I have all the parts needed and am going back and forth whether or not I should try install myself of take it to shop. I have a general idea on what all is needed to be done and what not.

I am having a tough time forking out the cash to have a shop do the install when I feel I can. I have never done internal work before though. I have very detailed books on the LT1 motors and such. But when it comes to adjusting the roller rockers and all kinda worries me since I don't have experience with it.

Did you guys drop the motor out from the bottom and do install with motor out or leave motor in and take radiator out (still doesn't look like much room with motor in with radiator out).

Just trying to get some suggestions/words of wisdom. I keep going back and forth with it.

 

Doing it yourself will have a huge amount of money. And it will give you a good feeling knowing that you did the work.

Leave the motor in the car, just take out the raidiator, there is plenty of room to swap cams out. If you have a book and pay attention when you take it apart, you will have no problems putting it back together for a first timmer.

I hope it turns out good.

 

I swapped out the heads on my 98 trans am. It is very hard on the knees being bent over the fenders for several hours. I have also dropped the engine out of the bottom before to swap it out. Does not take long to do and my be easier if you had a lift available.

 

Man I wish I had a lift available to use haha. Unfortunately it's jacks, jack stands and creativity if I do end up doing it myself....

 

Do you at least have an engine hoist. I put a make shift cart under the engine disconnected everything and then lfted the car off the engine with the hoist. Takes about four hours to take out. Took me twelve hours to change head gaskets in the car. It was slow going.

 

I don't have one but a good friend of mine does. My friend and I were sitting looking/thinking of different ways to go about it if we decide to do this. Basically all of the suspension will have be unbolted and set engine on something similar to what you said then pretty much jack (cherry picker) the body of car up over the engine to where i can work on motor outside of the body of the car.....if that makes sense, that's how I imagined doing it if i did decide on taking motor out..

 

Exactly unbolt the four bolts holding the crossmember to the car and the four bolts on each strut tower. Unhook the steering coupler fuel lines wiring etc. It really is not that bad and it sure beats bending over. No need to pull the radiator.

 

Remember to label things, that way you ensure it to go back the right way.

If you are just doing a cam and heads, I wouldn't take the time to drop the cradle. You could just about be comlete with the swap by the time you took to drop it. IMO.

Put the car on 4 ramps and start wrenching. The ramps will give you the room needed to sit under the car.

Adjusting the rockers is not hard, you just need to decide if you want to do them with the engine running or not. They both have their pros and cons. I am sure there is a write up somewhere on how to do both.

Mike

 

There is a good "cam install" on Shbox.com... has pics and is very helpful...

 

Well I can tell you one thing. Having an impact will be nice. I just got the motor back in my car. I can't even imagine trying to do it without a lift. I had the car up and down 40 times it seemed. But good luck. Make sure you have a good torque wrench.

D

 

Lol...I'm in the same boat as you with the LE2 package I'm ordering. I so want to do it myself rather then spend all the $$ to have someone else.

 

After reading the shbox.com thing, i'm thinkin that's the route i'm gonna take.. It'll be a learning experience and i'm sure it is gonna take me a long *** time to get it all done. haha. wish me luck and thanks for all of the help guys!

 

I read shbox.com and it made me feel alot more confident about doin the job myself...