Quick question about cam swap.
Quick question about cam swap. I'm helping a bud change out a cam on his car. As soon as we took the timing cover off. We put the old crank bolt back in and tried to turn the engine with a rachet and the 24mm socket that goes over the crank bolt. We just wanted to see if we could get a look at the dot on the crank gear, but the engine is really tough to turn and we didn't wanna damage the crank snout with the bolt. Is this normal? Do we need to remove the spark plugs? When we were tryin to turn it, we could hear some wierd compression noises so we stopped. Like i said, we were just tryin to locate the dot on the crank gear. thanks
That doesn't make sense. Pull all the plugs, you are moving the pistons and trying compressing any air in the cylinders. Since the rockers are loose, the valves won't open, and the air can't get out. Pull the plugs and you de-compress all the chanbers and the engine spins much easier.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo 
So we don't need to change the springs. Is it a must to remove the springs to get everything to line up? 
Well we were hoping to not touch the valvetrain. Just recently he had a shop install a small cam and some comp 918's and hardened pushrods. Then he decided after about 500 miles that he wants a bigger cam So we don't need to change the springs. Is it a must to remove the springs to get everything to line up?
So we don't need to change the springs. Is it a must to remove the springs to get everything to line up?Russ
You are not going to change the cam without messin' with the valvetrain. Keep them in order, but the rockers and pushrods need to get out of the way. Valves springs should be fine. You need to shoot the lifters into the retainers, and then run a dowel or rod down the gallery to make certain they don't fall. If a lifter falls, life gets a little harder.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield, CA
you have to pull the rockers off, get the lifters up off the lobes and then pull it out. and a very good idea to hold the lifters up and pull the PRs out too....
not a big deal to pull the rockers and the pushrods....
oh, i know its obvious, but i didnt see it mentioned......take it outta gear when trying to turn the motor over with the crank pulley bolt
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
You are not going to change the cam without messin' with the valvetrain. Keep them in order, but the rockers and pushrods need to get out of the way. Valves springs should be fine. You need to shoot the lifters into the retainers, and then run a dowel or rod down the gallery to make certain they don't fall. If a lifter falls, life gets a little harder.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield, CA
