Cam removal install question

[Rxmfn7]

Hey guys, I'm in the middle of a heads/cam swap on my Gen2 GTS. Have the heads pulled and front timing cover off, about to call it a night and pick up tomorrow. I was wondering, for those who have done this before, any tips or tricks for getting the cam out and clearing everything? I have the radiator pulled, and I thought that may be enough room but after measuring I think its going to be really tight. Im sure I can figure something out when I dive into it tomorrow, but figured if someone that has done it a few times could give some tips it may save me some time. :) Thanks

[ICPREY]

Pretty sure I removed the trans mount so I could tilt the front of the engine up.The radiator was left in place. I also had the motor mount nuts loose since I was doing the mounts at the same time (great time to do it). Support the engine with a floor jack and piece of wood on the oil pan. I also got a long piece of thread all from lowes that I threaded into the cam bolt hole to better control it on the way out and in. I'm sure a long bolt would work as well.

[Camfab]

I can't imagine doing that swap in car when it's so easy to pull the motor. Anyway I pulled out the tool I made to swap cams.
24374

The factory cam on my 2000 used a 7/16"-14 bolt. The aftermarket cam with the Strikers used a 1/2"-20 bolt. Not sure what you have, but the longer the bar is, the better. In a perfect world if you screwed the bar into the cam and held it in the center, it would be balanced. It's critical that you don't damage the the cam bearings while doing the swap. Dan Craigin recommended that I pull the pan and check the main bearings while I was doing the swap. The bearings were fine at 17,000 miles but the factory pan shielding had two screws which had backed out and were in the bottom of the oil pan. Food for thought...,

[Jack B]

You do not have to pull the radiator to change the cam. the G2 radiator is a pain to pull.

[ViperTony]

I unbolted the transmission mount and dropped it a couple of inches, Cam cleared no problem.

24376

[Dajerseyviper]

I want to ask the OP what did you replace with the cam? Did you do valve springs? Lifters? Rocker Arms? what was the list of parts you're replacing? and what cam did you go with?

[Rxmfn7]

Thanks everyone. Radiator was removed because it is being replaced anyway with an aftermarket unit. I will remove trans mount and tilt the engine up a bit, that front crossbrace is really thing only real PITA thing about working on the car IMO.


I want to ask the OP what did you replace with the cam? Did you do valve springs? Lifters? Rocker Arms? what was the list of parts you're replacing? and what cam did you go with?

The heads were done by A&C performance. Stainless 2.02/1.6 valves, springs, etc. I have Jesel rockers going in, and cam is one specd by A&C also. Heads have been shaved, had the intake ported while it was off. I already installed ARH headers and Corsa last summer, along with urethane engine and trans mounts.., and as mentioned am replacing radiator, all hoses, etc etc. Not that its related, but also putting in an aluminum flywheel/Spec clutch, as well as 3:55 gears and Unitrax half shafts while its all down. Then on to the urethane suspension bushing replacement.. haha. Hope to have everything done in the next month or so before the "season" starts. Just looking to freshen the car up and get performance to at least keep up with some of the more modern stuff :)

[GTS Dean]

It should be a strong runner with those mods.

I'm in the process of pulling my cam and lifters out after the cam bolt loosened up and caused the timing sprocket pin to shear off. (I have spark and fuel with no valve operation) I pulled the crossmember out, but I'm thinking that the radiator doesn't have to be removed. My tape measure is telling me it should clear, but I'd hate to get 90% of the thing out and find that it doesn't.

[ICPREY]

I pulled the crossmember out, but I'm thinking that the radiator doesn't have to be removed. My tape measure is telling me it should clear, but I'd hate to get 90% of the thing out and find that it doesn't.

It does not have to be removed. I have an aftermarket radiator and it cleared just fine.

[Jack B]

Make sure you check the length and contact patch on the push rods.

[NA.PowerUp]

It is much easier as others have said to pull the motor, one is definitely in a less awkward position with it out and on a stand, especially when it comes time to degree your new cam and torque the heads. If you decide to do in the car, just remember to also pull the bell housing and starter from the engine after dropping the trans because if you don't the outer edges of the bell housing and starter will jam in between the frame rails and you won't get the angle needed to clear the rad support/ac condenser. I would remove the cross brace, it's only 5 bolts and you gain so much more room!

