Feel Like I wasted $$ on Cam Install!!
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 11
From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
Feel Like I wasted $$ on Cam Install!! Here the scoop. Went to this mechanic in South Fla, everything went well as far as breaking down the motor all the way to the cam part etc. We did install the crane roller rockers rods springs etc except for the cam I wanted in. We did go to ls1howto.com to find out how to hold the lifters from falling in the to the engine after the stock cam is pulled. We tried everything but could not keep the lifters up from falling. We stuck a metal rod in front of the engine turned the cam but the lifters would not stay up. Long story short. I am still using the stock 2000 cam. but with .038 more lift. Just wanted to vent, also did anybody else go thru this before?
Once the trays get worn, the lifters won't stay up. The rods only keep them from falling out completely, but not from falling far enough to contact the cam. I ran into a similar problem a couple of weeks ago but it was only two lifters. This is one of the reasons I installed new lifter trays when I did heads, the lifters were very snug in the new trays.
Not sure who you used, but Vinci may be able to swap it out for you but they are in Orlando. They have dealt with issues like this in the past and are also very familiar with Crane products.
Not sure who you used, but Vinci may be able to swap it out for you but they are in Orlando. They have dealt with issues like this in the past and are also very familiar with Crane products.
Originally Posted by brad8266
Getting the lifters to stay up is easy, all you need is a dowel to get under them or you could have used some magnets to hold them up. Thats too bad man.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 11
From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
Well we were thinking about using the pen magnets, but what can you use to hold the magnets up. Thats alright, I spoke to the mechanic and he said for next time he will buy the tool from thunder racing and it wont cost that much because the only thing that has to be done is to set the Roller rockers (1/4 turns etc) again wait for lifters to bleed down. The spring install was the hard part. So I'll just keep the cam I want until I can afford it again.
I thought the spring install was the easy part and I haven't done a cam swap. I used the Cranecams dual spring compressor and TDC method, took me a couple hours I think. I guess I should do my own cam swap.
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Happened to me. I decided to pull the heads and take the lifters out. I too am going to replace the cups when I get to them. I have 20 of the 30 head bolts out now. Just chipping away at it. I said screw it, if I'm pulling the heads to do a cam swap, I'm upgrading heads. While it wasn't in the plan, it made sense to me to drop some coin and upgrade heads, but not the wife. 
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Put the pen magnets on to the lifters, then use a clothespin on the pen magnet and it will hold it on the edge of the cylinder head. Sometimes the simplest things are the best solutions.
Clothes pins work great for numerous things in the garage. For example, when swapping out an ls1/ls6 intake, the back five bolts need to be held up in order to slide out the intake. Guess what, clothes pins work great.
Clothes pins work great for numerous things in the garage. For example, when swapping out an ls1/ls6 intake, the back five bolts need to be held up in order to slide out the intake. Guess what, clothes pins work great.
Keep in mind that 2 members of this board have recently had the end of the magnets come off and be stuck to the lifters using this method. Then its "Off with your heads."
No car modifications make sense to most wives. Buying paintings, scrapbooking stuff, furniture, yard beautification, maid services, etc, now those all make sense. Not to mention Pampered Chef, Premier Designs jewelry, etc home parties. She frickin makes money to support her frickin hobbies! WE need some performance parts parties or something!!!
Been married for a year.. Been together for 8..
Eh, she's not too tom-boyish, but she's not like a freakin' high maintainence shopping machine either..
She's just likes to think she's driving a fast car..
Eh, she's not too tom-boyish, but she's not like a freakin' high maintainence shopping machine either..
She's just likes to think she's driving a fast car..
ok u said u tried to use a rod to hold the lifters up but it didnt work? how? and then ur going to buy thunder racings tool which is the exact same thing as the rod? doesnt make ne since!
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 11
From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
The 2 rods we used were round all around. The thunder racing tool is rectangular in shape and has a flat surface on top which should be able to catch the lifters and pull the cam out. Just like the ls1howto.com site says it.