Cam Swap

Do you really need to remove the heads to do a cam swap in these trucks ?:confused:

How else you gonna keep the lifters up and out of your way??? :dontknow: I spose maybe if you remove rockers, pushrods and intake base, you might be able to snake a finger or 2 in there to push lifters out of the way during removal and install, but without running out to garage and ripping mine apart, I can't tell ya for certain..... If all else fails, follow the instructions.
 
Yep , I know .... I guess that would be a good time to install better head gaskets and makes changing the valve springs easy too:D
 
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How else you gonna keep the lifters up and out of your way??? :dontknow: I spose maybe if you remove rockers, pushrods and intake base, you might be able to snake a finger or 2 in there to push lifters out of the way during removal and install, but without running out to garage and ripping mine apart, I can't tell ya for certain..... If all else fails, follow the instructions.

Nevermind, just answered that question by finding pictures of someone's engine rebuild on here... Your gonna be removing your heads boss, no other way to hold the lifters up (they're under the head). Engine doesn't have a removable intake base/galley like a SB 350...
 
How else you gonna keep the lifters up and out of your way??? :dontknow: I spose maybe if you remove rockers, pushrods and intake base, you might be able to snake a finger or 2 in there to push lifters out of the way during removal and install, but without running out to garage and ripping mine apart, I can't tell ya for certain..... If all else fails, follow the instructions.

I think is try a magnet down the lifter bore before going through all that, I belive you have to pull the oil pan to get the timing cover off though
 
I'd just pull heads to be done with it, could visually inspect cylinder walls while your in there, maybe install some headers if you don't already have them (and some ported/polished or new heads if you have the cash to go crazy) :rock:
 
I think is try a magnet down the lifter bore before going through all that, I belive you have to pull the oil pan to get the timing cover off though

Damn, thats a lot of magnets to have laying around...........:confused: Correct me if I'm wrong (I can take critisizm), but wouldn't you have to have 20 magnets to hold them all up at the same time to be able to work the cam in and out without getting hung up all the time??? Food for thought
 
Damn, thats a lot of magnets to have laying around...........:confused: Correct me if I'm wrong (I can take critisizm), but wouldn't you have to have 20 magnets to hold them all up at the same time to be able to work the cam in and out without getting hung up all the time??? Food for thought

I would assume you could pull the porters all the way out, but even 20 magnets at $1 per magnet it'd be cheaper than all the gaskets
 
you can also balloon the cylinders out, that way they will stay up. thats how my friend did his 350.
 
no, you can do it without removing the heads

remove the valve covers, rocker arms, push rods

then drop the pan down enough to get oil pick up loose

then remove the front cover, timing chain

rotate the cam push the lifters up in the bore, replace the cam, degree it and your done

at our slowest rate about 6 hours, thats with pizza

the valve springs, put compressed air into the cylinders, replace the valve springs,

never have to remove the heads


oh , and thats brandon, his first cherry pop on this one, did it with ease
100_2434.jpg
 
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no, you can do it without removing the heads

remove the valve covers, rocker arms, push rods

then drop the pan down enough to get oil pick up loose

then remove the front cover, timing chain

rotate the cam push the lifters up in the bore, replace the cam, degree it and your done

at our slowest rate about 6 hours, thats with pizza

the valve springs, put compressed air into the cylinders, replace the valve springs,

never have to remove the heads


oh , and thats brandon, his first cherry pop on this one, did it with ease
100_2434.jpg

and there is the man with all the answers :rock: Suprised that oil surface tension is enough to hold the lifters up while replacing the cam, but I'm not gonna argue (You've done them, I have not). I was just trying to make edjumacated guesses based on the engine build pics that I could find in other threads... Stupid me :banghead:
 
Damn, thats a lot of magnets to have laying around...........:confused: Correct me if I'm wrong (I can take critisizm), but wouldn't you have to have 20 magnets to hold them all up at the same time to be able to work the cam in and out without getting hung up all the time??? Food for thought

thats what ya use to do a cam on a Mack engine. sort of looks like a porkupine when all the lifters are up:rock:
 
Alot of newer engines use this design where the lifter will stick into the upper portion of the lifter tray. It's not the oil friction that holds it. There should also be small 3/8 bores to find some wood dowel to ensure the lifters dont fall into the oil pan causing drama. Haven't done One personally on the Viper but due to soon;)
It really is worth degreeing the cam in versus dot to dot. Could be right on the money, likely off a degree or so one way or the other.
A degree wheel is instrumental IMO.
 
I agree with yall on deg a cam. Thanks for all the help on this guys, you guys rock!!:rock:
 
no, you can do it without removing the heads

remove the valve covers, rocker arms, push rods

then drop the pan down enough to get oil pick up loose

then remove the front cover, timing chain

rotate the cam push the lifters up in the bore, replace the cam, degree it and your done

at our slowest rate about 6 hours, thats with pizza

the valve springs, put compressed air into the cylinders, replace the valve springs,

never have to remove the heads


oh , and thats brandon, his first cherry pop on this one, did it with ease
100_2434.jpg

Wow, great info Tony.
 
This may sound like a dumb question but how are you degreeing cam with heads still on ,,i have always done it with heads off,and a dial indicator on piston ,, ,,inquiring mind wants to know :D
 

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