Cam Install ?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: British Columbia, Canada
Cam Install ? Just wondering how much this will cost? I will have a shop do the work, just not ready to open my wallet for a SC or heads yet...I know I need valvtrain stuff. But overall, hrs for labour and misc parts and then of course the cam.
Thx
Thx
Total set up with a tune $1500 ish. You can do it yourself. It is not a hard job. Labor alone is like $500+ on a cam job. Tune is like $500 +/-. Parts are around $700 if you shop around. Thunder Racing has package deals. I believe other sponsors do as well.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
If you can find a private installer near you, you'd probably only pay between $300-$400 for the cam/springs swap. Hell, I've charged one guy a measley $250 for the swap. If you're up for it, I say do it yourself.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: British Columbia, Canada
I just want to make sure it is done right....
Is it an easy job? Engine stays in the car?
So, it looks as if I need springs/pushrods/cam and timing chain upgrade? Should be at about 380 to the wheels I hope, I want a flat TRQ curve, not concerned about peak power. Plus, I want it to lope nice!!!
Anything else I can really do for a little bit more power? MAF and TB don't seem like worthwhile mods.
Thx
Is it an easy job? Engine stays in the car?
So, it looks as if I need springs/pushrods/cam and timing chain upgrade? Should be at about 380 to the wheels I hope, I want a flat TRQ curve, not concerned about peak power. Plus, I want it to lope nice!!!
Anything else I can really do for a little bit more power? MAF and TB don't seem like worthwhile mods.
Thx
11 Second Club
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 169
Likes: 4
From: Millersville, Maryland
I’ve been told the going rate around where I live is $600 to $700 to install the cam and replace the springs. But I didn’t shop around because I was doing my own install.
As far as doing it yourself goes, it’s a fairly big job but it doesn’t require a skill level beyond basic do-it-yourself shade-tree mechanic. There is a link to an excellent set of step-by-step procedures in the sticky on this forum. Read through them and see if you think you feel capable of doing the things it describes. If you take your time and follow the written procedures meticulously you can be confident it will be done right.
Just make sure you allow yourself enough time. A lot of posts on here give the impression its pretty easy and you could knock it off in a day. But I think for a first timer you should probably allow 4 days (two weekends).
Parts for me cost around $800 in total: $345 for a Comp Cams camshaft, $155 for 918 springs, $101 for chromemoly pushrods, $159 for Comp Cams titanium retainers and $50 for bolt and assorted gaskets.
As far as doing it yourself goes, it’s a fairly big job but it doesn’t require a skill level beyond basic do-it-yourself shade-tree mechanic. There is a link to an excellent set of step-by-step procedures in the sticky on this forum. Read through them and see if you think you feel capable of doing the things it describes. If you take your time and follow the written procedures meticulously you can be confident it will be done right.
Just make sure you allow yourself enough time. A lot of posts on here give the impression its pretty easy and you could knock it off in a day. But I think for a first timer you should probably allow 4 days (two weekends).
Parts for me cost around $800 in total: $345 for a Comp Cams camshaft, $155 for 918 springs, $101 for chromemoly pushrods, $159 for Comp Cams titanium retainers and $50 for bolt and assorted gaskets.
Originally Posted by soontobeLS1
MAF and TB don't seem like worthwhile mods.
Thx
Thx
Upgrade your valvetrain too. definitely worth it for the trouble that it might cause you on down the road.
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Virgin Beach, VA.
geez dude....
I just finished mine... it was more trouble (and time) taking everything apart to just GET to the cam...!! But not that hard.....you need to have the tools and a way to get her in the air a little....see pix below... Also...go to http://www.ls1howto.com/ for JmX's directions on many installs....I used his notes and they were great!! The actual insertion of the cam was not that hard, really...
If you decide to do it yourself and need anything....just e-mail me....I will try to answer and questions you might have....
I would say first and foremost....study and read everything you can on what you want to do...I got my info from the I-net and from the Helms manuals...
Good luck!!
I just finished mine... it was more trouble (and time) taking everything apart to just GET to the cam...!! But not that hard.....you need to have the tools and a way to get her in the air a little....see pix below... Also...go to http://www.ls1howto.com/ for JmX's directions on many installs....I used his notes and they were great!! The actual insertion of the cam was not that hard, really...
If you decide to do it yourself and need anything....just e-mail me....I will try to answer and questions you might have....
I would say first and foremost....study and read everything you can on what you want to do...I got my info from the I-net and from the Helms manuals...
Good luck!!
If your going to install the springs youself don't forget a couple if spare spring retiner keepers ($2). Those damn things are easy to drop even with a little grease on them. Those rocker covers look great LS1Pilot. Too bad there so hard to see once the coils and hoses and wiring harness are all back in place.
I plan on installing a big cam in my LT1 along w/heads and everything to go along with it. Do I need to immediately take the car to get retuned? Can I drive it around for a while or not recommended?
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Virgin Beach, VA.
Originally Posted by eallanboggs
If your going to install the springs youself don't forget a couple if spare spring retiner keepers ($2). Those damn things are easy to drop even with a little grease on them. Those rocker covers look great LS1Pilot. Too bad there so hard to see once the coils and hoses and wiring harness are all back in place.
I'm happy with her....even with all the stuff covering her up