OK here is my issue. On the DS of the engine I used a 5/16 rod 22" long and it slid right in. On the passenger side I can not even get the 5/16 to start to go into the engine? It seems to be to large of a diameter. I went back to Lowes and purchased 1/4 rod and cut it to 22" long and it slid right in. So are my lifters locked and I can pull my cam or am I just fooling myself. Anybody dealt with this before? I have seen different size rods quoted but no one has ever said you need 1/4" & 5/16". Again am I good to go?

 

all i know is i bought the jrp tool and it got stuck in my motor, was a pain in the *** to get out.

 

The fact that the 5/16 will not go in may indicate the lifter is not high enough. I had this problem last installation. You may want to pull the rods, use a pushrod and push down each lifter until you hear it hit the cam, then re-spin and try again. I had two that would not go up last time and I couldn't get the cam out because of it.

 

Here is why I believe that the rods don't work well https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....6&postcount=14. Also, I believe that if the JPR tool is a little too thick, they get stuck. There is probably some varience among engines with the placement of the bore of the lifter oil galley.

Steve

 

I used the 5/16" dowel rod and had no problem with getting them in at all. But then again i almost got screwed when one of the lifters from the #7 cylinder almost slid over passed rod. A friend of mine then had to use a pen magnet to pull the lifter up so that i could install my MS3.
-Joel

 

One thing to remember, the rods only keep them from falling out, they don't keep them up out of the way and clear of the cam. The lifter trays do that even when you use the rods so it is possible for the lifter to creep down into the path of the cam to prevent installation. The photo's that is linked by Steve above shows this perfectly. The only real way to hold them up completely is something like he did which is custom fit the rods.

 

The 1/4" rod is holding NOTHING. It has to be 5/16. It also won't just slide in you have to rotate the cam as it goes in because the lifters have to be up at least a little for the rod to engage the lifter. As teh cam is comming out and going back in you also have to be constantly rotating the cam to push the lifters up more for the cam to come out.

Re'

 

Heres my picture, the lifter is on the drivers side (right) all the way at the back.

-Joel

 

would it be better to just use the pin mag ? then they will all be out of the way

 

I hate to say it but on the pas. side I could not get the 5/16 rod in. My buddy had a 5/16 all thread in his car I cut it, and it being a hair smaller than a rod it slid in no problem I was worried about it not being smooth but it worked. I had the cam out for a while being that the crank bolt broke in the shaft so it seemed to work fine. Good luck.

 

Well i know some people who have provlems getting the rods in, they just grind down one side a bit so it can slide in. I didn't have to, but i have read and heard of others needing to do that.
-Joel

 

Its always the passenger side that is the issue as well.

 

I got it done this am. I did a search and some guy had the problem and ground about 1/32 off the passenger side rod. I did that and it slid right in. New cam is now in.

 

Awesome, have fun with the car let us know how you like it.

 

Sweet bro, now get it tuned, break it in, and beat the **** out of it!!!