chadihrig121

Is it possible to do a cam change with the motor in a 96 lt4?

Also if a guy had 16 good magnets and ppl to hold them do you think I could pull the cam while holding the lifters up with those magnets? then put the new one in quick? so that way I wouldnt have to pull the intake off.

Kubs

It can be done in the car but I would recommend taking the intake off. Th only other way to get to the lifter is to take the valve covers off and go through the guide plate where the pushrod goes. You would nee a long small magnet. I would feel safer doing it the right way.

JAKE

Yes, you can change cams with the engine in the car. In addition to the other parts, remove the intake, unbolt and remove the spider and remove the lifters.

Jake

Aardwolf

Yes, if you use stong magnets and you don't need people to hold them. There was a picture posted of pen magnets all stuck on.

BrianCunningham

There's possible

There's been done

then there's, is it a good idea

wayne lowry

Why would you want to bother with magnets ? Pulling the intake is alot easier than just about everything else you are going to have to do to swap the cam.

reoch999

And then there's the question "what's the best way to get to the torque converter since I'm going to need to replace it along with the cam and I'm going to have the heads off the engine for a good multi-angle valve job..."

I'm thinking it would still be easier to pull the heads off with the engine in the car and then drop the transmission to get to the converter.

But my answer for the O.P. is why monkey around with magnets and hope you don't drop a lifter when it's relatively easy to pull the intake manifold off an LT4? Or as Dr. Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park would put it, "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they COULD, they didn't stop to think if they SHOULD."

pologreen1

If it is that easy let me know I might try it

cv67

LT4 intake is a cakewalk to remove will take less time than messing around with whatever magnets you think you can get to work.

96GS#007

If the person doing the job has any mechanical skill, pulling the intake takes about 30 minutes.

chadihrig121

why pull the intake though and have to replace the gaskets and reattach all the vacume lines and injectors when you can spend 16 bucks on 99 cent magnets and save time? seems alot simpler to me..
plus if one drops then you can always fall back on pulling the intake, since the oil pan has to come off anyways...

pologreen1

well if you don't have people holding the magnets, then atleast make sure they take plenty of pictures and or video

ultraviolet70

If you're so sure you can do it this way and don't want to listen to people, why did you ask?

cv67

Because doing throat surgery through your anus instead of your mouth can make it more interesting.

Iroc57

I am still trying to figure out why he doesn't just yank the engine out and throw it on a stand to make it real easy. The tranny is getting unbolted for the TQ antway and the accessories are coming off so the only thing left is the exhaust.

chadihrig121

Im not planing on unbolting the tranny.

Iroc57

I thought that I read a converter swap in here?

oops---sorry

It was a reply and not you that mentioned the converter

my bad

chadihrig121

ya, its a 6 speed. If it was a automatic I would just pull the motor.

GREGGPENN

A local shop charges less to pull the motor vs doing a cam in the car. That's because the labor manual shows less work to pull the motor.

If you want a REALLY good idea of what's involved, go to Vader's website. Click on Technical Info link (sidebar). Then click on Hotcam installation.

In his link, you'll see a complete to-do list with plenty of pics.

Iroc57

I don't know what I was reading then.

Pardon my ignorance