Cam without pulling intakes

[Wicked 3800 V6]

I'm pulling them anyway to swap in home ported intakes ... and no, I haven't had mine apart yet so I may be misinterpretting things here ...

But as to the intake-less cam swap, why cant we just pull the valve covers, rockers, pushrods, and use 12 pen magnets down the pushrod tubes to catch the lifters?

(A 2002 Magnus quote: "My next cam swap I will only be removing valve covers and front cover.. intakes will stay on. I think I can do it that way in a few hours. I'm sick of pulling intakes.")

[ November 26, 2004, 05:56 PM: Message edited by: Wicked 3800 V6 ]

[98Camaro3.8]

You probably could just hold the lifters up with a magnet, but I personally wouldn't trust it. If one of them came free and fell, you'd be in big trouble.

[Jerriko]

Why wouldn't you install new lifters w/ the cam? Maybe I'm just too picky but I always change the lifters when I get a new cam.

[ November 26, 2004, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: Jerriko ]

[Dotyereye]

I have never heard of someone NOT changing lifters when they change a cam. You always should change the lifters too.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Not on roller lifters. Unless you have one collapsed, its a waste of time.

[OneQuickV6]

Originally posted by AZ3.8Camaro:
Not on roller lifters. Unless you have one collapsed, its a waste of time.

Dito!

I'd say just pull the intakes..once you've done it once or twice, it's easy and quick anyway!

[Jerriko]

Originally posted by AZ3.8Camaro:
Not on roller lifters. Unless you have one collapsed, its a waste of time.

I think that may be the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. And there's quite a few things that rank in that category. If you want to be cheap about it, sure you do that. Anytime you have metal on metal contact, you have wear patterns. By using used rollers with a new cam, you will limit the life and efficiency of that new cam. Just do it right and get new lifters.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Originally posted by Jerriko:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by AZ3.8Camaro:
Not on roller lifters. Unless you have one collapsed, its a waste of time.

I think that may be the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. And there's quite a few things that rank in that category. If you want to be cheap about it, sure you do that. Anytime you have metal on metal contact, you have wear patterns. By using used rollers with a new cam, you will limit the life and efficiency of that new cam. Just do it right and get new lifters. </font>[/QUOTE]Oh your right, your such a genious, how could I be so stupid to as to think that because it has been done numerous times and is common practice that it was the worst and most moronic idea ever...

You a a$$ hat, you talk crap to everyone on the board like your a genious with a 10 second 3.4, yet you have just proven yourself ignorant of hydraulic roller lifters.

If he has roller lifters that will work with his cam, there is no need to replace them. They show little or no wear.

On top of my common knowledge, I googled roller lifters and got these off websites...

GENERALLY speaking, roller lifters can be reused even with a new camshaft. Regular hydraulic and solid lifters need to "wear in" to a new cam and should be changed out every time you change the cam. Rollers just roll over the lobes and do not "wear into" the camshaft.
-http://www.clubcobra.com/t13591.html

As the machine shop instructor put it, "Since there's 50% less friction and no need for an angle on the lobe to cause rotation, mixing new and old parts shouldn't be a problem."
-http://www.autosite.com/garage/encyclop/ency01i.asp

Flat-tappet lifters should never be purchased used because they form a wear pattern specific to each camshaft lobe. However, most roller lifters can be reused. Just make sure they’re in good condition and that they’ll fit your application.
-www.chevyhighperformance.com

All of those people must be stupid too...

[Jerriko]

Yes, I say so. Get new lifters. The rollers of any roller lifters wear just like any other metal on metal surface. Besides, one of your examples says that if the rollers look good, you can reuse them. How can you check them if you don't pull the intake? X-ray glasses? :rolleyes: I am so sorry. I like to do things right the first time. When you get cheap trying to make your engine generate more power is usually when something breaks. Be my guest, do it without pulling the intake. It's guess work so hopefully the odds will be with you.

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Well, what about pulling the intakes? [img]graemlins/wavey.gif[/img]

[Jerriko]

I would pull the intakes to be safe. Sure, its extra work but at least you know the rollers are ok (if you reuse them with a different cam).

[Dotyereye]

Also how would you know if they are in good shape without puting a mic on them? This would mean you would have to pull the intake. The only sure way is to mic them and make sure they are in spec.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

I have never heard of the roller wearing out on a roller lifter due to metal/metal contact.
I have heard of the bearings though...

If it is your first cam install, and you have high mileage, you might want to replace them. Especially if they make noise. If you replaced them before, or have aftermarket. They will be fine.
The only way I would say they go bad is by collapsing.

You could use magnets to hold the lifter, but like it was said, be VERY careful.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

http://www.turbov6camaro.com/cgi-bin...s/P1060270.JPG

my lifters after 87K miles

[Jerriko]

Originally posted by viper04af:
http://www.turbov6camaro.com/cgi-bin...s/P1060270.JPG

my lifters after 87K miles

Do you have a better pic of the rollers?
To AZ, I never said that rollers wear out. I said that they get a wear pattern. The wear pattern is what prematurely wears the cam lobes. I just want to be clear.