Cam swap, never done this before: what do I need?

[savage1987]

Ordered cam, lifters and a spring set from Lunati, should be here in a week or 2

Looking into Powerbond underdrive balancer kits but can't find for any less than $300++ .. so might give this a miss for now and do it later on, not that big of a job

Looking into LS2 timing chain swap, unclear on whether I replace the sprockets also, and what chain dampener to use as I've read the ls2 one does not fit ls1?


anyone do a decent price on a lsx valve spring compressor tool?



and lastly, looking for a recommendation on a gasket kit to use, might even get extra keen and throw some fresh head gaskets in there while I'm at it.. thoughts??





thanks
sam

[GenReaper]

Use all LS1 equipment, chains/ sprockets etc.
Nothing wrong with single row chains either, its what im using.
Cheap Valve spring compressors can be found at Repco or Supercheap.

LoL, might throw is some head gaskets, well if you want to fit those lifters you got no choice.
Go for Cometic Brand gaskets and dont fall off your chair when they tell you the price.

Also fit some new ARP head bolts while your it it and get some assembly lube.

Might as well buy a timing cover balancer seal while your at it if you go underdrive down the track.
Thats unless the kit come with one.

[cpbait]

Use all LS1 equipment, chains/ sprockets etc.
Nothing wrong with single row chains either, its what im using.
Cheap Valve spring compressors can be found at Repco or Supercheap.

LoL, might throw is some head gaskets, well if you want to fit those lifters you got no choice.
Go for Cometic Brand gaskets and dont fall off your chair when they tell you the price.

Also fit some new ARP head bolts while your it it and get some assembly lube.

Might as well buy a timing cover balancer seal while your at it if you go underdrive down the track.
Thats unless the kit come with one.

Was about to say the same about the head gaskets, everyone iv spoken to about timing cover and waterpump gaskets has said they all use genuine Holden gaskets for everything, also get a new crank/balancer bolt apparently this is needed and also as said above don't fall of your chair when they quote you on certain gaskets and especially if you decide to do inlet manifold seals, rocker cover gaskets etc. although can get rocker cover gaskets for a very good price at bursons.

[Krisp]

cheap valve spring compressors are rubbish and dont last and take twice as long as a good one

[cpbait]

look up ls1 how to as well there's a good guide in there on doing cam installation and valve spring swaps, although if you doing lifters then easier to do valve spring swap with the heads off on a bench.

[savage1987]

Use all LS1 equipment, chains/ sprockets etc.

LS2 chain has superseded the LS1 chain when buying genuine parts, I have an LS2 chain and sprockets on the way in the mail now.

LoL, might throw is some head gaskets, well if you want to fit those lifters you got no choice.
Go for Cometic Brand gaskets and dont fall off your chair when they tell you the price.

gasket cometic ls1 items at low prices on eBay.com.au
which set!?!?! wtfffff never seen so many choices?!? and what about all the other gaskets in the motor

Also fit some new ARP head bolts while your it it and get some assembly lube.

Might as well buy a timing cover balancer seal while your at it if you go underdrive down the track.
Thats unless the kit come with one.

ARP head bolts - good point, I'll order some now. Assembly lube coming from Lunati. I'll reuse the current balancer seal; nothing wrong with it and i'll be careful not to destroy it.

Was about to say the same about the head gaskets, everyone iv spoken to about timing cover and waterpump gaskets has said they all use genuine Holden gaskets for everything, also get a new crank/balancer bolt apparently this is needed and also as said above don't fall of your chair when they quote you on certain gaskets and especially if you decide to do inlet manifold seals, rocker cover gaskets etc. although can get rocker cover gaskets for a very good price at bursons.

yep the balancer bolt is torque to yeild - one use only.

look up ls1 how to as well there's a good guide in there on doing cam installation and valve spring swaps, although if you doing lifters then easier to do valve spring swap with the heads off on a bench.

I've read that a few times now but I'll be doing a little more than they did..

