double check the pushrod length yourself. It won't take but a few minutes and it will make 100% sure its right.
Old 10-30-2010, 03:18 AM
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While everything is off and apart, you can do somethings in your engine to make it look better IE: Paint the intake manifold, valve covers, wire mod, coil relocation mod, etc.


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