LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Cam Install Questions...

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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 06:36 PM
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Default Cam Install Questions...

I finally decieded on a cam, Its a big one but im told it will be ok with my stock heads. Ive bugged the crap out of LE for a week now it seems lol.

Anyways i have no idea how to install a camshaft. I took the old one out just fine. I didnt move the crank sprocket part of the timing chain setup, just unbolted the timing chain from the cam and slid it off. Forgive me if im not using the correct terminology lol. Anyways i dont know if 1 or 6 is at TDC. I put the Crank Hub at the 12oclock position befor removing it and it hasnt moved since. I dont see a 1 or 6 mark on the back of my opti like the picures on SHBOX show.

I assume i slide the camshaft in, put the retainer and timing gear on and rotate the cam untill the dots line up on the timing chain gears, then work the chain back on. Since the cam dowel can only go in one way i assume its almost idiot proof to mess this up aslong as the dots align right?

Just want to make sure befor i pull a noob mistake. First camshaft swap ive ever done.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 06:41 PM
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Yep, just align the dots and you're good to go.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 06:45 PM
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Awesome, one other thing. this build is gonna take awhile as i still need parts and i need money to buy parts. Should i put the cam in now, or wait untill i have everything ready to go in? Im also doing long tube headers so ill need those befor i start it, has no manifolds on it right now. Just wondering if its ok for things like the camshaft or lifters to sit for awhile without being moved? i guess once the timing set is on i can rotate the engine.

Or should i just wait and put it all in in the smallest time frame i can.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 07:01 PM
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Honestly I would wait. It always make sense to do it when you have all of the parts. No need to be hasty.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 07:22 PM
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i thought that the engine had to be on a compression stroke with the number one cylinder at TDC then line the dots up? am i wrong?
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 08:33 PM
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According to what ive read, with the dots lining up it can either be at #1 TDC or #6 TDC. Maybe ive read wrong, i dont know. Maybe it is at #1 TDC lol.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 09:54 PM
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#1 and 6 are at TDC depending on where the cam pin is. Without the cam in the block there is no piston on a compression stroke as the valves are not being controlled by anything. Like said line up the dots, check shoebox for cam pin positioning to find out which cylinder is now at TDC after the cam is installed. Until then, you can't find what you're looking for.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 09:58 PM
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im not looking for anything lol, but since the cam dowel pin can only go in one way, and the crank sprocket hasnt moved, it doesnt matter whats at TDC if anything does it? all i do it rotate the cam shaft with the timing gear on it untill the dots line up according to what i said and what ramair95 said.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 10:09 PM
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line up the dots and you're done.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 01:54 PM
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awesome.

Does anyone know if LS7 lifters will work with my cam? its a 226/232 .606/.603 lift cam. I think i am going with k-motion k-800 springs. Not sure why they wouldnt but im just curious.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:05 PM
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They will work just fine. I'm running them in my motor with no problems. Go for it!
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:07 PM
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sweet. Do you know anything about the k motion k-800's? do they need anything special to install?
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:12 PM
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I'm not familiar with them. What springs does your cam card (or LE) recommend you use? Matching the valve springs to the cam is pretty important.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
I'm not familiar with them. What springs does your cam card (or LE) recommend you use? Matching the valve springs to the cam is pretty important.
Seems like an awful big cam for stock heads.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 03:08 PM
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^^ lift wise its big, duration is nothing major. It should work fine.


LE reccomended patriot gold extreme 8501-bsbc to me, when the previous guy had the cam LE said k motion k-800 or howards 98441 if you already have double springs on the heads or the 8501-bsbc.

Really he just said run a good spring that has a 155 seat pressure and atleast 370 open. But dont run beehive springs.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by trilkb
^^ lift wise its big, duration is nothing major. It should work fine.


LE reccomended patriot gold extreme 8501-bsbc to me, when the previous guy had the cam LE said k motion k-800 or howards 98441 if you already have double springs on the heads or the 8501-bsbc.

Really he just said run a good spring that has a 155 seat pressure and atleast 370 open. But dont run beehive springs.
Where'd you get that cam/Who spec'd it for you?
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 09:22 PM
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Well, its been intresting figureing all that out haha. Bought it off a guy on here named Kopper. He said it was a bret bauer/lloyd elliot 1.5 cam and gave me pics and the cam card. So i emailed LE about it for like a week and probably got him fed up with me, but i learned a few things.

Its a old cam from 4-5 years ago, but it only has 500 miles on it. LE had comp cams grind it. I emailed comp cams about it and didnt tell them anything about the cam, just the numbers i found. They responded and said it was a camshaft ground for Bauer racing engines. So that verified that it is indeed a bret bauer/LE camshaft. Its deffinetly a custom grind. cam card shows it being a 224/230 .568/.565 108lsa. However it says with 1.6 rockers its a 226/232 .606/.603 108lsa. Im not sure how the duration changes lol. LE said it should act like a CC306 up top, but have ALOT more torque down low. LE saw the pictures of it and helped me identify it, so i can only just beleive that it is what it is.

Half of this is the reason i wanted the cam, just because its different then everyone elses. According to everything i see, most cam only cars do about the same so i figured what do i have to lose with it. If anything maybe ill gain something. Plus its gonna sound NASTY!
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 10:11 PM
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that cam sounds crazy
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 10:20 PM
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I say go ahead and put the cam in now. That will give you plenty of time to figure out how to set the valve lash right while you are saving up for your headers...
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Old Dec 14, 2010 | 01:22 AM
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Silly question: Planning a cam swap for spring and am wondering if on a 83k mile motor, will I need to replace the cam bearings?
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