At last it has came to this....Cam Install

[vroomapunk]

Originally Posted by 1Camaro2SS

Just wondering, how did you pull the engine out with the hood attached. Wasn't it in the way?

Was wondering too. Maybe without the strut attached it can open far enough back.

[Rjgreen2]

Well lol, I thought I could clear it and if I didn't have the engine leveler then I probably could of. So I unbolted it then asked a friend to come help me with it, I didn't realize it till we lifted it that it was about 10 pounds lol

[264HSV]

Interesting thread. I applaud your humility and feel your pain. You are a bigger man than me for attempting the cam swap with your admitted lack of expertise. As mechanically apt as I am....this is why I take my ride to the shop for the technical stuff. Good luck with the rebuild....I'm sure you'll soon forget the heart ache when she fires up and shreds some rear rubber.

[vroomapunk]

Originally Posted by Rjgreen2

Well lol, I thought I could clear it and if I didn't have the engine leveler then I probably could of. So I unbolted it then asked a friend to come help me with it, I didn't realize it till we lifted it that it was about 10 pounds lol

Haha, I did the same thing. You can actually put a blanket on your roof, and get the hood up there by yourself, but I also waited for help, forgetting it was aluminum

[SeaCompiler]

You are doing great OP. Everyone has a story. I had to rebuild the engine in my first car (4 cylinder). I had it going and not 2 months later when I ran out of gas 1 mile from home, walked all the way home, grabbed a can of gas, walked all the way back. Fired it up and guess what.... it would barely crank, smoke was coming out the back, it wouldn't hardly shut off when I tried to turn it off. Finally got it home and guess what I found out... I grabbed a can of kerosene used in my dad's Farmall. Redo. Obviously not an LS3, but just one of my many stories attending the school of hard knox.

I am equally impressed with the support of the forum members here too.

[Rjgreen2]

UPDATE**
So for the fellow Camaro5 members who have been following this awesome story of a cam install gone wrong its time for another update. I ordered some new parts for the car:
intake valves
exhaust valves (probably didnt need to as they looked just fine)
new head bolts
new head gaskets
piston with wrist pin

They have arrived today (awesome) and tomorrow I am going to take them to my machinist who is going to do a port/polish on the heads and a valve job. Also, I am going to bring him my old piston so he can press that wrist pin out and put the new one on. I will be gone for the next three weeks on leave up to PA to go hunting so he has plenty of time. Once I get back, the reinstall will commence. I will recheck the pushrod lengths again and make sure without a doubt that I have the right size before I put the engine back in.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel finally. With all this being said, the first time I was on the dyno I base lined at 359HP (low miles, hot has hell, etc..) the second time I was on the dyno I hit 371HP with Corsa exhaust and CAI (no tune yet). Since then I have added the Kooks LT stepped headers on, then this cam, and the port/polish. Any ideas what my numbers could be? As always, I will update when new information becomes available.

[Kelly@PCMofNC]

Originally Posted by Rjgreen2

UPDATE**
So for the fellow Camaro5 members who have been following this awesome story of a cam install gone wrong its time for another update. I ordered some new parts for the car:
intake valves
exhaust valves (probably didnt need to as they looked just fine)
new head bolts
new head gaskets
piston with wrist pin

They have arrived today (awesome) and tomorrow I am going to take them to my machinist who is going to do a port/polish on the heads and a valve job. Also, I am going to bring him my old piston so he can press that wrist pin out and put the new one on. I will be gone for the next three weeks on leave up to PA to go hunting so he has plenty of time. Once I get back, the reinstall will commence. I will recheck the pushrod lengths again and make sure without a doubt that I have the right size before I put the engine back in.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel finally. With all this being said, the first time I was on the dyno I base lined at 359HP (low miles, hot has hell, etc..) the second time I was on the dyno I hit 371HP with Corsa exhaust and CAI (no tune yet). Since then I have added the Kooks LT stepped headers on, then this cam, and the port/polish. Any ideas what my numbers could be? As always, I will update when new information becomes available.

I'm glad to hear the fix is in the works. Do you have cats or off road connection pipes? Our 545 cam with intake/headers/tune usually does 470-480rwhp with stock heads, and 490-500rwhp with P&P heads.

[Rjgreen2]

Hey Kelly, I have the cats. 490 - 500 would definitely not be horrible lol, I know every engine is different but what are you guys seeing as far as push rod length with a P/P and your 545 cam? (either way I am going to measure) Thanks for everything!

[litle88]

Originally Posted by Rjgreen2

UPDATE**
So for the fellow Camaro5 members who have been following this awesome story of a cam install gone wrong its time for another update. I ordered some new parts for the car:
intake valves
exhaust valves (probably didnt need to as they looked just fine)
new head bolts
new head gaskets
piston with wrist pin

They have arrived today (awesome) and tomorrow I am going to take them to my machinist who is going to do a port/polish on the heads and a valve job. Also, I am going to bring him my old piston so he can press that wrist pin out and put the new one on. I will be gone for the next three weeks on leave up to PA to go hunting so he has plenty of time. Once I get back, the reinstall will commence. I will recheck the pushrod lengths again and make sure without a doubt that I have the right size before I put the engine back in.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel finally. With all this being said, the first time I was on the dyno I base lined at 359HP (low miles, hot has hell, etc..) the second time I was on the dyno I hit 371HP with Corsa exhaust and CAI (no tune yet). Since then I have added the Kooks LT stepped headers on, then this cam, and the port/polish. Any ideas what my numbers could be? As always, I will update when new information becomes available.

Good news update!!

[Kelly@PCMofNC]

Originally Posted by Rjgreen2

Hey Kelly, I have the cats. 490 - 500 would definitely not be horrible lol, I know every engine is different but what are you guys seeing as far as push rod length with a P/P and your 545 cam? (either way I am going to measure) Thanks for everything!

Which heads are you using, P&P stock ones? Are you going to mill them or stock height? Stock heads no milling on an LS3 with a 545 cam, usually they turn out with a 7.300-7.350 length. If you bought the cam kit from us and need a different length we swap the rods for free as we encourage every one to measure every set up for optimal results.

[Rjgreen2]

I am P/P the stock ones, I dont plan on milling them. I did get the kit from you guys (7.400) and may need to switch them out once I measure. (yes, another mistake I made, but we all learn).

[LS3 SS]

Originally Posted by Rjgreen2

I am P/P the stock ones, I dont plan on milling them. I did get the kit from you guys (7.400) and may need to switch them out once I measure. (yes, another mistake I made, but we all learn).

Hey brother, let me know when you get back in town! I'll be out here in VA until late December, and I can head down to the beach and maybe lend a helping hand!

[Rjgreen2]

Absolutely man! I will just need to get my heads back and measure for push rod length properly. Then I can get everything installed the weekend of the 13th. (Depends if I need to trade in the 7.400's for something smaller, GM stock lifter preload is 0.060" so I will measure for zero lash then add that which should give me what I need.)

[Rjgreen2]

****UPDATE****

Heads are ported & polished Time to put this monster together. First order of business will be to take the head, old head bolts and gasket and put them on in order to properly measure for push rod length. I have triple checked the timing marks this time. After I get a measurement of both intake/exhaust pushrods on both sides I can then figure out if I need to return my 7.400's for a new set or if they should be fine. Slow and steady with the assembly, wish me luck!


The Heads!