Tranzor

Let's see... me and a few local guys from the message boards completed my cam/spring install in a day's time... and we're not experts by any means.

Some of the hold ups we had... well, the big one was that we couldn't get the lifters out of the way enough for us to slide a JPR tool-like rod into the block to help keep the lifters from falling on the passenger side. After messing around with that for a couple hours, we finally gave in and drove to Home Depot and picked up pen magnets. So, we used the rod on the driver's side, and pen magnets on the passenger side. That seemed to work ok...

It also took us a while to get the cam/timing gears lined up properly... then we went on to the tedious task of replacing valve springs, seats, and seals. Most of the work on a cam install is simply time consuming, not really too tough considering what all goes into it.

stealth

GM book is 24 hours for an LS1 cam install, but it can be done in 8 hours by an expereinced technician.

technical

24 hours?

I got h/c swap plus headers done in that amount of time?!?!?!

What's warranty pay?

Toasty

iTrader: (13)

Or is that just the GM book on how much the technicians charge for the service?

I'd say have everything ready to go before install, in duplicate. Have all necessary parts/tools there, including jackstands, snakelights, etc. And study/memorize the instructions before you start, so you know what the heck they're talking about while you're doing it.

And let us know when/where you're doing it

pdd

iTrader: (3)

what a crock of

Dal1as

That's probably man hours. 3 techs 8 hours each.

If you want a shop to do it. Let FBC do it. They have great service. If you want to do it yourself and already have the tools. Go for it. The only thing keeping me from doing my own is the lack of tools (expensive) and amount of time involved, plus the piece of mind of it being done right (and tuned afterwards)

Inspector12

iTrader: (29)

Yeah that is a lot I charge $300 for cam springs and anything else that is in the neighbor hood wile I am there.

ls1290

iTrader: (20)

For that much, a happy ending better be included

slik98z

That is just disturbing. but if a greased up mechanic gets you going...more power to you.

stealth

I love to make bets, and I'll bet $1,000 they can't do an LS1 cam swap in a 4th gen F- body in 2.5 hours, starting out with all the stock under the hood crap in-place.

SUX2BU

iTrader: (14)

I'm pretty sure this is two or more guys working on the car.
Me, myself and I have done it in 2 hours and 57 min. from popping the hood to starting the car. I wasn't trying to go fast but nothing went wrong and i took no breaks. i think maybe if i hauled *** i could get it down to 2.5 hours maybe less but i wouldn't try this on a customers car and risk missing something or messin something up.
"when you rush, thats when accidents happen"
Maybe next time i do a cam in my car or a friends car i'll go all out and see how fast i can do it.

JZ'sTA

iTrader: (23)

stealth I will be down for that bet.
You said cam swap only, nothing about the springs.
You made the bet, I will find the guy to fulfill the bet.
It takes me way longer myself, but I wont be the one doing the install.
You let me know if you are down and make sure you have the 1000 dollars handy.

fredv

I will ask.
you my have a bet. we could use a video camera with a time line.

slik98z

how about you all make a bet on how long it will take someone to install my cam and all the valve train tinker toys, instead of this who can install a cam the fastest?

here is my bet, i bet no one will come up to va or md and install my cam, springs, retainers, seats, and pushrods, along with the gasket kit in less than 5 hours. If you do it, ill give you 400 bucks and a case of beer. If it takes longer, i'll give you 200 plus a case of beer and treat you to a steak dinner. how about that for a bet? any takers?

Toasty

iTrader: (13)

That's almost worth studying how to do it, having never done it before, and trying it out Do you have a liability form for car/self damages incurred?

slik98z

lol toasty chicken, actually i just had a guy from MD pm me about 15 minutes ago who he and his buddy have done 30-40 cam installs between the two of them. they are up to the challenge it seems so looks like i wont have to be stuck diving into this blindly! plus one of them knows tuning aparently!

i've never asked before but what kinda hp should i expect if i still have a ls1 intake? i no longer have my under drive pulley, and i went to an ory and catback set up again. so my mods are slightly off from my sig.

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

Put your UD pulley back. It won't cost a thing in terms of time since you have to take it off anyways.

slik98z

i would but i sold it already. a friend offered me a deal i coudln't pass up so i sold it to him.