is it necessary to remove the heads to install a cam or does the pen magnet to hold the lifters trick really work? thanks for the info

 

No, you don't need to remove the heads. Yes, the pen magnet thing really does work. Refer toLS1howto.com for reference. Check out their cam install tech articles. They're on f-body cars, but pretty much all is the same.

 

I had several people wanting to remove the head on my 5.3 to instlal my cam... I just moved on untill I found some one who did not remove my heads.

 

 

Hell, foget spengin the $$$ on the magnets and still having the, however slight, possibility of dropping a lifter or hanging a magnet or something else and buy you a 3' section of 5/16" steel rod. Taper the last 5/8" of each end to a point, the other end bends up, the last inch or so, for a handle and you're coocking with gas!!!!!!!!

 

I ended up pulling the heads on mine.

I had an old POS pen magnet trying to check the lifters being pulled up, and the tip broke off in the lifter bore. Passed that, yes, the magnets really work though, don't skimp, buy new ones.