My ambitious project
Honestly...how much work is involved with dropping the engine like you did? If I can ever get around to doing the springs, rockers & rods next spring...I'd love to get the cam in, too...but that seems like a lot of ***king work, but fun nonetheless.
The belt is a piece of cake for on and off with a pry bar in the fender well against the tensioner the biggest PITA by far is getting the PS pump off the water pump and getting the hoses off the front of the water pump and getting the pump out. A good impact will get the crank pulley bolt off.
obviously the rockers and pushrods come out too. I used special sticks i had a buddy make that slide in the lifter oil galleys to hold the lifters from falling too.
Ive got about 6 hours into and could shave it to 4 with no interuptions now.
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, cams and the associated valvetrain parts are not my strong suit.
Last edited by EmersonHart13; Sep 19, 2008 at 03:25 PM.
This would be real power added, and if your gas mileage holds I think it would be worth the savings, since mine is like yours, very low 20's.
(Yeah I know the payoff will be long, but I hate paying for gas - rather buy toys w/ that $$$)
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
A couple of things changed for me. One, my job changed so I have to drive further to work than I used to (about 26 miles now instead of 2 - one way). I am getting between 300-320 miles to a tank now (compared to 200 or so before). My lifetime average went from 12.1 to 13.9 (and it's still climbing).
When I first installed the cam, there was a slight ticking type sound. It has since gone away, so it was probably just the cam settling in.
If I had it to do over, I probably would have gone with a LS6 cam. I sure am not changing it again though. Right now, I am considering having my TB and intake ported.
With the cutout open (which is pretty much most of the time), it has a nice throaty growl. I have never heard it from outside the car. From inside, if I stomp on it, I will drown out the radio easily.
Right now, I am working on getting my oil pressure sender to work properly (it's probably my wiring - I changed the guage and the sender, so...). I also need to work on tuning it some. I am running kind of lean (probably why my mileage is doing well). My AF ratio is about 14.5 or so.
I am slightly hesitant to spend a lot more money on this car. I really want a C5. A couple hundred or so, maybe. Thousands? No. But I tell you, I would love to have a few extra thousand to throw GXPJAY's way for that turbo and trans.
Once i get the pushrods in it and figure out if some of the torque is gonna came back or not is gonna make me decide to keep the cam in it and go with like a 4,000 stall converter or put the stock cam back in. I think im gonna get passed at 60 when it shifts during a close race, but once at 80 it pulls pretty damn hard up top now.
this cam kinda switched roles, its lazier down low and stronger up top vs the exact opposite with the stock cam.
Once i get the valve train quieted down ill get it to the track on slicks.
The stock airbox is all cut open behind the headlight, more of a non modded look if anyone wants to see under the hood after a race lol on the *** dyno it feels better than the fenderwell one i had in there prior.
Have not tried the DOD yet, but i did get it dialed in. Its actually pulling down 28-30 on instant econ in V8 mode cruising at about 60 with this cam, where it was in the low 20s prior, i guess the 116 LSA helped that.
I have seen that alot of guys here have done the same thing.
I'm guessing he used the 02+ LS6 cam, which has slightly more duration and more lift as well....
still think it's an aweful lot of work for the return, but interesting nonetheless...
this is **** I could never do myself, would have to pay someone to just have it done.. heh..
that's why it's interesting to see what's involoved with jobs like this...
06MonteSS / DiabLew Tune

2014 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3, 6-speed manual, short-throw performance shifter, NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, 1LE front splitter, ZL1 rockers, Z28 Rear Spoiler, all paint-matched Red Rock Metallic, BMR strut tower brace, Cold Air Inductions cold air intake, Apex Motorsports, Inc. catch-can, Custom DiabLew Tune
www.diablewtune.com -- www.diablocustomtune.com -- www.diablocustomtunegm.com


until we get to hear this thing.....




