How do you hold lifters up?

**stephen02ws6** · 12-20-2008, 04:18 PM

I am in the middle of a cam swap and was wondering about how to hold the lifters up while swaping the cam. The instructions on ls1howto say that you can get the holding tool from thunder racing, use 16 pen magnets to hold them up, or just hope they stay up when you take the cam out. Im smart enough to not do the last one. I didnt want to get that tool because its like $110 for one use. i am kinda weiry on the pen magnet letting go. i figued i would ask you guys to get your opinions. do you think i could make one of those holding tools, because it looks like a metal rod flattened on two sides? what is the easiest way to do this?

**Mr. Luos** · 12-20-2008, 04:34 PM

First time I did a swap...I used the pen magnets. No problems.
I have done swaps where we had a time limit and no magnets and no JRP tool. They stayed up in the lifter trays like they are supposed too.

Now...I have a friend that has a tool made. Search around...it should cost about $7 to make a similar tool to the one that costs $110.

**01ws6er** · 12-20-2008, 05:39 PM

Lifter bra, they work like a charm and support them puppies

No, but I've heard of people using dowels as well...not exactly sure how that works though? Good luck!

**stephen02ws6** · 12-20-2008, 06:04 PM

what size dowels do you think they are?

**01ws6er** · 12-20-2008, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by stephen02ws6

what size dowels do you think they are?

I honestly don't know? Do a search on tech cause thats where I saw it.

**Mr. Luos** · 12-20-2008, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by 01ws6er

I honestly don't know? Do a search on tech cause thats where I saw it.

For some reason....5/16" comes to mind.

Don't quote me though....research!

**mark21742** · 12-21-2008, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by 01ws6er

Lifter bra, they work like a charm and support them puppies

No, but I've heard of people using dowels as well...not exactly sure how that works though? Good luck!

if you pull your cam gear off, there are two hole right abouve and to each side of the cam. from the way i understand it, you slide the dowel into the hole as you turn the cam till it bottems out at the back of the block

**canadavette** · 12-21-2008, 07:34 AM

Hello, I used a piece of 5/16 brake line. bought a 4' piece for like $10.00 then I cut it in half and bent the end of each piece about 2" in at 90 degree to make handles in it. also rounded the end going into the motor so it wouldn't catch. worked great.

**stephen02ws6** · 12-21-2008, 07:55 AM

did you flaten it at all or no? the holding tool looks like it is flattened on the sides.

**canadavette** · 12-21-2008, 09:05 AM

no I didn't flatten it out. took a bit to get the drivers side in but it went, could have ground a flat area on the rods to make it easier. just kept on spinning the cam to throw the lifters up. I used a couple of the water pump bolts in the end of the cam. I did 2 cam swaps in the same day and the rods worked fine.

**stephen02ws6** · 12-21-2008, 09:21 AM

ok i will try to do that when i get there. thanks

**ls1camino** · 12-23-2008, 04:41 PM

I'm swapping my heads AND cam...can I just pull the lifters out of the top of the block since the heads are off anyway?

**mark21742** · 12-23-2008, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by ls1camino

I'm swapping my heads AND cam...can I just pull the lifters out of the top of the block since the heads are off anyway?

yes you can pull the lifters out of the top of the block if you remove the heads. the rods slide into the block to holdup the lifters if you are not pulling the heads. if you take the valley cover off you still cant see the lifters

**Damian** · 12-25-2008, 06:40 PM

5/16 or 1/4 metal rods at Home depot work great, and are the most reliable way to do it. I've seen/heard nightmares about the Pen magnets breaking off.

**side2000** · 12-26-2008, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by stephen02ws6

I am in the middle of a cam swap and was wondering about how to hold the lifters up while swaping the cam. The instructions on ls1howto say that you can get the holding tool from thunder racing, use 16 pen magnets to hold them up, or just hope they stay up when you take the cam out. Im smart enough to not do the last one. I didnt want to get that tool because its like $110 for one use. i am kinda weiry on the pen magnet letting go. i figued i would ask you guys to get your opinions. do you think i could make one of those holding tools, because it looks like a metal rod flattened on two sides? what is the easiest way to do this?

you have to rotate the cam w/ pushrods removed to push lifters up into their retainers. i've done it and they stay, but nothing wrong with taking the conservative route as it is probably worth it, but i'll surely condone the first method until i tear a bottom end apart to remove a lifter. . . . . .

**mrr23** · 01-03-2009, 06:45 PM

5/16" wooden dowel rod from home depot. less than $2.00

**stephen02ws6** · 01-03-2009, 07:57 PM

the 5/16 brake line worked pretty good. i just had to flatten it a little to make it slide in easier.

**krazykarl454** · 07-22-2009, 03:09 PM

im glad i came across this. sounds alot better then buyin 16 pen magnets. and safer.

**Smittro** · 07-22-2009, 03:20 PM

Or you could just remove them? Me I'd pull them, number them and then place back in their same holes. Is there something different about LSx engines that you guys just cant pull them?

**mark21742** · 07-22-2009, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Smittro

Or you could just remove them? Me I'd pull them, number them and then place back in their same holes. Is there something different about LSx engines that you guys just cant pull them?

you have to pull the heads to pull the lifters