About to do a cam swap

[jetaws6]

Im planning on doing a heads and cam swap next weekend in my car. Heads are 5.3l ported by tea and texas speeds 228r cam. Its not really a swap on a budget but im trying to use as many stock parts as possible because this is only temporary until I put a 408 in my car next year. What I am gonna be replacing are the heads, springs, cam, pushrods and I will be doing an ls6 intake manifold. From what I have read on here is that the stock lifters, rocker arms, injectors, and oil pump should be fine with the temp set up im going for. I am just trying to make sure I am not leaving anything out so I can get this done successfully.

[importhater81]

New head bolts,crank pulley bolt, gaskets... and should have everthing you need.

[silverz28camaro]

I would definitely do the oil pump. Or at least port and shim yours. there are some nice write-ups on how to do it.

Don't starve the motor from oil.

[02_slp_ss]

do a ls2 timing chain to, an a oil pump wouldnt be a bad idea but if ur car has good oil psi now id just leave it an just get a new o-ring for it

[BlackSS1]

If your 98 has the original oil pump, I'd go ahead and swap it. For all the work of removing the pump to change the timing chain, why not make it a new pump?

Agree with Ls2 chain also (stock timing set is fine if the teeth look good). Direct swap for LS1 chain just beefier.

Consider new injectors (you can decide during tune time check duty cycle). With heads and cam you can run out of injector, or sometimes make more power with upgraded injectors if the stockers prove inadequate. For all the work and expense of this project, make sure you are limited by airflow, not by fueling/injectors...

Good luck on the build and post up how it goes!

[jetaws6]

Thanks for the input guys. I meant to add in there that I was already planning on changing out the timing chain but I didn't know you have to take the oil pump out to do that so I might as well buy a new one. As for injectors go I think I should be fine. I saw a dyno chart of prc's 5.3l heads with stock injectors and the same cam hit 426hp. Right now I just need something to quench my thirst for speed until I gather enough money to play around with for the procharged 408

[jetaws6]

New head bolts,crank pulley bolt, gaskets... and should have everthing you need.

why would you suggest a crank pulley bolt?

[importhater81]

why would you suggest a crank pulley bolt?

You're going to take the pulley off to do the cam swap and it is not advised by GM to reuse the bolt.

[blackSS01]

You're going to take the pulley off to do the cam swap and it is not advised by GM to reuse the bolt.

I've re-used it and it worked but that because I didn't know that at the time. Then with my H/C build, I found that out and bought a new one asap. Just get a new one OP, its $26. Better off that way then messing something up if it breaks or comes out. I'd do Oil pump for sure on a 98

[importhater81]

I've re-used it and it worked but that because I didn't know that at the time. Then with my H/C build, I found that out and bought a new one asap. Just get a new one OP, its $26. Better off that way then messing something up if it breaks or comes out. I'd do Oil pump for sure on a 98

That is why I mentioned replacing the bolt. It it breaks,you're up $hit creek without a paddle.

[rajiv1998]

Timing chain, oil pump, under drive pulley. If you cant afford/dont want to do this at this time, I would wait untill you can buy all those things. Might as well replace everything when you basically have half the engine apart.

[natews6]

Timing chain, oil pump, under drive pulley. If you cant afford/dont want to do this at this time, I would wait untill you can buy all those things. Might as well replace everything when you basically have half the engine apart.

why the under drive pully?

[jetaws6]

Price vs gain I personally don't think under-drive pulleys are worth it

[SSDEUCE]

undrive pulley kit cost me 200.00 got .15 quicker et 2 mph increase and almost 2 mpg fuel mileage you decide if it's worth it

[allbaugh_04]

Buy extra keepers for the valve springs.

[One_Bad_TA]

Depending on mileage Id do lifters while youre in there. For about $100 its cheap insurance to me. Oil pump is a good idea too just be careful with that pickup tube bolt and o ring. And crank bolt is a good idea. I guess its a "torque to yield" bolt like the stock head bolts. So Id replace those as well. I have ported 317 heads with a 232/240 .595 .608 cam and Im just about tapping out my injectors(stock) so if this will be your setup for awhile before the 408, injectors wouldnt be a bad idea. Just my .02 good luck

[rajiv1998]

why the under drive pully?

I havent heard any bad things about them and from what I hear, they do work pretty good. Might as well replace it now while he has everything apart.

[jetaws6]

Buy extra keepers for the valve springs.

Keepers?

undrive pulley kit cost me 200.00 got .15 quicker et 2 mph increase and almost 2 mpg fuel mileage you decide if it's worth it

Do you have all of your accessories on your car or is that on the car in your avatar?



And I started the swap over the weekend, took about 6-8 hours getting down to the short block now im just waiting till Wednesday for the cam, rods, oil pump, and gaskets to come.

I think I broke something on the back of my intake manifold though. Its a plastic cylinder that looks like it broke from the connection it was on. Any of you guys know what it is? I can post pics later after work if you need em

[allbaugh_04]

Keepers are little locks that hold springs in place basically.

If you drop one, you are fucked. Buy extras.

[jetaws6]

Keepers are little locks that hold springs in place basically.

If you drop one, you are fucked. Buy extras.

I have heads with dual springs im putting on it so I dont have to worry about swapping the springs out