cam finally arrived...going to put it in this weekend

a few questions from people who have actually changed their OWN cams.....

1.) whats your favorite method to keep the lifters up when you slide the cam out?? i am thinkin of 1/4" tubing with a 90 on one end like the little tool they use on ls1 tech. will that work fine?

2.) somebody told me that he could change a cam in these trucks without removing the radiator. i dont see it happening, but is it possible??

3.) is there somewhere i can buy an air fitting to put in the sparkplug holes to keep the valves up for the spring change?? i guess if not i will make some at work.

thank you in advance guys.

<cam is a z06 cam for my DD....should be mild gains and VERY docile in traffic...easy to tune... 207/217.....525/525 on 116 LSA
i know i know....too small for you guys, but i think it will be a nice low end improvement for my little 4.8....and go great with my 2600 stall.>

 

1. cant help with the lifter tool cause i did heads at the same time. i would use your idea or dowel rods
2. you will have to pull the radiator but not the condensor.
3. go buy a cheap compression tester and take the valve core out of the end.works great.

 

1.) Spin the cam to push the lifters up and slide it out, much easier to do in your friends trucks, I was nervous when it came to mine.

2.) I dont think you'll be able to do it without removing the rad.

3.) Like said cheap compression tester and take the valve out so it lets air into the cylinder.

 

Im gonna be in the same place soon so are u saying just slide the cam out so that the lobes are facing up? how would that keep the lifters from not falling? maybe Im missing something...

 

use a dowel rod, a 5/16 wooden dowel rod that cost $1.29 is well worth it, if a lifter falls the cam change would turn into alot more.
I took my rad out, its not that difficult.
as previoulsly said I used a $8 dollar compression tester from Advance auto.

 

1. Bought 5/16" wooden dowel rods at walmart in the hobby section. this method has worked not only for myself, but two other friends of mine that i have helped swap cams in. i recommend this route, but give you the thumbs up for making your own tool.

2. In my truck, and my friends tahoe, we removed the radiator. it will simply make your life easier... you're removing the water pump and stuff anyway... might as well. now the A/C condenser doesn't have to come out, that is for sure!

3. there is such a fitting, and if you have an air compressor with this fitting, it will make your life MUCH, MUCH, i repeat, MUCH easier. i have the crane cams dual valve spring compressor, and i swapped my springs using the top-dead-center method, and i was hating life.

Z06 cam is very common, my friend put one in his tahoe and was happy with it. main word is was... now he's wanting more... tried to warn him about doin it bigger the first time around.

 

as you spin the cam, the lobes will push the lifters into their plastic trays. these plastic trays will then hold the lifters up, however you are taking a BIG risk letting them stay up there without any kind of "safety net" if you will to prevent them from falling all the way out (they CAN fall back out...) if that happens, you'll be hating life.

 

i appreciate the advise guys! i would use the dowel method....but i have unlimited access to pipe and tubing...so i will just make two 1/4" tubing dowels with 90* kicks for handles......

i heard about spinning the cam, and that it USUALLY holds the lifters up...but i dont want a cam change to turn into a head/intake pull off!!!

i think i will do this saturday....cant wait!!

i will surely be too cool for school.

 

if the lifter falls you also have to pull the pan to get to said lifter

 

Just spin the cam around hard a few times ad the lifters go up into the trays, that holds them. Ive done 3 that way and a guy I know has done over 75 that way.