ok I have a 90 firebird formula 305 tbi, I have an lt1 cam for it. I know that this is a really popular mod for our cars and I was wondering how many of you guys installed the cam yourself and how took it to a shop. which method would you prefer?

 

Always easier to take it to a shop...but consider the costs.

Best call around for pricing.

 

i always do my own work, but it depends on how familier you are with that area of engine work.

 

if you are confident in your mechanical abilitys, you should do it yourself.. nothing about the job is really hard, athough its a bunch of lil things...

but if you dont think you're going to be able to do it yourself, i would try to find a friend, or even a guy at a shop that will let you either help, or show you what to do... that way, you can learn more about working on it as you go along..


but if you can afford a shop and want it done that way, then by all means do so.. *shrug*




heh, one prob with giving advice on the internet though.. i donno if im talking to a 15 year old noob that just bought his first car, or a 40 year old chassis designer that has been working on cars for 30 years... heh.. so if you are qualified or whatever, dont take it as a insult... and if you never worked on cars before... it can be a first project if someone is there to help ya, but i wouldnt tackle it alone... JIC.

 

the major part is just getting the engine out

 

you dont have to remove the engine for a cam swap.

pulling out the radiator gives you more then enough room

 

You DO NOT have to pull the engine to install a camshaft in a thirdgen camaro/firebird. You just have to remove the radiator and AC condensor is equipped.

 

I suggest doing it urself, because its a lot cheaper.

 

on the contrary, you WILL have to remove the engine. Its the only way you can secure a no-leak around the front seal of the oil pan.

You do not have to disconnect anything and you don't have to pull the engine out all the way, just take out the two motor mount bolts, lift it up until your distribuator cap almost hits watching the oil sending unit n wires, and drop the pan a lil to make sure u have a good seal where the timing cover meets.

All and all, if you have the tools, the confidence, it will take you 6 hours if that.

Good luck

 

i will be doing this in the near future. i've already changed a front engine seal, manifold gasket and motor mounts in my driveway so i feel confident i can do it. it will be a bit intimidating though im sure since it'll be my first time actually going inside the motor.

but that's what we're here for right? to help each other out.

 

now now... thats not removing the engine... thats tilting it a lil...


and ive done it without doing that... athough it does make it a lil easier...

 

what are the special tools needed for this job? i know i'll need a puller and installer for the damper. dunno what else.

 

thoes are the only "special" tools needed... you may want a engine lift, of some sort..... you can undo the pan bolts that are under the crossmember easier if you have a way to lift the engine.

also, you can do it without disturbing the pan if you trim the back of the timing cover just a tad with some tin snips... so if you do it that way, you need tin snips (sheetmetal cutters)..


that should do it

 

lol a motor without anything but a cherry picker holding it is an engine "out."

And I just like to be safe n sorry, nothing like getting the timing cover n all that on n seeing you got an oil leak!


yeah the only tools if considered special would be the tool to remove the balancer. and thats not even much of a fancy tool

DO IT YOURSELF! haha, you get the pride of doing it and you will brag to all the hot women n yada yada yada.

drink some beer

 

looks like i'm all set. thanks

 

Is there any tech. articals that could help him out?

 

If you have two eyes and a hand full of fingers, you can do this. Definately not rocket science, but if you do a search on the subject here at the boards, only lose edges if any would be smoothed out.

Plus if there was any problems/questions, post again. And the slip witht he intake/ext specs for duration n lift that came with the cam unless bought used/took out from another car should have pictures n instructions on it too.

no harm done.

Oh and don't forget to let the lifters charge, just soak them in a container of oil overnight.

Cheers

 

thanks for all the help guys

 

Much easyer if the engine is out but either way. Dont soak the lifters in oil it does nothing but make a mess. Make yourself a pre oiler if you insist on pumping the lifters up. All you do is get an old distributor and hack the plate off at the base and cut the shaft an inch or so above. Slap it in attach a drill and spin. Not hard and much more efficent pumping up lifters. Just make sure to put your push rods in and tighten them slightly. The one piece oil pan gasket can hinder the timing cover install so notch the corners and use a good amount of silicone on install and you should be fine.

Note: for future builds. You will most likely change you cam at one point in time. It's well worth the investment to purchase a 2 peice timing cover. It knocks off a good hour of time from the job sometime two or 3 hours.

 

Just make sure you have a good manual to guide you. Just a few pointers: Put the engine at TDC and mark the distributor and rotor positions. Make sure you know how to check the timing. Also, a long bolt that will thread into the end of the cam shaft really helps removing and replacing the camshaft, i'm talking something at least six inches. Just be very careful removing and replacing the camshaft so you don't damage the bearings. I agree that if you are fairly mechanically inclined, you can do this yourself.