Okay, i need to order the remainder of my parts for my heads/cam swap like right away and i need help. I have a set of comp magnum 1.6 roller tip NSA rockers but im not 100% sure of how to put everything together with the guideplates and pushrods(which i have all of). So what SA rockers could i order quick that would be good and maybe not break the bank? A link would be nice. Also, where is the best and most reasonible place to buy gaskets for this swap as well? Thanks in advance for the help. Just for info, going with CC306 cam with stock heads that have been redone.

 

Any local autoparts store should carry LT1 gaskets. Just tell them you want Felpro gaskets.

You'll need
2 Head gaskets (1074s)
2 water pump gaskets
1 set of intake gaskets
1 timing cover gasket & seals
1 oil pan gasket (go ahead and replace it)
2 valve cover gaskets
4 steam pipe seals

If you already have the NSA stuff use that. The guide plates install under the rocker studs. Once you bolt the heads down take off all the studs and put the guide plates under them. Torque them back down with some red locktite.

 

I guess i just worry about getting the pushrods lined up correctly since this is my first time doing a cam swap and messing with valvetrain. Let me ask you this, is it pretty self explanitory or is guidplates and placing the pushrods correctly easy to mess up?

 

Also, how difficult is it to get the old oil pan gasket around the crank and oil pickup and how hard is it to get the new one back in?

 

As long as the pushrods sit in the lifter cups you can't really mess them up that way. If you're worried about it you could always install the pushrods before you reinstall the intake manifold so you can make sure everything is in place.

As for the stock oil pan gasket you'll likely break it when you remove the timing cover so you won't have to worry about getting it around anything. Just pull it out and try not to let any pieces fall into the pan. Get the Felpro blue oil pan gasket and just wipe down the pan really well and slip it over the outside and into place.

 

Also, while i do all of this i am going to replace the k-member so is there a "best spot" to pick up the engine from to support it and also is there anything i should buy to put new on this used k-member. Reason im changing it is because the car was curbed before i gpt it and just realized the k-member is bent in the back of the passenger side.

 

If you're doing all that just drop everything at once and move the engine and suspension from the bad k member to the new one and roll it all back under the car. Much easier to do heads/cam/etc... with the engine sitting next to the car than in the car. You'll need to have the alignment checked after all is said and done.

As far as stuff you can add...

motor mounts
bushings
sway bar end links
tie rods

Any suspension or other rubber piece that may be 16+ years old.

 

I should mention that you need to use thread sealant, not loctite, on the rocker studs.

 

I've always used locktite on rocker studs without issue.

 

Not saying there's an issue with using loctite but the FSM from GM specifically says thread sealant and recommends a GM part #.

 

On some stock heads and Lmost all ported heads, the rocker studs all but poke through into the intake ports. Thread sealant is a good idea.....