No need to drop the motor. The only thing that's really a PITA during a cam swap with the engine in the car is swapping the springs. Since the heads are coming off anyway, no problem.

fwiw, my first experience working on cars was changing oil, the second was a cam swap, CAI, y-pipe/catback install on my Formula It's best to get good and intimate with a modified car anyway since it will break... especially if raced. I've been through several cams and want to swap again actually.

 

It is not necessary to drop the engine, It just makes it easier if you have never done it before, but that is just my opinion. I did mine in the car, so it is not that much more difficult. I was just saying if you had never done it before, it might be nice to have all of the room to torque down the bolts, and when you put the cam in it would let you be right in front, might make it easier not to knick the bearings. Either way it is totally doable

 

I did all the mods in my sig at the same time except the rearend gears. I never worked on a car before this besides changing oil and the various filters. I just read the board here for questions and used various users websites that had FAQ's and such. I have pics of the complete project in my sig. I was very clean and it has been running great. Do it yourself once and you will never let anyone work on your cars again. It's not too bad.

 

i think I'll wait till this fall. That way I don't have to rush. I can finish my safety upgrades now. Thanks for all the advice.