head/cam swap...at home?
 

i was planning on doing the work at school in my autoshop, but we only get about an hour working 4 days a week. at that kind of time table it would take weeks to get done. well i just had a good idea...what if i did my head/cam swap in my backyard one weekend. i've stripped an L98 down to the long block in 8 hours and that was when i didnt know what i was doing :D

so my question is, what sorta things will i need to do a cam/head swap? my guess is that i'm going to need a harmonic balancer puller and maybe some pulley removal tools...and the only thing that might be a problem is setting the timing...i mean getting number one to TDC and synching the cam and crank...but i gotta haynes manual...

anyway does this seem smart?

head/cam swap...at home?
 

i was planning on doing the work at school in my autoshop, but we only get about an hour working 4 days a week. at that kind of time table it would take weeks to get done. well i just had a good idea...what if i did my head/cam swap in my backyard one weekend. i've stripped an L98 down to the long block in 8 hours and that was when i didnt know what i was doing :D

so my question is, what sorta things will i need to do a cam/head swap? my guess is that i'm going to need a harmonic balancer puller and maybe some pulley removal tools...and the only thing that might be a problem is setting the timing...i mean getting number one to TDC and synching the cam and crank...but i gotta haynes manual...

anyway does this seem smart?

Depends, do you have another form of transport? Their is always a chance something can go wrong and of that happens you might not be able to get back and fourth to work.

Depends, do you have another form of transport? Their is always a chance something can go wrong and of that happens you might not be able to get back and fourth to work.

yeah i do. i looked through my whole haynes manual about this and it seems the only special tools i'm going to need are a balancer puller, power steering pulley removal tool, and lifter removal tool.

yeah i do. i looked through my whole haynes manual about this and it seems the only special tools i'm going to need are a balancer puller, power steering pulley removal tool, and lifter removal tool.

cant you just pick the lifters up out the block with your fingers? ive never heard of a removal tool for those.lol

cant you just pick the lifters up out the block with your fingers? ive never heard of a removal tool for those.lol

yeah, there's some type of tool to hold the lifters up while you pull the cam out, and if your drop the lifters, well, bye bye motor.

yeah, there's some type of tool to hold the lifters up while you pull the cam out, and if your drop the lifters, well, bye bye motor.

well you wont drop the lifters...they come out before the cam, so how would you drop em into the motor? stupid pontiac drivers.

well you wont drop the lifters...they come out before the cam, so how would you drop em into the motor? stupid pontiac drivers.

Ya...stupid pontiac driver, you cant even pull ur cam with the lifters sitting on top. Yes u can use ur fingers to pull them out, ive used a screw driver or some pliers before. Just becareful and theyll be fine. Donno why you would need a special tool for the power steering pump. Isnt it on an accessory bracket with the alternator or smog pump or some junk like that. Just un bolt it and lay it twoards the side where ur overflow/smog canister should be. Down to a long block in 8 hours...JESUS this is gonna take you a long time :lolsign: . Do you have an 8er or a 6er? Keep me posted.

Ya...stupid pontiac driver, you cant even pull ur cam with the lifters sitting on top. Yes u can use ur fingers to pull them out, ive used a screw driver or some pliers before. Just becareful and theyll be fine. Donno why you would need a special tool for the power steering pump. Isnt it on an accessory bracket with the alternator or smog pump or some junk like that. Just un bolt it and lay it twoards the side where ur overflow/smog canister should be. Down to a long block in 8 hours...JESUS this is gonna take you a long time :lolsign: . Do you have an 8er or a 6er? Keep me posted.

if they are roller tehy don't have to come out they have a grove and can be turned a little to stay out of the way. to do the timing set it to tdc before starting the tear down, get a new timing set, and water pump since they'll be off anyway and are high wear items