Into the 13s
Apr 3, 2010 | 08:51 PM
#82
The cam swap itself is so easy... It's all the other stuff that can be a pain. But all of this is entirely due to the fact this is my first time. So I went and got the OTC puller, got back and then couldn't get the pulley all the way off because the stock crank bolt is too short. So I had to go to NAPA to buy a longer crank bolt. Ok, worked great. Got to taking the front timing cover off and realized that you cannot get the left 2nd to bottom bolt off without moving the A/C compressor and bracket. The only way around this is to have a tiny 10mm gearwrench which I do not have. Having the right tools makes things much easier. Got the cam in, those wooden dowels work amazingly well BTW. Got to putting all the rockers back in and I got them all in and torque down when I realized I forgot the rocker stands 
I seriously spent more than an hour doing all that because I was putting thread sealant (my heads have holes going from the rocker bolt hole into the intake port) and blue loctite on each rocker bolt. So I had to pull both sides of rockers off and re-do the whole damn thing basically in the dark. Anyways, got it all torqued down and then gave the crankshaft a couple turns, everything seemed to be moving smoothly, no resistance in the crank, no odd noises. So everything seems to be OK. Will let that loctite cure overnight, and put the crank pulley back on tomorrow morning, get the radiator back in, water pump on and all miscellaneous hoses, clamps, etc. I should have it fired up by noon or so.
I seriously spent more than an hour doing all that because I was putting thread sealant (my heads have holes going from the rocker bolt hole into the intake port) and blue loctite on each rocker bolt. So I had to pull both sides of rockers off and re-do the whole damn thing basically in the dark. Anyways, got it all torqued down and then gave the crankshaft a couple turns, everything seemed to be moving smoothly, no resistance in the crank, no odd noises. So everything seems to be OK. Will let that loctite cure overnight, and put the crank pulley back on tomorrow morning, get the radiator back in, water pump on and all miscellaneous hoses, clamps, etc. I should have it fired up by noon or so.According to the LS1howto, even though the stock bolt is too short, the pulley will only be on by a **** hair, and it could just be hit off with a mallet. Well, mine wouldn't budge. Live and learn.
Yeah, that bolt can come out with a small wrench, of course I lost my little 10mm wrench. I swear, the thing that takes more time than the actual work is just sifting through all your tools finding the one you need! I have a big Lowe's 5 gallon paint bucket just full of tools. I really need to order gearwrenchs in 10mm, 13mm, and 15mm. Those seem to be the 3 most common sizes used.
Yeah, that bolt can come out with a small wrench, of course I lost my little 10mm wrench. I swear, the thing that takes more time than the actual work is just sifting through all your tools finding the one you need! I have a big Lowe's 5 gallon paint bucket just full of tools. I really need to order gearwrenchs in 10mm, 13mm, and 15mm. Those seem to be the 3 most common sizes used.
Apr 3, 2010 | 09:59 PM
#85
G-r-e-a-t. And when I do a cam, I planned on replacing timing chain since I turned over 70k anyway. You aren't makin the chain replacement sound fun.
Apr 3, 2010 | 10:06 PM
#86
It isn't hard, I put one on my lq4. My 5.3 had 110,000 on it and I had a new one sitting on the bench, but the original wasn't bad and showed vey little wear, so I left it alone. It is now living in its second truck with over 180,000 miles on it (and lots of spray) and still runs strong, and doesn't use a drop of oil. If your doing it cause you like the hobby and enjoy tinkering with stuff, thats fine, but so many people present things as a must do, when its really not.
Apr 3, 2010 | 10:09 PM
#87
It isn't hard, I put one on my lq4. My 5.3 had 110,000 on it and I had a new one sitting on the bench, but the original wasn't bad and showed vey little wear, so I left it alone. It is now living in its second truck with over 180,000 miles on it (and lots of spray) and still runs strong, and doesn't use a drop of oil.
Apr 3, 2010 | 10:19 PM
#89
It isn't hard, I put one on my lq4. My 5.3 had 110,000 on it and I had a new one sitting on the bench, but the original wasn't bad and showed vey little wear, so I left it alone. It is now living in its second truck with over 180,000 miles on it (and lots of spray) and still runs strong, and doesn't use a drop of oil. If your doing it cause you like the hobby and enjoy tinkering with stuff, thats fine, but so many people present things as a must do, when its really not.
Sounds like a cam & it's supporting hardware will be down the road for me.
Apr 3, 2010 | 11:07 PM
#90
No need to let any of that loctite or sealer "cure" put it together and bust it off... I do this **** every single day, stuff leaes the shop with wet loctite and no issues... It'll cure. If you tightened the **** up right it won't back out before its sets up... No way, no how. Just my $.02