66ImpalaLT1

I've seen all the pen magnet crap and the JPR tool, but I decided to live dangerously once again. Tonight I did my 2nd cam swap, with no special tools.

Am I the only one out there still taking chances?

AZ Power & Sound

iTrader: (2)

I do half and half... on higher mileage cars I use magnets just incase the windage trays for the lifters are weak and worn... on lower mileage cars I usually just turn it a few times and pull them out... when I stick the pushrods back in usually the lifters are very firm and require a little pressure to move so I feel safe then

Fireball

iTrader: (21)

I put all the pushrods in, spin the cam over several times and watch the pushrods. The ones that don't stay up on their own, I'll hold with a magnet. The other ones...I figure if they can hold the weight of a pushrod...then once I pull the pushrods out (before I acutally pull the cam) they should easily stay up

Classic

iTrader: (3)

With my car (not even high mileage) I couldn't even come close without magnets on my first cam swap about 2 years ago. The car only had around 20K on it, and the lifters wouldn't stay up for 1 second let alone time to get the old cam out and a new one in. However when I did the first head swap I purchased new trays and everything is good to go again.

ArticLS1z

Ive done 2 cam swaps on mine now with no special tools and the lifters are still very Firm when u press them down with the pushrods... guess everything is still doing its job like it should... Also i have 146,xxx miles on the engine..

VSGLS1

iTrader: (8)

What he said. I have done it like that on my first 2 cam swaps. The last one was easy, motor was on a stand for that one.

98Blubrd

iTrader: (13)

It only takes like a minute to slide some rods into the slots for them. I just didnt feel like risking it cause the metal rods were like $5 and it didnt take more than a minute to do. It just doesnt seem worth it to risk having to take the head off versus the cost/time to slide in the rods.

SouthFL.02.SS

I had a pen magnet slip and grab suddenly (lifter was falling, bent-back clip of the pen magnet held on). Saved me lots of hours of needless wrenching.
Car only had 18K miles at the time.

blacktransam

iTrader: (13)

well i only do cams when i do heads.. LOL.. hell thats when i change spark plugs too.. sitting on the couch infron of the tv!

Black Z/28

I agree, it seems like a no brainer to me. I made my own rods- it took like 20 minutes and they're reusable.

technical

Here's a science experiment for someone to try.

Leave the pushrods in there and get some small clips to keep them from falling. Coil some wire around each one and hook up to a lantern battery. Should make 16 pushrod magnets.

Damian

iTrader: (89)

I've swapped 4 different cams in this motor alone and never used magnets. Spun the cam a few times, and hoped for the best. Many LS1 cams ago, us LS1 old timers hadn't even heard of a pen magnet trick. Just did it the old fashioned way.

Eric, did you install that cam I sold you?

66ImpalaLT1

Yes I did, finally. I'll finish it up this weekend, I'm probably going to degree it and check P2V for fun.

Cstick

I vote for spending $5 and about 20min like mentioned above and making the tool. It is so easy to do. 5/16 brake like, a vice,... slide them in and turn, pull the cam out with no worries!!

goober35

iTrader: (1)

My first cam swap i was scared and used magents. Now after doing 20+ cam swaps i will use one or 2 if i can here the lifters on the cam after i have spun the cam severl times. Just got to know what u are doing.

luv2spd

iTrader: (1)

If in a little doubt, take some 5/8" rods from home depot to use. Grind a flat spot on one side and slide them in!

xfactor_pitbulls

iTrader: (16)

I actually used the rod method and didnt quite get one of the back lifters and it still fell and just caught the rod by about 1/8". Had to go the store and get a pen magnet just to get the lifter back in place. **** living dangerously, next cam I do is going to be when I swap heads.

Brandon

99BackNBlackZ28

iTrader: (5)

Haha, remind me to take my car elsewhere for a cam swap. My cars luck is always shitty, so you'd end up having to pull lifters out of the pan.

Black Z/28

That's why I used a 3/16" rod wrapped with velcro for the passenger side. I don't see how a lifter could slide past it: