newbie heads/cam install
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From: Jacksonville, FL
i'm sure 5point7 would come and help me if i needed it...i think he did his cam install...i'm not sure though...if not i have a few people that could (best friend's dad is a mechanic) so we shall see Thread Starter
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From: Jacksonville, FL
it would be a good idea for me to check the seat pressure at 10k-15k miles
One of my first questions was if you did your own bolt ons and since you answered yes to those I think you will have no problem mechanically
-Do you have patience?
-Do you have a second vehical or means to do without the car for a week or so?
-Do you have most of the tools that LS1howto requires?
I would ask if you had a garage but I assume being in Florida, the weather is warm and work can be done outside.
If you answered yes above, I would not see any problem doing a basic H/C install. I just did my first cam swap all alone, slow rolling, over the coarse of 6 days and everything went successfully. The only thing that might get hairy is if you decided to mill the heads, and thus would need check P/V clearence and notch the pistons. That could be a little complicated. I don't have experience with that one, but hope to tackle that one within a year. Have cofidence in yourself and take you time. Don't be on a schedule with this kind of stuff and you'll be fine.
-Do you have patience?
-Do you have a second vehical or means to do without the car for a week or so?
-Do you have most of the tools that LS1howto requires?
I would ask if you had a garage but I assume being in Florida, the weather is warm and work can be done outside.
If you answered yes above, I would not see any problem doing a basic H/C install. I just did my first cam swap all alone, slow rolling, over the coarse of 6 days and everything went successfully. The only thing that might get hairy is if you decided to mill the heads, and thus would need check P/V clearence and notch the pistons. That could be a little complicated. I don't have experience with that one, but hope to tackle that one within a year. Have cofidence in yourself and take you time. Don't be on a schedule with this kind of stuff and you'll be fine.
I think you can do it! I have installed all that you have plus gears. IMO gears suck ***. Only thing I was worried about was messing something up w/ the cam which doesnt seem to be an issue.
Im going to start mine in a few weeks if you havent started yet ill tell you about it.
Good Luck.
Im going to start mine in a few weeks if you havent started yet ill tell you about it.
Good Luck.
Thread Starter
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From: Jacksonville, FL
well i don't have a secondary vehicle...so i'd have to take a holiday/weekend to do it...i do have patience and one i get to workin i work very diligently...i don't have a pulley puller and i didn't do the pulley swap on my ws6 i never got around to installing it before i sold it...so i don't know how to do that...i have most of the wrenches and stuff so i'd say basically yes i have the tools if not i could get them since there is a list...one question i have is when you are scrapping off the graphite from the block what do you do when it gets in the pistons just get a vaccum to clean it out...or is there a way to not let it get in there...
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Originally Posted by 777
i'm sure 5point7 would come and help me if i needed it...i think he did his cam install...i'm not sure though.I just completed a cam swap in my car less than a month ago with the MAJOR help from "distortion_69" and his brothers. In fact, I only helped on little things like intake bolts and spark plugs. The actual pulling of radiator, cam swapping, valve spring install, etc. I didn't even do. But I watched and learned a whole lot. I had an awesome time.
My biggest advice would be:
1. be patient
2. leave ample time for the install (ie, don't try to squeeze it into one weekend if you have to work on monday morning)
3. have a spare car to drive around b/c you might need to make runs to AutoZone, Home Depot, etc. for little things
4. do it indoors away from the elements if possible (we did it in 30 degree weather, very difficult)
5. have the right tools
6. don't do it alone
Don't put yourself on a weekend deadline....It will take you longer to do than that unless you have an experienced person who has done this before along for the ride. The wierdest things take the longest time. For example, the pickup tube bolt on the cam install. Timing chain, oilk pump, dropping the pan and pickuptub took a good portion of a whole day.
Another thing that took me long was the my pulley install (did this a few months ago) , Didn't have a 3 jaw puller. Used a 2 jaw and had to get it situated correctly. Had to make my install tool, etc. Second time around it was real quick. 2 jaw worked great on the ASP and the install tool worked great too. See what I mean? Until you know your tools, and the process to take off some of the "seemily" simple stuff it can be time consuming.
Another thing that took me long was the my pulley install (did this a few months ago) , Didn't have a 3 jaw puller. Used a 2 jaw and had to get it situated correctly. Had to make my install tool, etc. Second time around it was real quick. 2 jaw worked great on the ASP and the install tool worked great too. See what I mean? Until you know your tools, and the process to take off some of the "seemily" simple stuff it can be time consuming.
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From: Jacksonville, FL
i see...and 5point7 i didn't do the pulley as mentioned above...but i see what you mean...well i have no clue what i'm going to do...haha i'm seriously completly confused...and i thought you guys were supposed to help 
...just kidding 
...just kidding 
Thread Starter
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From: Jacksonville, FL
alright...thanks for all the info...you've been a great help...(especially you jrp)...i'm waiting on a response from norrismotorsports to see how much it would cost if i were to get it all installed by them prolly around 1500...and whether or not i am going to get a forged shortblock...if it is fairly reasonable i think i may not even worry about going through the hassle since i don't have alternative transportation and i have school/work everyday..i just hope it fits my budget 
Note: My whole point was if your capable of changing the number 8 plug you can do a cam swap. Kinda like ...grasshopper when you can take the pebble from my hand..... shesh,pay attention
Thread Starter
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Jabari: no the car is not yet in my possession...and droptop i wasn't necassarily referring to you...there was others saying stuff about changing valve springs...i wasn't trying to be mean about it...if ya know what i mean...i'm pretty sure i'm gonna go for it...if i can't do it...i'll get it to a shop that can...might as well try it...
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From: fortress of solitude
i would try it...i did 2 cam installs in 2 weeks during the summer. each one taking around 12 hours, changing springs and everything. the only thing i had done prior was change my clutch out and headers(that was my first clutch btw) just make sure you have all the right tools and take your time. also get someone to help you. it makes life much easier.
p.s depending on the cam you may want to get springs. dont want to take shortcuts
p.s depending on the cam you may want to get springs. dont want to take shortcuts
What year? The last bolt on the passenger side coil pack bracket was a beast. And the front main seal on the timing cover.... wow that thing didn't want to come off. Also, be very careful reinstalling the intake, The oil pressure sending unit is very easy to break (I broke mine). It's the tall tube thing that screws into the back of the block right behind the intake with an electrictal connector that plugs into the top of it. It requires a special socket to replace and a new sensor is ~$30 from O'Reilly... Dealer wants like $60 for it. Also Make sure you tighten down the coolant line under the intake... I forgot to tighten one down at the rear and when it was startup time... there was alot of steam and the heat gauge went up quickly. Had to take off the In take again and everything was still hot. Good Luck... It's very do able but I'd suggest having someone with you who knows what they're doing. They know what to look out for and the right stuff to use.