aklim

Never did this before so any advice would help. Planning to do this later this spring or early summer. I will be changing the valve springs so the rockers would be off. Would the engine have to be totally removed? Would the intake manifold have to be removed? Can the cam be slid in without much effort? TIA

camarokid04

on my friends 90(i think) RS the only problem with getting the cam in and out was two braces that are right behind the radiator, or infront depending on how you look at it. I lifted those while he wiggled the cam out, no problem. we had it all out but about 1/2" and then i had to yank on those. so to answer the direct question no i dont think the motor would have to come out. and i'm almost 100% positive the intake is going to have to be removed, i would infact put money on it. If you have a friend who has done it before it would be very helpful.

oh and you have a PM

Zepher

I changed my cam while the motor was in the car.
You need to pull the intake since you have to pull the lifters out.
It will look like this,




Oh, and the valve covers need to come off too, as well as anything on the front of the motor. I was pulling the motor in the above pics and didn't need to pull the covers off to yank the motor. I didn't need to remove the intake either, but I had it sold so i took it off early.

aklim

So it sounds like I have to have the intakes off and the VC off. Might as well change springs at that time. Also with the radiator off, you are saying I could simply slide the cam out? What about eh cam cover? That has to come off and if it does, doesn't that mean the oil pan has to come off too?

Zepher

My oil pan gasket was a 2 piece (maybe 3, never took the pan off).
I took off of the timing cover, pulled out the cam, put new cam in, put the lower timing cover seal (the one down at the bottom of the timing cover that goes along the bottom front of the oil pan) and the timing cover gasket on and bolted it back together.

Zepher

With my LT1, I have to lower the pan a bit to get the cover back on since it is a 1 piece oil pan gasket.

Here are 2 pics of the LT1 which looks almost like yours,

Zepher

Here is a pic showing the chain and gears off of the motor,

camarokid04

well yeah u gotta take the cam cover off lol. umm on the oil pan, i think that's sorta a do as you go thing, my friend got his cover off without dropping it and then just shaved the lip to get it back on without dropping it. some people dont like that idea, some people dont mind. and really dropping the oil pan wont be that much of a pain IMHO for you, your probably going to be putting new oil in the car after you install the cam, so what's taking the pan off and inspecting it to see if there is anything unusual. but that's just my opinion.

mrr23

http://www.fl-thirdgen.org/mrr23/mrr23-7.html here's how i did mine. pics clarity sucks. but you get the picture.

aklim

Well, if the engine does not ahve to be disconnected from the tranny and lifted out, that would make things nicer. That means I can do it in the garage.

mrr23

engine stays in car and tranny stays attached.

klumb15

Do you have to take the radiator out as well, or is there enough room in the front of the engine to slide it forward enough to get it out of the engine?

Zepher

How short do you think the cam is?
Radiator and condensor have to come out as well as loosening the support bar that is in front of the condensor.

AutoRoc

Radiator out, condensor out, intake manifold comes off, don't forget to drain ALL fluids first. Dropping the oil pan slightly was needed last time I seen a cam swap in the car.(right Eric?). Valve spring compressor would be nice along with and air fitting to holdthe valves up while changing the springs. Goodluck!