I'm probably going to be tearing down my car tomorrow to swap in a T1 cam. Does anyone have any last minute tips?

Eric

ps: I'm posting this here because I'm looking more for tips specific to the C5 and working around the ac condensor, abs block, and all that other junk in the way. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

make sure the steering wheel is locked, and I mean locked in position. If you do not aling the rack up you will set codes off.
Good Luck <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

Please take some pics or make all kinds of notes as I will be doing this soon as well! All the tools/gaskets/etc you used <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

Not a bad job, just take your time and it will come out great. Use a torque wrench, and don't over-tighten. If you have a automatic, use the Kent-Moore flywheel locking tool to remove the balancer bolt. If you have a 6speed, just put the car in 6th gear. Use a good 3 jaw puller too. There is a good writeup on cam installs on LS1.com. Good luck!

 

I finally got started tonight. Didnt get so far as to take the rack off. I couldnt find my metric allen wrenches for the tie rod end so I'll have to pick some up tomorrow.

I'm starting to wonder how hard it will be to work around the abs motor.

Eric

 

How's it going, Eric? I have a downloaded file of the Vette Doctors doing the cam install if you'd want to see it? Just e-mail me and I'll send it to you <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

Didnt get much done tonight. AC condensor is out, but I really shouldnt have worked out there while the R134-a was venting. It really fired up my asthma.

I'm now trying to decide how to disconnect the power steering without a huge mess under the hood.

Until tomorrow...

Eric

 

Boy oh boy this sounds great. On the Fbod I didnt have to discharge the A/C nor disconnect the powersteering. Blah. I can hardly wait.

 

I might have been able to leave the AC charged and move the condensor out of the way, but when I did this on my 94 Trans Am and I cracked one of the hardlines. My AC never worked after that, this time I'm not taking any chances.

Eric

 

You don't have to depressurize the AC but I agree in your situation if I had had that happen I wouldn't take any chances either. BTW, did you like that install document I sent you? I can send it to anyone else doing C5 cam installs if they wish. Thanks.

 

That doc came from this didnt it?

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2001...cam/campg1.asp

There are some torque specs wrong and they seem to gloss over some steps that are not trivial if you havent done it before.

I have a friend who is going to vacuum and recharge the AC for me, so I'm not worried about that. Easier to get it out of the way than to work around it.

Eric

<small>[ April 02, 2002, 11:37 AM: Message edited by: 66ImpalaLT1 ]</small>

 

Btw, they say to remove the bracket holding the ABS motor, but do I need to tie it to something to hold it up, or are the lines strong enough?

Eric

 

The metal brake lines should be fine to hold it up.

All this is tempting me to just leave my B1 in and sell my TR224.

Nahh...that'd be too easy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

Haha, come on jmX. Everybody has to do this at least once. Thats why I ordered a new oil pump and am calling about a timing chain this afternoon. I dont want to do this again with the engine in the car.

I should add that I have put very little time into this so far, maybe 2 hours. I've been slacking off.

Eric

<small>[ April 02, 2002, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: 66ImpalaLT1 ]</small>

 

Ok. Got the fans, radiator, abs bracket, and power steering rack out. I was out there about two hours. I took the rack out the way that the vette doctors do it. I didnt take it out from the left wheel well, but I might put it back in that way. It was no fun removing it through the middle.

The right side mount of the rack is rubber, and I had to fight that for a little while to get it out of the mount.

So far its progressing smoothly, but I havent taken any pictures because I've been doing all of this alone.

It has been pretty straightforward. If it continues this smoothly I'll be happy.

Time to go take a shower.

Eric

ps: Ask me what dexcool tastes like.

 

Eric, What's DexCool tastelike? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Anyway, did you have to drain the steering fluid from the rack? I just got my ASP pulley today and its instructions suggest you drain the fluid?

Also, what timing chain are you going with? Thank.s

 

First I disconnected the bottom line going into the rack, which goes over and down onto the crossmember. Where the cooler would be on a Z51 car. I pulled that line out (the top part is flexable) so it would drain into a pan. It will only drip a little until you remove the cap off the power steering reservoir. I disconnected the other line and it still dripped a lot of fluid. I soaked it up with paper towels once the rack was out.

So yes, I drained my whole power steering reservoir.
I ordered the Cloyes gears, and JWIS Kettin chain from Katech yesterday. I should have it by friday. It was pretty expensive, about $230.

I would have ordered the SLP chain, but I havent seen a lot of people using it, and I was a little uncomfortable shimming the oil pump.
Eric

 

This is great. I really appreciate your feedback <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> . Do you mind if I keep prodding you each day about it? Why did you go with the Cloyes gears instead of just the chain? Thanks again!

 

I dont mind the questions at all. I'm going to take some pictures tonight before I start working.

I got the cloyes gears because they're slightly oversize to take up slack in the chain.

Eric

 

Don't forget to report in for the day on what you discovered/experienced!