i am about to order the hotcam kit. i am going to do the cam install myself, but am worried about installing the new springs and 1.6rr etc. so my question is.... can i start the car after installing JUST the cam?? i know its kinda a stupid question!! i was thinking about doing the cam myself then driving the car to a local shop to have them install the rest of the kit. can i do this? i figure i would save some money, and learn a little. but i think doing the springs, 1.6rr, etc. would be over my head! would the car be ok to drive? thanks for any info!!

 

yeah sorry about that! i guess i kinda messed up what i was trying to say.... i know the stock lifters rockers and pushrods have to come out to remove the cam! the only thing i dont want to do and am worried about doing is removing the springs. i dont have the tool to do them. and ive heard horror stories about dropping things down into the heads! and i def. dont want to take those off right now!! wouldnt i be able to just put the stock lifters rockers and pushrods back?? i know it seems kind of stupid! but that would be ok to do correct?! sorry for not being so clear earlier!

 

When I did mine, I removed the heads and took them to a machine shop and had it done. Don't worry just take you time. I was in your shoes about 6 months ago. Piece of cake, just make sure you put the intake back on correctly. I had to do it twice because I didn't put it on right and had an intake leak bad! But you'll be ok.

 

I drove my car with the factory springs becouse I had a problem with the springs. By the time I got the cam in I was wore out and needed to move the car. It drove fine but I didnt really rev it high. After deciding I would do the springs , it wasnt hard just tediouse doing it 16 times.

 

so basically it would be ok to run the hotcam with the stock springs for a while?? does anyone advise against this? if it is ok to do, what would be the max rpm that i could bring it up to without doing any damage?? thanks for any advice!

 

Listen. Rent a spring compressor & give it a go. Autozone basically rents them for free. You give them a deposit then when you return the compressor they give you the depeosit back. Find a write up on how to do it. I'm sure someone here on the board has one. I was too worried about this part of my Hot Cam install. It was easy, but time consuming. Not that hard. I used air in my spark plug ports to keep the valves up. Someone else said they took the heads off. If you think it would be easier for you then you too can do that. It isn't that much more work to get them off. As far as being able to run the cam on the stock stuff. Sure for a bit it won't be a problem. However who is going to adjust the valve lash on the stock set up? That in my mind was harder then the spring install.