Got the heads off my car now, getting them ported, milled, gasket matched, and new springs, retainers, and 1.6 roller tip rockers. They are iron L98 heads.

Also adding gasket matched and polished runners, Holley Stealth Ram. 52mm throttle body. 30 lb injectors adjustable regulator ( I know they are way to big, but are new and came with intake) adjustable regulator. Ported Mass Airflow. Has shorty headers, no cat , and 3" catback. K&N's and ram air.

How much trouble will it be to go ahead and put in a new cam? Will I have to drop the oil pan?

What Cam should I get?

Car is a 88 Iroc 350, with 3.27 gears, daily driver.

 

is the engine out?

In the procedure, you will have to drop your timing chain cover which to do so, you will have to drop the oil pan...

The actual cam swap itself is simple as hell... just make sure u lube each lobe, take your time...

Do a search here for other info, theres a ton of data on cam swaps..

 

Yes, the hardest part will be to drop the oil pan to get the timing cover off. If the engine is out it will be a breeze. If you plan on changing your cam again in the future you should install a two piece timing cover it will save you alot of time and effort. If you have this, the cover can be easily removed to get to the cam then just remove the radiator to get the clearance for the cams to come out/go in. I've also swapped a cam with the motor in the car and the normal cover on without dropping the oil pan but it was a pain and you have to be careful not to ruin the oil pan seal.

 

Engine is still in car. Main concerns is, can I drop the pan without having to raise the engine? Or can the pan be loosened enough to do the change?

 

some people get lucky by the old screw driver to pull the pan down n throwing some silicon up in there. recommended by me? no...

But in order to drop the pan completly, the engine will have to be lifted... this is easy

remove the motor mounts, take the starter off n move it to the side (I just lef tthe wires hooked up n moved it onto my exhaust =]) and if u have a cherry picker, remove the distrib cap n if u have a long oil sending unit behind the motor, remove that too.

jack the engine up keeping a keen eye on the back of the motor for pinching electronics, distrib, anything back there.. That will give you ennough clearance to drop the pan completly...

You may have to turn the motor by hand to posistion the crank to allow the oil pan to drop...

very much so do-able, very much so recommened...

 

I've dropped a pan with the engine in the car, it's not fun, but it's possible. I put new pan gaskets and timing chain cover gasket, without pulling the engine, although I did have to jack the engine up and block it.

 

I would never pull the engine to R&R the oil pan. It can be done easily in the car. Lift the engine 4-5" & the pan will come out.

 

you can simply unbolt the pan without even raising the motor to give you enough clearance to pull the timing cover out. I've done this before. to change the oil pan/pump requires jacking the motor up, there would be no clearance otherwise.

 

I didnt drop my oilpan when I did mine.Timing cover went in fine.
The biggest PITA is the emissions crap.(I changed the intake at the same time).
The cam I picked is in my sig.Im happy with it.I have an automatic with 2.73 gears and I now bark the tires when it shifts into second

 

when lifting the engine without a picker where do u jack it from?? tranny pan?

also would just unbolting the pan give you enough clearance to change the gasket?

 

I have also NEVER dropped the oil pan to remove/reinstall the timing cover. All you need to do is cut off the ends of the timing cover seal. Once in place tighten it down and then put a dab of gasket maker on the edge (to be safe you could also put a bead across the entire bottom of timing cover)

Never leaked on me, ever.