I'm planning on installing a new cam, lifters, heads, intake and carb in my '80 without pulling the engine. Has anyone done an installation similiar to this without pulling the engine? Can I get the cam in if I remove the radiator?

Thanks

No problem with the cam if you remove the radiator. Just to make it easier on yourself, remove the hood also.

P.S. Your back is gonna kill you, no matter what you do to make it easier on yourself. Good luck.

Alan

If you have A/C you will have to remove the A/C condenser as well. This means emptying the system, and recharging. Make sure to use a high pressure cam lube when installing the cam. If you are using hyd lifters, soak the lifters in the oil you will be using, and pump the lifter while down in oil to purge the air out of the lifter as much as possible before installing.
It is possible to adjust hyd lifter before starting the engine. That way you can put the valve covers on and not have a mess doing the adjustment.

Very gently tighten the rocker adjustment and Carefully feel for free play in the push rod. When the push rod has no play, but you have not compressed the lifter, you are at zero lash. Now turn the rocker nut one turn, and you're there.

Hey Ken, I cheated on mine!
I removed the hood and then took the top 2 bolts out that hold the AC condenser in. Then had a friend (with gloves on) gently pull back on the condenser. The cam just cleared.

But just to be on the safe side, follow Ken's advice. Condensers aren't cheap.
So what kind of cam and heads are you putting in?
Good luck! Sarge

Alan,

Thanks for the advice. Fortunately my 15 year old nephew will be helping me and hopefully his back will be doing most of the work!

Tom

Ken,

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, the AC needs to be charged anyway. Appreciate your tips!

Tom

Sarge,

I planning on installing an Edelbrook Performer Package on the top end of the engine and leaving the bottom end as is (provided the leakdown test provides acceptable results). Anyone have any experience with this configuration?

Tom

Tom,

A 15 yr. old, lucky you. Last summer, I had our babysitters brother, a 16 yr.old, help me disassemble my vette. He was drooling just to touch it. Eager as a sailor on leave to work, and didn't want to stop.

I introduced him to the dark side of the force.......chemical stripping old lacquer paint off of a vette. Believe it or not, he didn't mind. He did an awesome job also.

Good luck with your baby, let us know how it turns out.

Alan

If the bottom is good, the top end package should work out fine.

Sarge, there are a lot of ways to cheat on procedures. I know many of them and do it all the time. And as you did, I do the job right. I don't always share some of those tricks. As you said, it's easy to mess something up. I hate for that to happen, so I don't always reveal some risky procedures. I'm not holding out guys, just preventing damage. When it works, use it.