Tips for Heads/Cam Install? *Video!!*

[98Camaro3.8]

Gonna start the install for my Heads/Cam package on Wednesday. Think I have everything I'll need, and just can't wait any longer to get it done. [img]graemlins/rock.gif[/img]

Anyone have any tips for the install? I'm not looking for a walkthrough or anything, just little things that anyone may remember. Any little plastic pieces that may break, etc. I know a few people have instlled cams in the last few months, so just looking for some input. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Note: I'm not asking how to do this full install, so don't bother telling me to search. [img]tongue.gif[/img]


Update: Video posted at reply #27

[ October 05, 2004, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: 98Camaro3.8 ]

[RallyRed 98]

hm... lots and lots of plastic baggies, some tape, and a permanent marker helped a lot on a friend's top end tear down. it also helps not to have a temper, which i sort of have.

it also helps to have a friend and some neosporin to split between you

[StudlyCamaro]

some good hand cleaner, even more bags than you ever thought you would need, time is helpful, and a case or 2 of beer dosent hurt

[Nathan]

Ok when they talk about baggies and a marker... THEY MEAN IT! Mark everything that you pull out. RallyRed helped pull out the top of my car a couple of months ago. I WISH that I had actually marked the baggies better, it would have helped. Take the time to write down everything you pull out of the car, try to cover everything that you pull of with plastic to keep dust and debri from getting in.
As for parts that usually break when you are doing swaps? The plastic elbow that goes from the belt tensioner assembly to the manifold tends to be brittle and breaks off inside... Plan on changing that. Other than that, have fun with the gaskets.

[Magnus]

Lot of info in this dudes page: http://www.dxsoftware.com/magnus/

Tear 3.8's apart long enough and you just end up throwing bolts into a big bucket w/o worry. ;) I do not recomend that method though.

I remember putting together Bird_Of_Preys engine. All he had was parts and a bucket full of bolts. I had that puppy together in an hour or so.

[oil pan 4]

A dish washer and oven cleaner will help you make every thing realy clean.

[White95]

won't cleaning the parts in the dish washer make the washer REALLY dirty?

[Nachius]

A good practice I've seen is digital pictures of each step including close up of where tricky parts go.

[98Camaro3.8]

Thanks for the tips guys. I use plastic baggies for bolts and stuff every time I work on a car, and this time won't be any different. Like Nachius suggested, I'm also planning on taking reference pictures before I remove things. And of course I've seen your site Magnus...I've got your instructions printed out in case I need them. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[98Camaro3.8]

So far, so good. Started Wednesday after school, and got the heads off after school on Thursday night. Pain in the ***, but everything's going pretty smooth. Was hoping to have the new heads installed yesterday or today, but the hurricane changed my plans. Hopefully I'll be able to get back at it on Monday. Thanks for all the tips.

http://www.leadingedgesim.com/mkapro...dsCam/Pic1.jpg
http://www.leadingedgesim.com/mkapro...dsCam/Pic2.jpg

[OneQuickV6]

Be sure to clean the surface where the heads mate to the block real nice! Looking good, and very familiar [img]smile.gif[/img]

[nightrida]

make sure you change the lifters. i forgot when i had my gt2 installed. good luck

[1970judge]

yes bag and tape and marker..although after your first one you wont need it but its better to use it the first time around get teh feel..and mark EVERYTHING even things you tihnk "oh ill member that its easy" mark it anyway...and it helps to do it when your in a very goods mood..that way the anger doesnt rise as fast lol.

[oil pan 4]

Don't put parts in the dish washer first thing.
clean them up best you can with other means then use the dish washer to get rid of the last little bit of oil.
Then run it w/o any thing but soap and water to clean out the dish washer.
don't dish washer cast iron.
Wash every thing with alcohol be for the final install.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

dish washer for parts :eek: :eek: my mom would kill me,

lol whats wrong with a "gas bath" and a good old rag and/or wirebrush for the nasty thingas and wire wheel for the AL stuff