Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam?
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? I'm thinking of just doing a cam install myself. I have all the tools, so I may as well save some money. The only think that has made me want to have a pro install it is hearing about guys dropping lifters. If that happened, I'd be screwed. Not worried about anything else. I know when you turn the cam the lifters are supposed to pop in and stay in place. I also know about the magnet thing. But, I also know my luck, lol. I may just take the intake off and remove the lifters. What do yall think?
TECH Regular
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
From: Nawf Carolina
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? The magnets are the trick. If you are lucky (which it seems you might not be) you should be able to swap the cam out and new in while friction holds the lifters up (no magnets). But as you say, you know your luck. The magnets make it gravy though <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> Good luck.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? How exactly do you use the magnets? All I know is you use the extendable ones and put them in the bores. How exactly do they hold the lifters?
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,604
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? You can't get to the lifters by just removing the intake. This isn't your fathers SBC <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Use the magnets. It'll be self explanitory how to use them once you see how everything fits together.
Use the magnets. It'll be self explanitory how to use them once you see how everything fits together.
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? cant get to lifters by taking intake off.. trust me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> i tried like a dumbass
all my lifters stayed up without any magnet assistance <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
all my lifters stayed up without any magnet assistance <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? DOH! I just looked in my manual and see the heads have to come off to remove the lifters. Guess I'll get the magnets and pray <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 712
Likes: 1
From: Dallas,Texas
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? Trending Topics
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth,TX
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 98TAauto:
<strong>cant get to lifters by taking intake off.. trust me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> i tried like a dumbass
all my lifters stayed up without any magnet assistance <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yep mine stayed up as well.
<strong>cant get to lifters by taking intake off.. trust me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> i tried like a dumbass
all my lifters stayed up without any magnet assistance <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yep mine stayed up as well.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
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
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? Scarey aint it????? Joe..... tell them. My heart'sa pumpin! My hand's a shakin......BRRRRRRR
SSHHHHHHH!
<small>[ August 13, 2002, 10:34 PM: Message edited by: StevieZ ]</small>
SSHHHHHHH!
<small>[ August 13, 2002, 10:34 PM: Message edited by: StevieZ ]</small>
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? I just did a cam swap last week on my car and believe me if I can do it anyone can! I had the same concern about the lifter drop issue that you have and got some helpful advise from the guys here. After spinning the old cam, I checked how well each lifter was staying up by pushing on them with a pushrod. All lifters were held up very well except the two #5's. I then decided to use the magnet technique but could only find four locally (obviously you'll need sixteen). Being impatient and feeling lucky I put magnets on the two #5 lifters and the other two magnets on the lifters that felt the next likely to give out. I did the actual swap in less than two minutes without incident. I know I took somewhat of a chance and got lucky.
Good Luck, Ken
<small>[ August 14, 2002, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: Ken G ]</small>
Good Luck, Ken
<small>[ August 14, 2002, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: Ken G ]</small>
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? I just spun my cam around several times and changed it no problem..we did drop a valve when doing the dot to dot method of changing valve springs but it came back up when we turned the engine..not sure if the ls1 valves can drop all the way down..
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? Yeah, I will use magnets for sure. Lowes has them real cheap. Would it be a good idea to buy extra spring retainers as well? I think if I put white grease on them they will stick to the valve stem pretty good, but I have to deal with Murphys law of course.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 1
From: Centrifugal City
Re: Who had dropped a lifter when installing a cam? I saw one get loose in the guide and drop down the bore. Bounced off the crank and rods and landed flat in the oil pan. They stuck a telescoping magnet thru the oil pump area. There is kinda a hole there or maybe the pump was off? Timing cover was off for the cam & cam gear change. They got it out ok.
Engine was out of the car at the time. Made it easier. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Engine was out of the car at the time. Made it easier. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
