vetteset8087

hey guys looked over this site for this info but did not find the answers I needed. First off I need to change the cam in my 87 TPI (cam gear is bad) is it possible to do this in the car without evacuating the A/C to remove the condensor. next does anybody have suggestion on heads I am running the stock aluminum heads with stainless roller rockers on a 383 with 9.86:1 compression accell 30 pph injectors the cam is valve lift .492 - duration is in 272 EX 282. I am running an SDS ECU so the factory ECU is not a concerne. I want to increase my mid range and a little more top end would be nice without loosing too much of the bottom end. I plan on keeping the factory TPI but changing to the bigger BBK throttlebody. I appreciate any help you can give me

Eike

It is.

tequilaboy

It is also possible to do with the intake still installed with some creative use of pen magnets:







I did have to pull 1 motor mount bolt and jack the engine slightly for the cam to clear the cross-member, but it was not a problem at all.

coupeguy2001

is it possible to do a cam swap and walk upright within 3 days?

drippingwithgold

I like that trick!

vader86

Unfortunately no.

comp

'Shifter

My back hurts just thinking about it....

LouisvilleLT4

I'm going to be contrary here and say that no, it's not possible to do it in car. Those pictures? Yeah they were faked.

Hey Tequilaboy, what function did the pen magnets serve? That looks like a pretty cool way of changing the cam out. Not pulling the intake would save a lot of steps.

aboatguy

Holds the lifters so they don't drop when the cam is removed.


Good tip. But I just pull the engine, since pulling an LT1 is pretty simple and with my luck the lifters would fall.



Mike

vetteset8087

I have one a/c line that is ridgid what are you doing to move it are you just bending it to move the condensor or do I have an oddball freon line in mine. after reading about a million posts on here and third gen I am thinking about using the mini ram instead of the stock TPI. I can build a motor just fine but when it comes to figuring out the right parts to use I suck. Does anybody have any advice on cam and heads for the mini ram on this 383. this car is a weekend warrior light to light racing some illegal night drags and on occassion a highway cruiser. The engine description is in the first post but I left out a couple things
700r4 auto 2200 or 2400 rpm stall
354 rear end gear
msd 6AL
the SDS ECU is crank triggerd and programable for fuel and timing
stock exhaust manifolds
hollowed out pre-cats
Hi flow cat
flowmaster cat-back

I appreciate any and all advice you can offer

JackDidley

The condensor can stay hooked up. May have to wiggle it around, I do not remember. On my 87, I did not even jack up the motor.

rickneworleansla

I know this is an old thread but I was wondering who else has swaped cams this way, without removing the intake? I'm getting ready to do a cam swap real soon and I may try it this way. Where did you get these pen magnets from so I'll know they'll work/fit?

Thanks

STL94LT1

Rick, on the LTx engines you need to pull the intake to remove the oil pump drive, L98's it's part of the distributor.

pologreen1

this was an awesome thread.

ekess744

maybe for gumby

mseven

yes, I removed the radiator, shroud, fans, intake (swapped out) and dist. I also removed the motor mount bolts, so that the motor could be raised in the car (dist.will need to come out), which allowed the cam to clear the cross brace. I had to have someone hold the condenser up, and on an angle so that I could remove and install the cam. Because of the twist I put on the flexable ac lines doing it this way, some of the ac lines seemed a bit loose after the install was complete.
I had the entire car up in the air and on stands, front tires off which is alot easier to work on, not to mention your back.

Street89vette

Great thread! got any pics of the project?

Street89vette

Great thread information! Does the oil pan have to drop down ?

mtwoolford

Undeniably, that's slick, but if any cam lobe(s) show wear or damage at all, the corresponding lifter roller wheel is also damaged and that damage will be transferred to the new cam lobe.