Doing a cam install yourself
you can do it! I did mine with a friend and it took us two evenings. Cranked on first try. We used the LS1howto print out. Just PLEASE read it first completly then read it as you go and re-read again before you start torqueing bolts. The only part that was hard for us was getting the crank pulley off. With the help of a breaker bar and the other person having a bar to hold it still we got it, but very carefully. Also remember anything you need that you dont have you can rent from Autozone or Oriellys, etc. Thats where I got my torque wrench and pulley puller. Re-check everything you do before you move to the next step.
All in all though its not hard at all and I cant describe to you how big the smile on your face will be when you hear her for the first time! Have fun!
All in all though its not hard at all and I cant describe to you how big the smile on your face will be when you hear her for the first time! Have fun!
LOL Appreciate it Tyler.....Yea Im gonna go ahead and give it a crack in about 2 weeks.....gonna make sure I gather all the right tools and equipment first and then just take my time with it and make sure its done right! Thanks for all the info and help to everyone that commented with their confidence and tips and suggestions!
I used blue loctite on the oil pump mount bolts, cam retainer bolts, cam gear bolts, and exhaust rocker bolts, and I used thread sealant on the intake rocker bolts.
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That's funny you say that about loctite...I was just Out in my garage where I'm building an l33 and I had to come to a complete halt on the cam retainer plate because my bone head friend lost the MOTHERFLUCKIN loctite! It's the worst when your in the flow with your tools all setup and you get in the flow then BAM process stops bc of some bullshit...glad I could vent there
Anyway for the OP, way worth it to do yourself like another guy said it took me 3 days to do mine but that's on my back solo...I just went about everything with complete **** attentiveness...just check recheck and it helps to have a GM service manual bc they built the engine and I've seen some GM techs that literally "live" off the thing...it gives ya a good bit of satisfaction the first time down the strip as you blow some fords doors off!!!! Anyway good luck bro...
Anyway for the OP, way worth it to do yourself like another guy said it took me 3 days to do mine but that's on my back solo...I just went about everything with complete **** attentiveness...just check recheck and it helps to have a GM service manual bc they built the engine and I've seen some GM techs that literally "live" off the thing...it gives ya a good bit of satisfaction the first time down the strip as you blow some fords doors off!!!! Anyway good luck bro...
That's funny you say that about loctite...I was just Out in my garage where I'm building an l33 and I had to come to a complete halt on the cam retainer plate because my bone head friend lost the MOTHERFLUCKIN loctite! It's the worst when your in the flow with your tools all setup and you get in the flow then BAM process stops bc of some bullshit...glad I could vent there
Anyway for the OP, way worth it to do yourself like another guy said it took me 3 days to do mine but that's on my back solo...I just went about everything with complete **** attentiveness...just check recheck and it helps to have a GM service manual bc they built the engine and I've seen some GM techs that literally "live" off the thing...it gives ya a good bit of satisfaction the first time down the strip as you blow some fords doors off!!!! Anyway good luck bro...
Anyway for the OP, way worth it to do yourself like another guy said it took me 3 days to do mine but that's on my back solo...I just went about everything with complete **** attentiveness...just check recheck and it helps to have a GM service manual bc they built the engine and I've seen some GM techs that literally "live" off the thing...it gives ya a good bit of satisfaction the first time down the strip as you blow some fords doors off!!!! Anyway good luck bro...
Lol well glad you got to vent....hope u feel better LMAO
THanks for the advice and yea I can't wait till I can walk some 5.0s and some other things I got in mind.....tired of my car feeling so slow....I did things the right way dumping tons of money into the car for suspension, rear,headers,intake,and so on and so on.....ITS TIME FOR SOME POWER DAMNIT!!! LOL
TECH Addict
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,428
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From: Las Vegas, NV
I know this is frowned upon, but I just used an air impact wrench, piece of cake, and no issues. Installed the new bolt with the impact wrench too, no issues.
Yea a good 1/2 impact will blip the crank bolt off without a flywheel on the back just need someone to hold balancer pulley....if bolt stubborn use some low heat to loosen loctite on crank bolt (I'm talkin map gas not oxy/acetylene!)
Does anyone have any advice for getting the oil pickup tube bolt in and out easiest? I get a kick out of everyone saying that crank bolt was the hardest part of the install. I had no issue with that at all, but getting my *** kicked with this bolt. Im sure I can get it out fine, but Im not sure about it going back in, so thats why I havent removed it yet. Any tips are really appreciated! Its a 2010 SS LS3. Thanks!
Does anyone have any advice for getting the oil pickup tube bolt in and out easiest? I get a kick out of everyone saying that crank bolt was the hardest part of the install. I had no issue with that at all, but getting my *** kicked with this bolt. Im sure I can get it out fine, but Im not sure about it going back in, so thats why I havent removed it yet. Any tips are really appreciated! Its a 2010 SS LS3. Thanks!
That's how I've done it on my ls1.
I had SNL Performance install my cam (near Ft. Worth), they are way cheaper than $1,000. They have a great tuner too. Almost everyone that works there drives GTOs. Might be worth your while to check around for a good shop that is more reasonably priced. Seriously, if you have to ask on the forum about whether you should install it yourself... well...
