Just a couple of questions about my upcoming cap swap (212/218 .522/.529 114 CompCams):

(1) Does the intake manifold need to come off? How do you keep the lifters from falling into the block?

(2) Would I need to degree the cam (or could I even do it?)

(3) Can you use a manual spring compressor on the rear-most cylinders?

I'm talking to a buddy of mine about helping me and he says that he's always taken the intake manifold off to get to the lifters and make it easier. Is the intake gasket re-useable?

Thanks for all of your help! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

the intake manifold stays on for a cam swap, to hold the lifters up once you get to the point where you have the camshaft cover plate removed you just spin the cam over a few times and it will push all of the lifters into their holders and are held in by friction. Since they are only held up there by friction for a little added safety you could buy 16 of the pencil magnets and stick one down each pushrod hole to hold up each lifter

i didnt degree the cam and you dont need to, just put a mark on the cam gear and on the block so you know which way the gear needs to be oriented when you reinstall it.

and yess you can use a manual spring compressor on the back springs, its just a tight fit

take a look at this...
http://www.torquecentral.com/mods/GM...ll/default.asp

good luck on the install <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

<small>[ March 27, 2003, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: really slow truck ]</small>

 

Cam swaps are supposedly really easy (as opposed to the old small blocks) for the Gen III blocks.

I think most of the new gaskets are o-ringed from the factory to be able to reuse. If in doubt replace them.