[GenReaper]

gasket cometic ls1 items at low prices on eBay.com.au
which set!?!?! wtfffff never seen so many choices?!? and what about all the other gaskets in the motor

That all depends if you motor has been apart and the heads are either stock or have be machined or anything out of the ordinary from stock.
I am pretty sure the standard LS1 Head gasket thickness is .051"
So a stock gasket would be..
LS1 LS2 LS6 COMETIC HEAD GASKETS GASKET SET .051 .051" - eBay (item 360319683624 end time Jan-14-11 04:06:25 PST)

But if your sneaky i would advise you to ring up a performance shop and double check but with that cam you may be able to use a thinner gasket and increase the compression ratio by doing so depending on piston to valve clearance.
Maybe use a .045" or even a .040" gasket
Cometic Head Gasket Kit GM LS1 / LS6 / LS2 3.91"/.045" - eBay (item 330510926336 end time Jan-20-11 15:53:44 PST)

Deffinately ring a performance shop first and ask them for their thoughts, just dont take my word for it and i take no responsibilty ok.

Just saying if you have clearance you can go thinner and it will up the compression ratio and give you more torque and power.
Also if you ring the performance shop ask about pushrod length too.

[SirNemesis]

Don't use cometic gaskets. The factory machining on the block and heads isnt good enough for a proper seal. GM MLS instead.

[savage1987]

That all depends if you motor has been apart and the heads are either stock or have be machined or anything out of the ordinary from stock.
I am pretty sure the standard LS1 Head gasket thickness is .051"
So a stock gasket would be..
LS1 LS2 LS6 COMETIC HEAD GASKETS GASKET SET .051 .051" - eBay (item 360319683624 end time Jan-14-11 04:06:25 PST)

But if your sneaky i would advise you to ring up a performance shop and double check but with that cam you may be able to use a thinner gasket and increase the compression ratio by doing so depending on piston to valve clearance.
Maybe use a .045" or even a .040" gasket
Cometic Head Gasket Kit GM LS1 / LS6 / LS2 3.91"/.045" - eBay (item 330510926336 end time Jan-20-11 15:53:44 PST)

Deffinately ring a performance shop first and ask them for their thoughts, just dont take my word for it and i take no responsibilty ok.

Just saying if you have clearance you can go thinner and it will up the compression ratio and give you more torque and power.
Also if you ring the performance shop ask about pushrod length too.

Will give WAPerf a ring and see what they say. Cheers

Don't use cometic gaskets. The factory machining on the block and heads isnt good enough for a proper seal. GM MLS instead.

Now that you mention it I think H1GHROLLR has come across this issue in the past with these engines more than once..

[STEEV888]

powerbond 25% underdrive pulley kit. purchased from yella terra on saturday. cost me $250.

[savage1987]

what the ####, i paid 350 it was the cheapest i could find anywhere. All quotes were upwards of that.

happy with the product though


cam swap delayed because JEGS are a shit fight.

[cpbait]

powerbond 25% underdrive pulley kit. purchased from yella terra on saturday. cost me $250.

wow that's a bargain and a half, i thought they were round the $420 mark, might have to give them a call tomorrow and get one, there's some kits on ebay for round the $250-300 mark from memory, not sure what there like though.

[STEEV888]

what the ####, i paid 350 it was the cheapest i could find anywhere. All quotes were upwards of that.

happy with the product though

wow that's a bargain and a half, i thought they were round the $420 mark, might have to give them a call tomorrow and get one, there's some kits on ebay for round the $250-300 mark from memory, not sure what there like though.

i was looking on ebay and also the cheapest one i could find was $350.
saw a sign saying 250 asked if it was correct the guy said yes.. so i pretty much threw the cash at him haha.
had a little trouble putting it on tonight as the engine was still warm and it was cold. so hopefully tomorrow morning its the opposite. planning on wrapping it in a sealable bag then submersing it in warm water then boiling water.. should be enough expansion to get it on.. failing that i will have to track down a longer bolt to pull it on. but a bit scetchy of that way.

it comes with 4 steel idler pulleys and gatorback belts.

[savage1987]

some kits on ebay for round the $250-300 mark from memory, not sure what there like though.

that's where i got mine. as long as it's genuine powerbond you can't go wrong

[cpbait]

i rang yella terra and they told me to ring crow or precision parts, rang precision parts and they said $490 for the kit, but they sell to a lot of wholesale places and one of those is a group that sell the kit on ebay for $350 (tuffparts/ tuffcarparts), so i'm going to get off them, said he didn't mind if went that way cause they've already got them through them anyway, yeh genuine kits on ebay.

could always heat the balancer up in the oven?

[STEEV888]

when the engine was cold the boiling water did the trick. just but on gloves. pushed it on till it wouldnt more placed a piece of wood over it and very gently commenced to tap it on till i could get 3 turns of thread. was quite easy when the temperatures were right.