Doing a cam install this weekend
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend Use this link:
www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=23
I used their cam install guide when I installed mine ... and it is a great write-up. The only suggestion is to not use the spring compressor they suggest, and use the standard screw down type. (Many people have broken bolts in their head because of that tool, including myself). Other then that, that writeup is right on the money with everything ... even gives you torque specs on everything, so you don't have to go look it up in the manual. Oh btw, I used the pen magnets to hold up my lifters, and it worked like a charm.
www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=23
I used their cam install guide when I installed mine ... and it is a great write-up. The only suggestion is to not use the spring compressor they suggest, and use the standard screw down type. (Many people have broken bolts in their head because of that tool, including myself). Other then that, that writeup is right on the money with everything ... even gives you torque specs on everything, so you don't have to go look it up in the manual. Oh btw, I used the pen magnets to hold up my lifters, and it worked like a charm.
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend Wish you had posted this a month ago phantom 
I broke one off at the front, got it out while on the car. Broke another one in the very last one on the driverside. Had to pull the head to get to it. *frown* I tried everything to get it out on the car. It just wasn't coming out. I also will say.. DO NOT use that tool. Even after the first one, I modified the tool for a better angle.. no luck. Now I wish I had just bought a real tool! Other than that though, I agree.. great writeup. Its what I used it, and it was cake other than the bolt issue.
I broke one off at the front, got it out while on the car. Broke another one in the very last one on the driverside. Had to pull the head to get to it. *frown* I tried everything to get it out on the car. It just wasn't coming out. I also will say.. DO NOT use that tool. Even after the first one, I modified the tool for a better angle.. no luck. Now I wish I had just bought a real tool! Other than that though, I agree.. great writeup. Its what I used it, and it was cake other than the bolt issue.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,604
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend Guys, I think what is happening is that metal compressor is side loading the bolt causing it to snap! While up until last night I'd never had any issues with it...guess what?! I broke one too!
Has everybody broken the waterpump bolt, or was it a rocker bolt that you snapped?
BTW, the directions will be edited this week to reflect the change.
Has everybody broken the waterpump bolt, or was it a rocker bolt that you snapped?
BTW, the directions will be edited this week to reflect the change.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 0
From: nor cal (ripon)
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend hey JMX...can you add a pic or some CLEAR instructions on the double timing chain? as far as what the 2 dots on the crank gear are and where they go? i think that would help alot..other then that it was all good and my car runs great after using that..
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend
Guys, I think what is happening is that metal compressor is side loading the bolt causing it to snap! While up until last night I'd never had any issues with it...guess what?! I broke one too!
Has everybody broken the waterpump bolt, or was it a rocker bolt that you snapped?
BTW, the directions will be edited this week to reflect the change.
Has everybody broken the waterpump bolt, or was it a rocker bolt that you snapped?
BTW, the directions will be edited this week to reflect the change.
After I broke the first one in one of the front cyls, i figured it was just because the water pump bolt was weak, so I went out and got a hardened bolt ... which I broke in the 2nd to back cyl on the passengers side. I almost had to take my head off to get it, since we could not drill out the hardened bolt as easy as the waterpump bolt. Just as I gave up and was going to take my head off, the drill caught, and I was able to get it out.
Other then that, EXCELLENT write-up. It would've taken a whole lot longer without the helpful hints, tricks and the torque specs.
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Re: Doing a cam install this weekend I broke one off at the front, got it out while on the car. Broke another one in the very last one on the driverside. Had to pull the head to get to it. *frown* I tried everything to get it out on the car.
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Re: Doing a cam install this weekend I've done 14 cam installs using this tool. http://www.toolsource.com/ost1/produ...J74FSANH406EEB It's probably not as fast as using the bolt type, but I've never broke a bolt off in a head either. The removable handle is great on the back springs. You can use a gear wrench on the compressor where space is limited.
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
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From: WESLACO, TEXAS
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend
I've done 14 cam installs using this tool. http://www.toolsource.com/ost1/produ...J74FSANH406EEB It's probably not as fast as using the bolt type, but I've never broke a bolt off in a head either. The removable handle is great on the back springs. You can use a gear wrench on the compressor where space is limited.
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend
I've done 14 cam installs using this tool. http://www.toolsource.com/ost1/produ...J74FSANH406EEB It's probably not as fast as using the bolt type, but I've never broke a bolt off in a head either. The removable handle is great on the back springs. You can use a gear wrench on the compressor where space is limited.
That's it. While it is definately much slower and more annoying then the spring compressor in question ... when you spend 2 hours trying to remove a bolt, the time is made up. (or a bunch of hours getting the head off, ouch)
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend if you decide to use pen magnets...just be sure to check the ends of them...one of mine popped off!!! I had to get a grabber tool from the store to make a sorry attempt at getting it back...I finally got it with the help of one of the other pen magnets...make sure they dont pull off with a little force...pull on them hard to double check....
also that spring tool is the best...dont waste money on the others that claim to be faster...
also buy a NEW crank pulley bolt...my stock one crossthreaded...took me dam near 2 hours to get the snout cleaned out...then I had to clean up the threads with a hardened bolt...then put in the new crank pulley bolt...scared me a little...thought I was gonna have to tow it to a shop and get charged out the *** for it...thank goodness they make the snout threads really hard and the bolt threads really soft in comparison...
oh...and dont forget lots of beer...and a few helping hands...much easier with friends who can help, and hand you a cold beer.
also that spring tool is the best...dont waste money on the others that claim to be faster...
also buy a NEW crank pulley bolt...my stock one crossthreaded...took me dam near 2 hours to get the snout cleaned out...then I had to clean up the threads with a hardened bolt...then put in the new crank pulley bolt...scared me a little...thought I was gonna have to tow it to a shop and get charged out the *** for it...thank goodness they make the snout threads really hard and the bolt threads really soft in comparison...
oh...and dont forget lots of beer...and a few helping hands...much easier with friends who can help, and hand you a cold beer.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,604
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend I finished up the cam install tonight.
