I'm in the middle of replacing the timing chain and have the entire front of the motor off including Opti, H2O pump, fans, timing gears and chain, etc. I was thinking about camming the car eventually (probably the LT4 Hot Cam Set due to budget reasons) and since I am already half way in there should I just pull the heads? I was thinking it might be wise even if just to check for damaged valves after the chain breaking. Just wondering what you guys think.....

Brad

 

Might as well do the cam while you are in there. Keep in mind you'll have to replace the vavle springs though, but that can be done without removing the heads. Just take out the radiator, rotate the A/C condensor out of the way, take out the cam retaining plate, remove the intake manifold and unbolt the oil pump drive and lifters then slide the cam out.

HOTcam would be an excellent choice I think. I'm really happy with mine and can't wait to get it tuned to pick up some more power.

BTW, don't pull the heads unless you have to. It's such a bitch to do.

John

 

You want my 230/236/112 XE cam.

 

You can change the cam, valve springs, retainers, locks, and rockers (everything with the Hotcam setup) without removing the heads???? Is this true!!! If so I'm in!!!!!! I'm keeping the heads unported for a couple years so is this the way to go?

 

Ya you can change it all. Why not go bigger though? Buy cmotorsports valvesprings for 90 bucks, comp rockers for 300 with guideplates, hardened pushrods for 30, and my cam for 200

and you have a much stronger motor than the hot cam would give you, with better parts.

 

LOL, I don't want to piece together a cam setup. The price and convenience of the Hotcam Kit can't really be beat in my mind. I'm sure in 2 or 3 years I'll be going with ported heads from LLoyd Elliott and a CC306 but for now this is fine. I'm just having a hard time beleiving that a cam change can be done with out pulling the heads since every guide I've read says to......

 

Not really piecing it together. get all teh other stuff from combo for 400, cam for 200. Much better bang for buck than the hot cam kit and youll get more power.

not to be a **** or anything, but are you going to attempt this yourself? it seems you have little knowledge of engines. again not a flame, but before you start digging in there, you want to read up on the lt1.

you can change springs and all without pulling the heads.

 

I shouldn't have a problem doing this. I'm actually pretty familier with LT1's. I put my longtube headers in with Y-pipe and took about 7 hours total. The tranny/stall swap on my 78 took about a day and a half so I'm figuring this should take no more than a weekend.......just that I've never done a cam swap. I will continue to read up on this, I'm sure Brent has an install guide. Thanx!

Brad

 

Yeah, if you really think about it, why would you have to pull the heads to put a cam in? You wouldnt even need to pull the intake off it wasnt for the lifters. Those are the only things that will keep your cam from coming out. And yes, the springs can be replaced without pulling the heads off also.

 

The only thing is that to redo the valvesprings with the heads in you'll need a good source of compressed air so the vavle won't drop into the cylinder will you replace the spring. There are adapters so you can hook up an air source through the spark plug hole. I caution you though, if it was me I wouldn't attempt this. I would find someone who has done it before and have them lend a hand. But the cam swap is cake man, you're almost there now!! Slap that HOTcam in there while you have it apart.

To take full advantage of it I would tune it as well. You could probably do the whole HOTcam kit and have a mail order tune done for cheaper or about the same price as getting a bigger cam. Believe me, if you get a bigger cam you'll want a tune even more!!

John

 

ya I say go for the cam, your already there so might as well. I just did mine, I would have loved taking off the heads and making sure they were fine and all, but the longtubes will need to come out to remove the heads, at least on the passenger side, theres no room to get to the bolts. So I wouldn't worry about them until you need to remove them for porting. You've obviously come this far, and the rest of the process is just as easy. The hardest part for me was putting on new springs, I used the compressed air method, and some were hard to get to, but I managed without a hitch. You could also just rotate the engine to each TDC, then stick some thick rope in the cylinder hole, and that will be enough to put the new springs on without air, although I believe the valve will go down slightly so you will need to compress the new springs a little more than with the air method. Just make sure you get the 12 dollar screw type spring compressor, the cheap leverage kind you can't use on all of them. The hotcam is a great cam, everyone with it seems to run real good times, and if you just want something for now with intent to upgrade later, theres no reason to spend more money. Whatever you do, make sure you put on a new waterpump seal on the timing cover or else you stand a good chance of messing up the old one. The best way is to put the cover back on then put the seal in, this way it cant scrape or get messed up with the cover. Shoebox has a great guide for doing this

 

Thanx for all the info guys. I came into about a grand yesterday so the Hotcam kit wil be on it's way very soon, I have a compressor so keeping the valves up during the spring change shouldn't be a problem. I have a friend who has done everything under the sun to his Grand National and big block Chevelle and GTO's so I'll ask him to help. If not I know of a good local F-body board maybe someone will be nice enough to lend a hand. I cracked my old timing cover so the new one has a new seal for the waterpump.

 

You came up on a grand and you are getting a hotcam kit!!!!!!!

NOOOO! Give seth a call at cmotorsports, they sell LT1 cam kits with better cams and better parts for about 600 dollars. I'm going with the low-lift 224/236 for my blown car. I think you will come out a very happy man if you give them a call. You could even throw in a double roller and an elec water pump. Good luck!

 

I deceided to delay my cam install to have the heads worked. 50 hp alone is worth the wait to me. Lot easier to change stuff out with them off too. Who wants to go in there twice.

Jeff D.

 

True Poorman, but I didn't wanna go in there once! Especially with only 52K on the motor. I was gonna wait too but after the timingchain breaking I don't have much choice.......

I think I'm gonna go with the Hotcam kit anyway, I'm hopeing for 340rwhp and mid 12's with tuning and alot of bolt ons....I better not break this LT4 ED chain!!!!