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Cam Install

Old Dec 17, 2007 | 10:27 PM
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Default Cam Install

hey guys im in the middle of a cam install right now and i have a 2000 trans am. im having troubles with the passenger side valve cover.. well how do u even get to the coils and plug wires and let alone unbolt the valve cover with all those hard lines in the way im sure this is probably a stupid question but im stumped and the only thing i can think of is unbolt the egr but there will still be ac lines in the way?

also does anyone have a tip for holding the lifters up with out buying the lifter tool i purchased some small steel rod do you think this will work?


Thanx,
Tony
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 10:52 PM
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I'm assuming you're talking about getting the coil pack bracket off to get to the valve cover. That is a serious bitch for sure. 10mm Gear Wrench with the swivel type head is your friend here. The last of the 5 bolts holding the bracket on is a bitch. Rest your right arm on the intake and really reach in there. Once it's out, NEVER put that last bolt back on. Plug wires just pull of the coils and leave on the sparkplugs till you have room to grab them once the coils/bracket is off. A/C lines just stay where they are.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 11:03 PM
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i agree just put on the first 2 or 3 bolts when re installing the coil pack. when you got off that last bolt in the back i just get a flat head and pry up that lil ufo looking canister and then just leave that bolt off but gear wrench is your friend
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 11:45 PM
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Listen to SweetBone, never put htat 5th bolt back in. It is a bitch to get out, if you have a gear wrench sweet if not get the smallest 10mm openend you have and give it a shot. I have done it in a pinch with a 1/4 10mm socket once but it sucked. Just don't give up YOU CAN GET IT OUT.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 11:53 PM
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Yeah that one bolt is a royal ***** and if you doing headers the last bolt on the same side is a bitch. I dont have gear wrenches as i seem to break them all. But I used a slotted box end 10mm i just cut a piece big enough to slide over the stud.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 12:13 AM
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dude, if you're having problems getting coil packs off maybe you should take it to a shop.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 12:00 PM
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Thanx guys yeah ill keep the 5th bolt out and socmguy i just looked at it ans was like holy hell, and figured id just go about the smartest way to get them off. thanx for the advice guys does anyone know anything about a lifter trick other than the tool.. and will the steel rod i have work?
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 12:09 PM
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use a 1/4 inch dowel rod cut to length and a 5/16 dowel rod cut to length also will cost you under a buck avail at any hardware store and works just as well as the tool. and i dont like sticking steel in there but thats just me.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 12:16 PM
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Thanx for the advice i think i am going to go with the dowel for some reason i wasnt thinking right and thought the dowel would be crshed by the seat pressure of the spring but im taking the roller rockers out lol oops. thanks for the advice guys.
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Old Dec 19, 2007 | 11:36 PM
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hey guys so with that steel rod i got to hold up my lifters well i got it in on the drivers side by rotating the cam no problem but i cant get it in on the passenger side. i keep rotating the cam n the rod will not go past the first lifter is something huge wrong or am i just over looking something any help would be greatly appreciated. thanx guys.
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Old Dec 19, 2007 | 11:48 PM
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for the cam install go to ls1howto.com they'll also tell u how to get ur coil pack brackets off....imo if you can't get those brackets off I don't think you should be doing something this serious...but I don't know how inclinded you are so good luck :/
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Old Dec 19, 2007 | 11:51 PM
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thats what im going off of right now is ls1howto ive got everything done except im pulling the cam now and to hold the lifters im using steel rod but i cant get the passenger side in to hold the lifters the drivers side went right in with a few turns of the cam. is something wrong with the passenger side lifter or am i not doing it right?
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Old Dec 20, 2007 | 08:07 AM
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one size needs to be 1/4 inch not 5/16 and it should slide right in. if you put two water pump bolts in the cam take the one rod out and snap the cam clockwise and than back the other way the lifters will go into the cups more. hope this helps.
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Old Dec 20, 2007 | 08:17 AM
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yea ls1howto is your friend. I used their guide when I was pulling mine apart for the cam swap and it showed everything real well and gave some great pointers on how to get to some of the tougher things on there.
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Old Dec 20, 2007 | 08:50 AM
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I went with the pin magnent both times and it worked great.
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Old Dec 20, 2007 | 09:08 AM
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take the egr off if needbe.
if you ever get the chance eliminate AIR and EGR...
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Old Dec 20, 2007 | 09:37 AM
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thanx guys wow i wonder why one side needs to be smaller well ill give it a shot and yeah im doin the AIR EGR delete we dont do any testing here in mn!
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Old Dec 21, 2007 | 05:34 PM
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watch out for the plastic cowl its sharp!
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Old Dec 21, 2007 | 05:55 PM
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my coil packs are very easy to get off. no AIR, EGR, or AC.i open my hood and see the 3 bolts that i put back in holding them on
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