Cam/Lifter Question
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: PacNW
Cam/Lifter Question
>Hey all,
>Anyone ever swap out a cam and lifters without removing the
>intake manifold? Is it possible? If so, what cautions would
>you take?
Maybe it's just too early (I'm only on my first cup o' coffee) but I can't imagine how you'd plan to get the old lifters out much less the new ones in
>Anyone ever swap out a cam and lifters without removing the
>intake manifold? Is it possible? If so, what cautions would
>you take?
Maybe it's just too early (I'm only on my first cup o' coffee) but I can't imagine how you'd plan to get the old lifters out much less the new ones in
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: space city
Cam/Lifter Question
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-Oct-02 AT 03:58 PM (EST)]yes - you need 16 magnets, each on the end of a wire (preferrably aluminum wire). pull each lifter up in it's bore about 3/4" and bend the wire over the valve cover rail to hold it up. after you change the cam, use a stick or something through an adjacent pushrod hole or the opening between intake ports to hold the lifter down when you pull the magnet off.
but you should use new lifters with your new cam!
okay - just drop the oil pan, the rod caps, and the crank. push all the pistons up in their bores, pull the lifters up with magnets as described above, pull the cam, then remove the magnets, using hold-down stick as described above. the lifters should just fall out. position the magnets as before, and install the new lifters. install the cam, then remove the magnets, using hold-down stick as described above. then just put everything back together and you're done!
it would probably be easier to just take off the intake!
but you should use new lifters with your new cam!
okay - just drop the oil pan, the rod caps, and the crank. push all the pistons up in their bores, pull the lifters up with magnets as described above, pull the cam, then remove the magnets, using hold-down stick as described above. the lifters should just fall out. position the magnets as before, and install the new lifters. install the cam, then remove the magnets, using hold-down stick as described above. then just put everything back together and you're done!
it would probably be easier to just take off the intake!
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 4
From: PacNW
Cam/Lifter Question
>yes - you need 16 magnets, each on the end of a wire
>(preferrably aluminum wire). pull each lifter up in it's
>bore about 3/4" and bend the wire over the valve cover rail
>to hold it up. after you change the cam, use a stick or
>something through an adjacent pushrod hole or the opening
>between intake ports to hold the lifter down when you pull
>the magnet off.
>
>but you should use new lifters with your new cam!
>
>okay - just drop the oil pan, the rod caps, and the crank.
>push all the pistons up in their bores, pull the lifters up
>with magnets as described above, pull the cam, then remove
>the magnets, using hold-down stick as described above. the
>lifters should just fall out. position the magnets as
>before, and install the new lifters. install the cam, then
>remove the magnets, using hold-down stick as described
>above. then just put everything back together and you're
>done!
>
>it would probably be easier to just take off the intake!
>
See now you're not letting gravity work for ya! How's this...turn the truck upside down so the lifters all stay up in the bore then pull the pan, change the cam, etc. That way you only need 1 magnet instead of 16...much cheaper and this way you can drop the new lifters right in!
>(preferrably aluminum wire). pull each lifter up in it's
>bore about 3/4" and bend the wire over the valve cover rail
>to hold it up. after you change the cam, use a stick or
>something through an adjacent pushrod hole or the opening
>between intake ports to hold the lifter down when you pull
>the magnet off.
>
>but you should use new lifters with your new cam!
>
>okay - just drop the oil pan, the rod caps, and the crank.
>push all the pistons up in their bores, pull the lifters up
>with magnets as described above, pull the cam, then remove
>the magnets, using hold-down stick as described above. the
>lifters should just fall out. position the magnets as
>before, and install the new lifters. install the cam, then
>remove the magnets, using hold-down stick as described
>above. then just put everything back together and you're
>done!
>
>it would probably be easier to just take off the intake!
>
See now you're not letting gravity work for ya! How's this...turn the truck upside down so the lifters all stay up in the bore then pull the pan, change the cam, etc. That way you only need 1 magnet instead of 16...much cheaper and this way you can drop the new lifters right in!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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Cam/Lifter Question
"don't they sell a tool to pull the lifter out thru the heads?"
The opening in the heads is only about 5/8". Plenty of room for a pushrod but the lifters can't pass through.
They make a tool to pull the lifters out far enough to get a cam out but it is for roller cams only. http://66.96.130.106/archives/2002/07/camswap/index.shtml
The opening in the heads is only about 5/8". Plenty of room for a pushrod but the lifters can't pass through.
They make a tool to pull the lifters out far enough to get a cam out but it is for roller cams only. http://66.96.130.106/archives/2002/07/camswap/index.shtml
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 843
Likes: 1
From: USA
Cam/Lifter Question
Depends on the engine you have. The 351M/400 heads have openings in them that will allow the lifters to be removed without pulling the intake. I know, I've done it. Mind you it takes patience, but it can be done.
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Posting Guru
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Cam/Lifter Question
OK. I stand corrected. I looked at my 4V heads and said no way. The 351M/400 have an area large enough for a lifter to pass through. They aren't lined up with all the lifters so it looks like a miserable job. If you have "building a ship in a bottle" skills and patience go ahead. It would take me 10X longer than pulling the intake.
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