heads have to come off to remove/replace lifters, but not to install a new cam. we used pen magnets for my cam swap

 

i just dont see how the pen magnets work?? kinda confusede on them?? anyone have a pic of them in use??

 

check out ls1howto, i think theirs a pic on there

I used wooden dowel rods, worked great..

 

lifters aren't like the old sbc's, they are in cups under the heads. That's why the magnet pens come in handy

 

Magnets are the hard way. Get some 1/4" dowel rod. Spin the cam a few good times by hand and the lifters will hang in the plastic trays and then slide your dowel rod through the holes on both sides of the cam. This holds the lifters up incase one were to try and fall. And you don't have to take all your accessories off. Take the radiator out, pull the belt, balancer and water pump off and you will have full access to the timing cover.

 

5/16" dowel with one side sanded, 1/4" dowels were too small in my case and wouldn't hold the lifters up.

I used vise grips to twist the dowels and hold the lifters in place.

 

I shall try this method next time

 

i used the thunder racing tools to hold lifters up and comp cam spring compressor to take springs off whith heads on.. just gotta make sure u compress air into cylinder to seal valves...

 

Also, get the Crane dual spring compressor (part 99472-1, about $120). I didn't, I used a crappy AutoZone loaner and it took 2 hours to do the valves, breaking midway through and also needing some ghetto rigging to get to the back two cylinders. If you don't need it again, sell it on here for a $20 loss, well worth the $20 IMHO.

 

Thanks for the correction, You are right it is 5/16 dowel rod and I believe it's the passenger side that the shaved dowel rod goes in. That's the side that seems to put up the biggest fight everytime.