Ive got a 91 camaro RS with a 305 V8. I need to rebuild the heads on it (which sounds like loads of fun)

question is this: would i do more harm then good by replacing the lifters while ive got the heads and intake off anyway? would putting in a new set of lifters mess up the old cam?

 

You could replace them if you wanted to spend the money, but you don't need to.

Why do you need to rebuild the heads?

 

start up the car...smoke out the back for only a few seconds and when im at a light it will smoke for a second or two off the light.....everyone ive talked to says that its because the valves are bad

 

Not your valves, just the valve seals. You can replace them without taking the heads and intake off.

 

its been done many times with good results . be sure to clean sludge from drain holes at front and rear of cylinder heads . they allow oil to drain back to crankcase . do alot of searchs , they will tell you how . good luck .

 

id feel better just rebuilding the heads..then i can put on new gaskets and springs and all that stuff

still dont know if it would hurt the old cam if i put on new lifters tho...

 

You don't need to take the heads off to change the springs, either.

You won't hurt a roller cam putting new lifters on, but there's no reason to put new lifters on.

 

Instead of replacing the good parts, why not just replace the bad ones? Save some cash man.