Phase II Heads/Cam and bolt-ons
#1
![Cool](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon6.gif)
Phase II
LS1/LS6 Heads/Cam swap + bolt-ons
So after you’ve swapped the coolest motor in the world, or perhaps you’ve bought a 4th gen Camaro/Firebird, maybe even a Corvette with a LS1 the best bang for your buck is doing a heads and cam swap on the motor.
With my first 98 LS1 having a broken rod I wanted to look into my newer 99 LS1 alittle closer, change out bearings and add alittle more fun. I wanted to keep it on a budget but make some good power so I called up Texas Speed and Performance, they set me up with their 233/239 cam on a 112lsa for alittle extra bump and their 5.3L heads with the stage 2.5 port job. While you have the motor opened up it’s a good idea to change out the oil pump, I went with their ported LS6 pump, and also an LS2 timing chain. And lastly I slapped on an SLP underdriven harmonic balancer. Here are the steps and pics as I went along.
First the stock 99’ stipped down
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls18.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls17.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls16.jpg)
Next remove the rocker arms, pushrods and lifter, then you can take the head bolts out and remove the heads.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls110.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls111.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls113.jpg)
After this remove the oil pan, harmonic balancer, and front motor cover
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls19.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls1.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls11.jpg)
At this point I took the time to scrub and clean the whole external parts of the block. You can pull the oil pump & pickup off, then slide the cam out. Lube up the new cam and put that in. put the new oil pump on and the front cover.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1081.jpg)
And then the shiney new heads are good to bolt on, I used a set of ARP head bolts for added strength since I planned on using nitrous at some point.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1085.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1086.jpg)
Now here I cleaned up and painted the valve covers, as well as the LS6 intake the same color as my roll bar called Black Metal Flake. Definitely gave it a lot cooler appearance. And you can also install the new harmonic balancer. Simply toss it in the oven on 350* for about 45 min, it’ll go on the majority of the way then you need to get a longer crank bolt and you’ll be able to draw the balancer on the rest of the way.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1088.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1090.jpg)
Engine with the intake in place looking hawt
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1093.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1096.jpg)
Motor Installed
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1098.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1099.jpg)
Happy Modding..
To view Phase I of the build Click Here
LS1/LS6 Heads/Cam swap + bolt-ons
So after you’ve swapped the coolest motor in the world, or perhaps you’ve bought a 4th gen Camaro/Firebird, maybe even a Corvette with a LS1 the best bang for your buck is doing a heads and cam swap on the motor.
With my first 98 LS1 having a broken rod I wanted to look into my newer 99 LS1 alittle closer, change out bearings and add alittle more fun. I wanted to keep it on a budget but make some good power so I called up Texas Speed and Performance, they set me up with their 233/239 cam on a 112lsa for alittle extra bump and their 5.3L heads with the stage 2.5 port job. While you have the motor opened up it’s a good idea to change out the oil pump, I went with their ported LS6 pump, and also an LS2 timing chain. And lastly I slapped on an SLP underdriven harmonic balancer. Here are the steps and pics as I went along.
First the stock 99’ stipped down
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls18.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls17.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls16.jpg)
Next remove the rocker arms, pushrods and lifter, then you can take the head bolts out and remove the heads.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls110.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls111.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls113.jpg)
After this remove the oil pan, harmonic balancer, and front motor cover
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls19.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls1.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/99ls11.jpg)
At this point I took the time to scrub and clean the whole external parts of the block. You can pull the oil pump & pickup off, then slide the cam out. Lube up the new cam and put that in. put the new oil pump on and the front cover.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1081.jpg)
And then the shiney new heads are good to bolt on, I used a set of ARP head bolts for added strength since I planned on using nitrous at some point.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1085.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1086.jpg)
Now here I cleaned up and painted the valve covers, as well as the LS6 intake the same color as my roll bar called Black Metal Flake. Definitely gave it a lot cooler appearance. And you can also install the new harmonic balancer. Simply toss it in the oven on 350* for about 45 min, it’ll go on the majority of the way then you need to get a longer crank bolt and you’ll be able to draw the balancer on the rest of the way.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1088.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1090.jpg)
Engine with the intake in place looking hawt
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1093.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1096.jpg)
Motor Installed
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1098.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/orangeiroc/LS1%20swap%20pix/IROCLS1099.jpg)
Happy Modding..
To view Phase I of the build Click Here