I used the SDPC spring tool for 6 cylinders (all but the back two on the psg side) and that tool is just simply amazing.
For the rear 2 psg side cylinders, I used the ever so popular MORE tool.
These 2 tools combined seem like an awesome solution...the SDPC tool is just lightning quick, low hassle...when it fits. For the tight spaces, the MORE tool is hard to beat.
While they cost an arm and a leg, I think this is the new solution I'm going to have to recommend. Those two above, with the JPR lifter tools (magnets are a hassle, as the magnets can come off!), make a cam swap cake.
I used the SDPC spring tool for 6 cylinders (all but the back two on the psg side) and that tool is just simply amazing.
For the rear 2 psg side cylinders, I used the ever so popular MORE tool.
These 2 tools combined seem like an awesome solution...the SDPC tool is just lightning quick, low hassle...when it fits. For the tight spaces, the MORE tool is hard to beat.
While they cost an arm and a leg, I think this is the new solution I'm going to have to recommend. Those two above, with the JPR lifter tools (magnets are a hassle, as the magnets can come off!), make a cam swap cake.
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend I also had the pen magnet thing stick in there, and had to use another one for 30 minutes to dig it out. Due to not being able to find so many pen magnets, I just lifted each lifter up a few times and made sure they were up there because I only had 3 magnets. They were like $3 here at the autozone, and they only had a few in stock. What a ripoff. None even came remotely close to falling, as they were all still up the next day when I decided to pull the head becuz of the bolt. Talk about scary, I was about ready to sell the car as I've had about 7000 other mishaps and its became a jackstand queen. ahhhhhhh.. Murphys law!
Thanks for the updates to the write-up, still was relatively easy even removing the head due to having the head install writeup on your page!
Thanks for the updates to the write-up, still was relatively easy even removing the head due to having the head install writeup on your page!
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: WESLACO, TEXAS
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend
if you decide to use pen magnets...just be sure to check the ends of them...one of mine popped off!!! I had to get a grabber tool from the store to make a sorry attempt at getting it back...I finally got it with the help of one of the other pen magnets...make sure they dont pull off with a little force...pull on them hard to double check....
also that spring tool is the best...dont waste money on the others that claim to be faster...
also buy a NEW crank pulley bolt...my stock one crossthreaded...took me dam near 2 hours to get the snout cleaned out...then I had to clean up the threads with a hardened bolt...then put in the new crank pulley bolt...scared me a little...thought I was gonna have to tow it to a shop and get charged out the *** for it...thank goodness they make the snout threads really hard and the bolt threads really soft in comparison...
oh...and dont forget lots of beer...and a few helping hands...much easier with friends who can help, and hand you a cold beer.
also that spring tool is the best...dont waste money on the others that claim to be faster...
also buy a NEW crank pulley bolt...my stock one crossthreaded...took me dam near 2 hours to get the snout cleaned out...then I had to clean up the threads with a hardened bolt...then put in the new crank pulley bolt...scared me a little...thought I was gonna have to tow it to a shop and get charged out the *** for it...thank goodness they make the snout threads really hard and the bolt threads really soft in comparison...
oh...and dont forget lots of beer...and a few helping hands...much easier with friends who can help, and hand you a cold beer.
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend A note about the "beer" during installs. Normally a buddy of mine and me always have a few beers while we're working on cars .... I was changing my oil on saturday, and we had some beers again, I am under my car with it on a jack, and the 220lb guy WALKS into the jack. Well, the car moved alittle and I thought I was going to die, (I had jackstands under there too, so it would've fell, but it was scary either way). No more beer for him.
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend whats the SDPC tool? i bought the over head valve tool and the cheap lever handle tool and cut off the handle. i found the cheap tool to be the easiest. though i did break a water pump bolt 
. i couldnt seem to get the other tool to work so i said **** it.
also so SSaction said it' be nice to have a pic of the double chain install and which dots on the crank sproket to line up.
and JMX's right up is the ****, i used it for my install last week, it was a life saver.
now if i could just fix my cam problems and get it running right i'd be even happier :o
. i couldnt seem to get the other tool to work so i said **** it.also so SSaction said it' be nice to have a pic of the double chain install and which dots on the crank sproket to line up.
and JMX's right up is the ****, i used it for my install last week, it was a life saver.
now if i could just fix my cam problems and get it running right i'd be even happier :o
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: WESLACO, TEXAS
Re: Doing a cam install this weekend
I finished up the cam install tonight.
I used the SDPC spring tool for 6 cylinders (all but the back two on the psg side) and that tool is just simply amazing.
For the rear 2 psg side cylinders, I used the ever so popular MORE tool.
These 2 tools combined seem like an awesome solution...the SDPC tool is just lightning quick, low hassle...when it fits. For the tight spaces, the MORE tool is hard to beat.
While they cost an arm and a leg, I think this is the new solution I'm going to have to recommend. Those two above, with the JPR lifter tools (magnets are a hassle, as the magnets can come off!), make a cam swap cake.
I used the SDPC spring tool for 6 cylinders (all but the back two on the psg side) and that tool is just simply amazing.
For the rear 2 psg side cylinders, I used the ever so popular MORE tool.
These 2 tools combined seem like an awesome solution...the SDPC tool is just lightning quick, low hassle...when it fits. For the tight spaces, the MORE tool is hard to beat.
While they cost an arm and a leg, I think this is the new solution I'm going to have to recommend. Those two above, with the JPR lifter tools (magnets are a hassle, as the magnets can come off!), make a cam swap cake.