LT1 Cam Instal

[ar0ck]

A few quick questions...

Can a LT1 cam be installed with the bottom end of the motor still in the car?
Matching Heads & Intake will help alot wont it?
What do I need to go along with it? gaskets etc...?
What else do I need beside a set of 1.6 Roller Rockers, special Springs, Locks & Retainers do I need? Do I need new pushrods?
Should I invest in a double roller timing chain?


Any help I can get would be super, even if someone can come by my shop after work and help me install one! (someone who has done a few or plenty of cam instal experience!)

[WayFast84]

Well You got the opti at front so it would make sence to do that while ur at it.

I wouldve installed the cam allready but Im returning it.

Youll need a harmonic balancer puller, intake gaskets, and other asorted gaskets.

If you want id be down to help out. But I dont know alot but I can get you some where.

[j0n]

search camaroz28...youll find all the info ya need

[Ian]

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

A few quick questions...

Can a LT1 cam be installed with the bottom end of the motor still in the car?

yes, you can install a cam without taking the rotating assembly out of the car.

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

Matching Heads & Intake will help alot wont it?

depending on the cam, yes. if its a big, rowdy cam you should probably at least get the heads ported and matched to the intake and gaskets. Aftermarket heads will help no matter what though.

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

What do I need to go along with it? gaskets etc...?

gaskets and fluids.

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

What else do I need beside a set of 1.6 Roller Rockers, special Springs, Locks & Retainers do I need?

you dont need 1.6 rockers, but they will help. springs, locks and retainers are a must and you really should not cheap out on these parts.

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

Do I need new pushrods?

I would get new pushrods if it were me. it would really suck to have a stock one bend, get jammed in the pushrod bore and mess up everything.

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

Should I invest in a double roller timing chain?

YES!

[Pampered-Z]

I've done a few, just installed a GM847 cam in a friends car 3 weeks ago. The link below will give you an idea of all that you'll need. And also the pitfalls you might run into with a big cam and stock heads!!!

http://www.97transam.com/97ta-cam.php


Yes, porting the heads will help allot, Having the heads machined to accept different springs is also good as you can run a double spring with a higher install height so your not as limited on spring selection or spring pressures.

Porting the intake doesn't do that much unless your making in the 400HP range then enlarging the the throttle bode holes to accept a 58MM TB can be done. Porting the runners on the intake has little value as the plenum size will then be the restriction, so basically, don't bother wasting money of porting the entire intake.

You need to pull the front end of the engine as well as the fans and radiator ( AC can be left in if your careful! you need someone to help and pivot out of the way) and intake has too come off. Water pump and Opti come off so it's a good time to replace them.

If you do a true double roller you'll need to change to an electric water pump and clearance the timing cover since a normal D.R. will not drive the WP and will make contact with the cover. A good option is the LT4 HD set-up, but it is more $$.

You will need some special tools: Fuel line disconnect tool. 3 finger puller to get the belt pulley off the hub ( the 2 finger one doesn't work very well as it will "pinch" the pulley on the hub. ) You’ll need a hub puller and you'll need to fabricate some bolts so you don't damage the crank threads. I have the above tools if no one local has them.

For the valve train you'll need the tools for that, air chuck to hold the valves up and a screw type spring compressor ( Bar type won't work in the LT1 engine bay!, and a spring install height gauge. ( If you get the heads ported, have them assemble the heads and save yourself the trouble!

You should change to hardened pushrods, depending on cam size it could determine the springs keepers, rocker arms and pushrods/ guide plates you might need.

I have a good write up on doing a cam swap, but it's hard copy. I can either scan it and send it or give you a copy at the Nat's this weekend?

Let me know when you’re doing the can, maybe I can give you a hand?

John

[ar0ck]

Thats so much Info! Im hoping to start the cam install by next weekend. It'll be in a decent shop with lift access. Im probably going to need help selecting all the right components. All I will really have is the cam itself. Some of this defenitly sounds really complicated, But I can promise I can get everything out of the way before hand.

BTW, I already have the Electric Water Pump. I also have a new Opti waiting to go in as well with spark plugs & wires. Im going to order up everything from that page tommorow. Im going to buy everything new but Im trying to save as much as possible on the install. Any defenite help would be a life saver, this is starting to stress me out a lil

[97transam]

Originally Posted by Pampered-Z

I've done a few, just installed a GM847 cam in a friends car 3 weeks ago. The link below will give you an idea of all that you'll need. And also the pitfalls you might run into with a big cam and stock heads!!!

http://www.97transam.com/97ta-cam.php

Hey! That's a nice webpage!!!

One of the biggest problems we ran into is discovering that the SA rockers wouldn't work with the spring setup. We had to "emergency overnight" the non-SA rockers from Summit. Also check out the baffle mod inside the valve covers to fit the wider than stock rockers. Lastly, you might want to get an extra bag of valve stem seals in case you break one...

ron

[NJSPEEDER]

i wouldn't mess with 1.6 rockers since you are buying a cam anyway. jsut get a cam with the specs that you want instead of putting excess strain and side loading the valve tips with the higher ratio rockers.

[ar0ck]

I chose the cc306, because the price was right.

[Pampered-Z]

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

I chose the cc306, because the price was right.

I saw in another post your pulling the heads off due to a broken bolt. Are you going to buy different heads or have those ported? Reason I ask is that if your getting your current heads done you should select springs to match that cam and have them installed by the machine shop, will same you time and effort. Let me know if you want me to go through my notes on spring options based on what you do with your heads and the 306 cam. I know the Beehive springs we installed on 97Transam car are probably the best option for stock heads, but if you machine the heads there are other springs that can be used with stock listers too.

PS, Felpro head gasket part # 1074 is .039 and will give you about .5 more compression.

My .02 on the rockets, if you want the 1.6 rockers then go with none self aligning rockets and GM guide plates which don't put stress on the valves as NJSpeeder referred too.

JB

[ar0ck]

Now I need to know what kind of work would be needed on the stock heads to work with th cc306. I really can't afford to go nuts on the set.