IMO it's safer and you have more control to tilt the engine down if you use a lifting eye and bolt it to the coil pack bracket bolt hole in the valley along with an engine hoist, no risk of the piece of wood or jack slipping. You also save the cast alum oil pan from bearing some of the weight while titling the engine. Good luck! Post some numbers and a dyno graph when you get it running!

[BrianACR]

What is a good cam to go with for a NA car, other than the 708? Don't need something ridiculous but want something better than what my '01 has. I figured this thread was talking about cam so I'd ask here.

[SlowPoke McGee]

What is a good cam to go with for a NA car, other than the 708? Don't need something ridiculous but want something better than what my '01 has. I figured this thread was talking about cam so I'd ask here.

For your purposes Brian, I think the 708 is perfect. But have you addressed the stock 3.07 rear end gears yet? That's probably best bang for buck just my .02

[Jack B]

I did a G2 with the eng in place. I did not think it was a bad job.You can actually install a cam without pulling the heads, it is tricky, you have to use 20 spring clamps and hope a lifter does not fall.

[BrianACR]

For your purposes Brian, I think the 708 is perfect. But have you addressed the stock 3.07 rear end gears yet? That's probably best bang for buck just my .02

Ya, the more I think about it, the more I'm pretty sure I'll go with the 708. I already have the HS 1.7 rockers.

[Dajerseyviper]

I did a G2 with the eng in place. I did not think it was a bad job.You can actually install a cam without pulling the heads, it is tricky, you have to use 20 spring clamps and hope a lifter does not fall.

Cant you just remove the rocker arms, push rods and pull the lifters out??? Thats how I did it on my Camaro.

[Camfab]

Cant you just remove the rocker arms, push rods and pull the lifters out??? Thats how I did it on my Camaro.

Nope!

[ACR_VP]

Ya, the more I think about it, the more I'm pretty sure I'll go with the 708. I already have the HS 1.7 rockers.

It's basically the same cam that you have just with a little more overlap so it sounds a little more aggressive, and it might make 5 more hp... If you are going to the trouble of swapping the cam do yourself a favor and get a real one and a tune, you'll regret it otherwise trust me. You don't need to go ridiculous, but think about it, that 708 cam is over 20 years old now.. There are better options. And if you're going to swap the cam might as well swap heads :-)

[BrianACR]

It's basically the same cam that you have just with a little more overlap so it sounds a little more aggressive, and it might make 5 more hp... If you are going to the trouble of swapping the cam do yourself a favor and get a real one and a tune, you'll regret it otherwise trust me. You don't need to go ridiculous, but think about it, that 708 cam is over 20 years old now.. There are better options. And if you're going to swap the cam might as well swap heads :-)

Ya you're right, if it's all gonna get taken apart, might as well make it worth it! Who is someone good to get a decent cam from? I see several of the site sponsors have different ones, but I have no idea what I'm looking at. Any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
As for head swap.....Getting the cam and all that out of the household CFO(wife) was enough work lol

[ViperTony]

The cam is going to depend upon what your goals are. Different cams for different folks. But if you're doing nothing else that will compliment it such as head work then why bother at all? I've been down this road before and every time I've spoken to the right people the advice has been don't waste money on a cam alone. So, the first go around I had Greg Good port my GenII heads, custom cam, ported intake, etc. and made north of 560rwhp on my GenII. My cam preference then was around low-mid range power vs. making higher power at higher RPMs range. I don't know WTF he did but it ran like a very pissed off alpha male ape. LMAO. It was awesome. I then sent him my engine last year and told him to make it better. Now I have forged internals (rods/pistons), a new CAM he spec'd, increased compression, other shit he did to the crank I can't quite understand, LOL, our goal is to make north of 600rwhp. I'll have it up and running in a month and will post results in a separate thread.

I guess my point, if I had one, is that the CFO isn't always right. ;) Just tell her these mods will help build equity. ;)

[ViperTony]

It is much easier as others have said to pull the motor, one is definitely in a less awkward position with it out and on a stand, especially when it comes time to degree your new cam and torque the heads. If you decide to do in the car, just remember to also pull the bell housing and starter from the engine after dropping the trans because if you don't the outer edges of the bell housing and starter will jam in between the frame rails and you won't get the angle needed to clear the rad support/ac condenser. I would remove the cross brace, it's only 5 bolts and you gain so much more room!

