Cam Install

[NOS2006]

How easy would you guys rate this? I'm planning to do this with my dad, who's torn down engines before and put 'em back together, but want to make sure that I'm 100% totally capable. Last summer we tore off everything up to the passenger valve cover to replace the gaskets. Is it much more difficult than that? Any special precautions that should be made when setting the cam in?

[98Camaro3.8]

Please please please try a search. Very basic questions like this get asked all the time. A search for "cam install" yields over 300 results. There is a lot of info if you just try searching.

Here's some old stuff from Magnus's site: http://www.dxsoftware.com/magnus/v6headscam.htm

There's tons more like that with a search here.

Originally posted by NOS2006:
How easy would you guys rate this?

If you don't know exactly what you're doing, you're setting yourself up for disaster. You better know exactly what you're going to do before you even start tearing the engine down. If you don't know what to do now, then you don't need to install it yet. Read some manuals (Haynes) and websites and learn how to do it. Know what every part does. Don't just follow some guide step-by-step without knowing what you're really doing.

Originally posted by NOS2006:
Last summer we tore off everything up to the passenger valve cover to replace the gaskets. Is it much more difficult than that?

The only thing you have to remove to change the passenger valve cover is the lift bracket and the cover itself. A cam install is just a tad more complicated than that.


If you have specific questions about a certain part of the install, don't hesitate to ask.

Good luck.

[ January 31, 2006, 12:18 AM: Message edited by: 98Camaro3.8 ]

[NOS2006]

We didn't do that particular valve cover because it wasn't really worth it. The lift bracket removal seemed like a PITA (and I found a link just now on how to remove it) and it wasn't necessary to replace that gasket in the first place.

I tried searching but didn't really come up with half as good of results as you just provided with that link. Thanks.

[98Camaro3.8]

There's lots of good tips here through some searching. Spend some time and try doing a few thorough searches. Here's a couple tips I found just by looking for "cam install":

http://www.camarov6.com/cgi-bin/ulti...;f=16;t=002802
http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...;f=16;t=002917
http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...;f=16;t=002111

[98redcamaroV6]

a lot of research should be invested in this. it took me a few months and some sound audio clips before i decieded on comp cam 4x4 (AZ3.8Camaro), and matt from texas speed helped me get just about everything else needed w/it like springs, retainers, rods, etc.

there is a ton of info on cam installs, and very nice pictures

i still read magnus's guide, and other peoples write-ups, a shame i haven't gotten around to installing it yet it's been well over a year since i bought the cam and parts. . . . school suxks, and i had to sell my ninja 500 so i have to plan when i can work on car.

random info: i take the cam out of the box just to hold it and pet it once in a while [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Yeah nothing smells like a fresh from the factory cam. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Something about that machine oil it comes soaked in... [img]graemlins/naughty.gif[/img]

[cam98aro]

removing the valve covers is EASY compared to a cam install.

I wouldnt suggest it to anyone that doesnt know what their doing. It is so easy to mess up a new cam during install

[NOS2006]

Another question...

I'm getting the 105# springs; should I change the retainers, too, then? If so, which ones off of ZZP would I be looking at?

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by NOS2006:
Another question...

I'm getting the 105# springs; should I change the retainers, too, then?

I'll say it again....please don't forget to search! [img]smile.gif[/img]

http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...;f=16;t=003538

[NOS2006]

Ah, I did search and find that thread, but missed the middle posts by you and AZ3.8