Well I think I have officially givien up on trying to get the broken pen magnet out from the #7 lifter. I have tried for three days (other magnets, grabber tools, and even tried to super glue a lifter to the magnet) with no success. I am totally bummed out right now.

That being said, I have a question to ask. If I have to pull the damn head would I just be better off to swap it now to a stage II? This was not in the cards this year but I feel like it is just creating needless work again next year to not do the swap since once of them will have to be pulled anyway.

I've got the TSP 231/237 cam supposedly going in and have no idea what my best bet would be and even any idea of what it would cost for heads, gaskets and new bolts.

I already have new springs (Patriot Golds) and if I were to get new heads would I be boned with these since it seems most heads come with springs and new valves?

IF IT WAS YOU WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (my wife isn't going to like the get new ones while i'm in there anyway answer... got any good arguments)

 

Assuming this car is not your 'daily driver', why not just have your stock heads ported by one of LS1Tech's sponsors (Scott Jantzer does a nice job). It would be much cheaper, you can keep the Patriot springs and choose what other parts you'd like to match to your cam/heads. Of course this could mean that your car is down for up to month. But... let's face it, to get the most out of that cam you are going to have to change your heads one way or another. Good Luck

 

I guess my end goal for the car was H/C putting out around 450+ and then at some point finishing it off with an upgraded fuel system and a wet shot. The only thing was that I didn't plan on doing it all this year.

Would a 2000 have trouble keeping up with H/C without upgrading the injectors?

I just hate the thought of paying to get bolts and gaskets twice to do the same job...

 

Anyone know first hand what brand / style / spec works the best with the 231/237

 

same thing happened to a friend of mine.......we put a good amount of JB WELD on the end of the pen magnet where it broke, let it harden for a minute and stuck it together and let it sit....it worked needless to say....might as well give it a shot since your only other option is to pull the heads.....

GOOD LUCK

 

Go to radio shack and get a package of their rare earth magnets. Glue a couple to the end of a wooden dowel rod and try that. Those magnets are really strong. If that doesnt work, try turning the magnets upside down and try again.

Dale

 

I would just pull the head....... its not that hard and a single gasket and bolts shouldn't be but about 150 bucks.

 

Buy a nice set of Stage 2 5.3L Race Heads from Patriot and keep your current set of Patriot Golds to swap out in 20k miles.

 

thanks for the replies all.. I tried the glue approach but didn't have the cahones to use JB weld. I would try other magnets but now I think I'm gunshy they will get stuck too.

I decided to get a set of stageII patriot 5.3L heads.

I don't know a lot about cars but this seems like a good crash course.

 

Congrats on the purchase. You'll be happy. Thank the defective pen magnet.

 

ha ha... tell that to my wife