AC need to come out to do cam swap?
AC need to come out to do cam swap? its hottttt out. i took off my ac lines when i did header change. i want to go get it charged. but i am about to do cam swap in a month or so. will i have to take any lines out for Air conditioning when i do springs retainers and cam swap.???
TECH Veteran
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,055
Likes: 1
From: Hartsdale, NY
Generally yes. The radiator and AC unit in front need to be removed to get the old cam out and new one in.
If your AC system has been opened, you really should have your AC drier changed (e.g, the silver tin can with the black hoses). After drier replacement, the system should be vacuumed down for a few hours and only then should it be recharged with freon.
I have a vacuum pump that I bought for $300 but most AC shops have these. Don't go to a hack who merely re-fills the system with freon.
If your AC system has been opened, you really should have your AC drier changed (e.g, the silver tin can with the black hoses). After drier replacement, the system should be vacuumed down for a few hours and only then should it be recharged with freon.
I have a vacuum pump that I bought for $300 but most AC shops have these. Don't go to a hack who merely re-fills the system with freon.
Well I only disconnected it from the front to remove the raditor & then used a Autozone recharge kit for $30 to refill it & it blows colder now than before. Very easy to do & cheap. You don't need to remove everything & you certainly don't need a $300 tool to recharge it.
you can rent the vacuum pump from vautozone. any time the system is opened you allow moisture into the system. the vacuum pump will take the moisture out. some people dont do this and are lucky, how is your luck?
Pretty good I guess. I haven't had a issue & I just bought the cheap cans of recharge with a gauge on it & followed the directions.
It's working perfect so far. No funny smells & it gets cold quick.
I also ended up with a quieter valvatrain than stock after a set of heads, cam, 7.4 pushrods, stock rockers & Partiot Gold dual springs. No sewing machine for me so I guess my luck is pretty good with the LS1 so far. Every mods has worked perfectly. Hell even my LT's went in without a fight.
It's working perfect so far. No funny smells & it gets cold quick.
I also ended up with a quieter valvatrain than stock after a set of heads, cam, 7.4 pushrods, stock rockers & Partiot Gold dual springs. No sewing machine for me so I guess my luck is pretty good with the LS1 so far. Every mods has worked perfectly. Hell even my LT's went in without a fight.
TECH Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: League City, Texas
Originally Posted by BIG_MIKE2005
Well I only disconnected it from the front to remove the raditor & then used a Autozone recharge kit for $30 to refill it & it blows colder now than before. Very easy to do & cheap. You don't need to remove everything & you certainly don't need a $300 tool to recharge it.
Recharging a system without vacuuming the air out is a bad idea. Yes, it will work, but it will cause problems eventually.
You guys are crazy, I've installed 4 cams and never touched the AC system. My latest project was to install a 408 through the top with heads and dampener on and didn't touch the AC.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
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
TECH Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: League City, Texas
Originally Posted by 99DWPTA
thnks guys. is it easy to use the vacum you rent from autozone? is that the only thing you need to do before recharge it with freon?
First of all take it somewhere to get it recharged, doesnt cost all that much and its worth gettng done right over taking the cheapo way out.
Second... you dont need to open the ac to do a cam swap but you do hve to move it out of the way. You'll bend the tube a little and they take it just fine for the first 3 times or so but on the 4th time one line will break...
If I were going to do a swap for someone I would tell them it's thier choice. Disconnect the line or take the chance it might break. Most likely wont break for the first time or two
Second... you dont need to open the ac to do a cam swap but you do hve to move it out of the way. You'll bend the tube a little and they take it just fine for the first 3 times or so but on the 4th time one line will break...
If I were going to do a swap for someone I would tell them it's thier choice. Disconnect the line or take the chance it might break. Most likely wont break for the first time or two
Originally Posted by 99blancoSS
First of all take it somewhere to get it recharged, doesnt cost all that much and its worth gettng done right over taking the cheapo way out.
Second... you dont need to open the ac to do a cam swap but you do hve to move it out of the way. You'll bend the tube a little and they take it just fine for the first 3 times or so but on the 4th time one line will break...
If I were going to do a swap for someone I would tell them it's thier choice. Disconnect the line or take the chance it might break. Most likely wont break for the first time or two
Second... you dont need to open the ac to do a cam swap but you do hve to move it out of the way. You'll bend the tube a little and they take it just fine for the first 3 times or so but on the 4th time one line will break...
If I were going to do a swap for someone I would tell them it's thier choice. Disconnect the line or take the chance it might break. Most likely wont break for the first time or two