IMO it's safer and you have more control to tilt the engine down if you use a lifting eye and bolt it to the coil pack bracket bolt hole in the valley along with an engine hoist, no risk of the piece of wood or jack slipping. You also save the cast alum oil pan from bearing some of the weight while titling the engine. Good luck! Post some numbers and a dyno graph when you get it running!

Good advice although I didn't have an issue with bell housing or starter jamming in the frame rails. I do agree that it's a lot easier to pull the engine. I wish I did this the first time as it would've save a lot of time.

[BrianACR]

The cam is going to depend upon what your goals are. Different cams for different folks. But if you're doing nothing else that will compliment it such as head work then why bother at all? I've been down this road before and every time I've spoken to the right people the advice has been don't waste money on a cam alone. So, the first go around I had Greg Good port my GenII heads, custom cam, ported intake, etc. and made north of 560rwhp on my GenII. My cam preference then was around low-mid range power vs. making higher power at higher RPMs range. I don't know WTF he did but it ran like a very pissed off alpha male ape. LMAO. It was awesome. I then sent him my engine last year and told him to make it better. Now I have forged internals (rods/pistons), a new CAM he spec'd, increased compression, other shit he did to the crank I can't quite understand, LOL, our goal is to make north of 600rwhp. I'll have it up and running in a month and will post results in a separate thread.

I guess my point, if I had one, is that the CFO isn't always right. ;) Just tell her these mods will help build equity. ;)

Thanks Viper Tony! I would like to end up with around 500RWHP. I have done a full exhaust so far and that's all. I have 1.7 rockers waiting to be installed, lifters and valve springs on the way. Id like to go for the more low to mid range power. I'm not a racer. And I want it to sound like that pissed off alpha male ;)
"So, honey, about that equity we were talking about...." Lol

[ViperTony]

Thanks Viper Tony! I would like to end up with around 500RWHP. I have done a full exhaust so far and that's all. I have 1.7 rockers waiting to be installed, lifters and valve springs on the way. Id like to go for the more low to mid range power. I'm not a racer. And I want it to sound like that pissed off alpha male ;)
"So, honey, about that equity we were talking about...." Lol

Go for it. Yeah we all start with "Honey, I'm just installing K&N filters, that's all"....add in the rockers, valvetrain work....then it's "Honey, I just want 500RWHP, that's all I need..." soon you'll be looking at twin turbos. ;) It's a sickness. Have fun with it.

[Camfab]

Here's how it goes at our House,

Wife- What are you doing to the Viper?
Me- Pulling the engine out
Wife- OK, can we go out around 7:00pm for dinner...
Me- Sure honey
Wife- Great

I knew she was the one, when we went on our first date, she didn't ask me why my car sounded the way it did (Built IROC-Z in 1988). She was smok'n hot and she asked me if I was going to race the Mustang that pulled up next to us.

Sorry, I seriously derailed this one;)

[BrianACR]

Here's how it goes at our House,

Wife- What are you doing to the Viper?
Me- Pulling the engine out
Wife- OK, can we go out around 7:00pm for dinner...
Me- Sure honey
Wife- Great

I knew she was the one, when we went on our first date, she didn't ask me why my car sounded the way it did (Built IROC-Z in 1988). She was smok'n hot and she asked me if I was going to race the Mustang that pulled up next to us.

Sorry, I seriously derailed this one;)

Lol wow man you definitely got a good one!!! Lady that is ;)
My wife is actually really good about me and my Viper. She knows I love my Viper and has accepted that.

[ViperTony]

Here's how it goes at our House,

Wife- What are you doing to the Viper?
Me- Pulling the engine out
Wife- OK, can we go out around 7:00pm for dinner...
Me- Sure honey
Wife- Great

Sorry, I seriously derailed this one;)

LMAO after 11 years of Viper mods that is exactly what happens in my household now. ;)

[Jack B]

The gasket does not allow the lifters to come up/


Cant you just remove the rocker arms, push rods and pull the lifters out??? Thats how I did it on my Camaro.