i am looking into buying a gt-11 cam from lingenfelter and a set of lingenfelter heads fro my 01 ss. i dont know what heads will match up with this cam to begin with. 2nd of all is it possible to change the cam with the engine in the car? if so how complicated is it. 3rd i have never changed out a cam or heads, any tips? if anyone can answer my questions i would appreciate it thankyou.

 

First off, search.
Second, call Lingenfelter and ask them about their heads/cam.
Third go to www.ls1howto or www.installuniversity for step by step instructions.

 

It is tough to change the cam in the car. If you have never done it, then get a pro.

-Geoff

 

I agree, but if you want to do it yourself then go for it. Just take your time, have patience, and don't get slack on anything just because its taking a while. It can be done, but you gotta take pretty much everything out from in front of the engine. (radiator, accessories, pullies...) If you don't have the tools for that, you might as well just get someone else to do it with experience.

 

I'm doing my own heads and cam swap as we speak (in car) and pretty much what jmullin said, take your time and don't rush anything. It's really not that tough, a couple of steps might really stress you out (like removing a bolt you can't even see). Another tip, bag and tag EVERYTHING! Get some zip lock bags and label every little nut and screw because you will be removing alot of stuff. As far as a guide, i'm using the same one Al posted www.ls1howto.com It's very easy to understand and goes step by step with pictures. Some of the guys recommended you to take it to a mechanic if you didn't have the tools, but honestly with 1/4 of the money that will be used for labor you can buy all the tools you need. I'm having fun with the project, it's been a good experience.

 

thanks for all the advice. i would like to try it myself cause you gotta learn sometime. but it seems intimidating as hell!

 

one more thing, would i need to tun e the ecu when the cam and heads are installed?

 

Yes you will, what i'm still trying to figure out is:

- Can the car still be drivable without the tune, in other words it should be able to re-learn itself.

- Will there be any harm to the engine if you drive the car without a tune.

 

i think it might run but not to potential. im not really sure either. or maybe it wouldent run at all.

 

It'll run, but it won't run well and it won't learn a H/C swap. The learn has narrow parameters to cover changes in fuel, weather, and altitude not enough to compensate for major changes.

Quit trying to cheap out, figure a tune into your budget.

 

Definitely will need a tune; without it you won't gain much power out of all the time and money you spend. And it won't be nearly reliable. After my install the car fired right up and idled around 1100. Sometimes it would surge from around 700-1300, it drove alright though, straight into the tuner's shop where it picked up another 50 rwhp. That was about 1:10 hp to dollar ratio, which is great bang for the buck.

 

^^ I'll be having pretty much the same exact setup as you, i'm not trying to be cheap or anything by avoiding a tune. My problem is there's no tuners around here, closest one would be a 30-45 minute drive, would it be safe to drive without causing harm to the engine? Sorry for hijacking the thread.

 

I think that'd be fine. i drove mine around for a couple hundred miles even to break the cam in and changed the oil out before going to the dyno tune. Just be prepared for the car to act abnormally, stall out randomly, not accelerate fast, or accelerate TOO fast haha.

 

And Johnny6 I'm about to send you a PM about those Sportlines..

 

Got it.