Russian roulette cam swap?
#1
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Russian roulette cam swap?
I've seen all the pen magnet crap and the JPR tool, but I decided to live dangerously once again. Tonight I did my 2nd cam swap, with no special tools.
Am I the only one out there still taking chances?
Am I the only one out there still taking chances?
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I do half and half... on higher mileage cars I use magnets just incase the windage trays for the lifters are weak and worn... on lower mileage cars I usually just turn it a few times and pull them out... when I stick the pushrods back in usually the lifters are very firm and require a little pressure to move so I feel safe then
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I put all the pushrods in, spin the cam over several times and watch the pushrods. The ones that don't stay up on their own, I'll hold with a magnet. The other ones...I figure if they can hold the weight of a pushrod...then once I pull the pushrods out (before I acutally pull the cam) they should easily stay up
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With my car (not even high mileage) I couldn't even come close without magnets on my first cam swap about 2 years ago. The car only had around 20K on it, and the lifters wouldn't stay up for 1 second let alone time to get the old cam out and a new one in. However when I did the first head swap I purchased new trays and everything is good to go again.
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Ive done 2 cam swaps on mine now with no special tools and the lifters are still very Firm when u press them down with the pushrods... guess everything is still doing its job like it should... Also i have 146,xxx miles on the engine..
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Originally Posted by Fireball
I put all the pushrods in, spin the cam over several times and watch the pushrods. The ones that don't stay up on their own, I'll hold with a magnet. The other ones...I figure if they can hold the weight of a pushrod...then once I pull the pushrods out (before I acutally pull the cam) they should easily stay up
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It only takes like a minute to slide some rods into the slots for them. I just didnt feel like risking it cause the metal rods were like $5 and it didnt take more than a minute to do. It just doesnt seem worth it to risk having to take the head off versus the cost/time to slide in the rods.
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#8
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I had a pen magnet slip and grab suddenly (lifter was falling, bent-back clip of the pen magnet held on). Saved me lots of hours of needless wrenching.
Car only had 18K miles at the time.
Car only had 18K miles at the time.
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Originally Posted by TransAmJo
It only takes like a minute to slide some rods into the slots for them. I just didnt feel like risking it cause the metal rods were like $5 and it didnt take more than a minute to do. It just doesnt seem worth it to risk having to take the head off versus the cost/time to slide in the rods.
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Here's a science experiment for someone to try.
Leave the pushrods in there and get some small clips to keep them from falling. Coil some wire around each one and hook up to a lantern battery. Should make 16 pushrod magnets.
Leave the pushrods in there and get some small clips to keep them from falling. Coil some wire around each one and hook up to a lantern battery. Should make 16 pushrod magnets.
#12
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I've swapped 4 different cams in this motor alone and never used magnets. Spun the cam a few times, and hoped for the best. Many LS1 cams ago, us LS1 old timers hadn't even heard of a pen magnet trick. Just did it the old fashioned way.
Eric, did you install that cam I sold you?
Eric, did you install that cam I sold you?
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I vote for spending $5 and about 20min like mentioned above and making the tool. It is so easy to do. 5/16 brake like, a vice,... slide them in and turn, pull the cam out with no worries!!
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My first cam swap i was scared and used magents. Now after doing 20+ cam swaps i will use one or 2 if i can here the lifters on the cam after i have spun the cam severl times. Just got to know what u are doing.
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Originally Posted by luv2spd
If in a little doubt, take some 5/8" rods from home depot to use. Grind a flat spot on one side and slide them in!
Brandon
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Originally Posted by SSOnYourSix
I do half and half... on higher mileage cars I use magnets just incase the windage trays for the lifters are weak and worn... on lower mileage cars I usually just turn it a few times and pull them out... when I stick the pushrods back in usually the lifters are very firm and require a little pressure to move so I feel safe then
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Originally Posted by xfactor_pitbulls
I actually used the rod method and didnt quite get one of the back lifters and it still fell and just caught the rod by about 1/8"...