im also thinking about replacing my cam and getting a new one, i already know a good duration and such, but i just wanna know... I have an 80's chilton book for fbody cars, and it gives a step by step instruction on removing all the necessary stuff to take out and replace the cam, but my old man says that its much easier just to take the whole engine out, and work on it like that...

what do you guys think... i dont have an engine puller so thats going to be kind of difficult, how do you think i should go about doing this, or should i get it professionally installed?

 

Replacing the cam with the engine in the car can be done. I've done it a few times. Search under my name, I've got a write up posted.

There's also a pretty good how-to in the TBI boards (Sticky labeled LT1 Cam Digetst).

 

IMO it's easier to go to the rental yard, pay $30 a day or whatever for a cherry picker, and do it by pulling the motor.

You'll spend more time dealing with the cramped quarters and all that, not to mention the discomfort and difficulty of bending over the thing, than the amount of time it takes to R&R the motor. It may SEEM like you're "saving time" by working with it in place; but most likely, you're not.

Add to that, the ease of getting the valve covers and oil pan and intake back on WITHOUT LEAKS the first time, the ability to repair a few common "might as well" items easily like freeze plugs, and so on.

Yes I've done countless cam swaps both ways. I always pull the motor nowadays.