Flat tappet to solid roller...
Hello again!
I wanted to report that cam swap is done. I started last week and it took me 4 days after work including heads machining.
Where disassembly was 1 day with heads off the motor.
Heads work:
I bought Comp Cams tool to machine my heads for double springs. When I got it I had serious doubts about this thing lasting the whole process, but my doubts were not justified. It did the job very well. It took me under two hours with two heads, I took my time with cooling it down etc.
I can highly recommend this, level of satisfaction after finishing this task is high ;-)
First conclusion is that as it is easy to remove single springs with hand spring tool, putting double springs on was not that much fun and in the end I asked my machine shop to put the springs on while machining the heads. When they saw I machined the guides and they saw my tool, they did the assembly for free ;-)
Putting the heads on and torquing them down went smooth and no issues. The biggest pain in A-Body with big block is headers(I have TTI headers). They are in a way and it takes lots of fiddling to torque the heads down. I used ARP bolts and can highly recommend them.
Camshaft install:
I am really impressed by the quality and finish of Howards cam you guys recommended! Also the Summit timing set with Torrington bearing was VERY well made, steal for the price I paid. I was very impressed by the fitment of cam and timing gear, also the timing chain seemed perfect and the slight tension looked really good. I used nylon cam button, to set the right length of it I used my daughters playdoh.
Lunati lifters I got also looked impressive, fit perfect and very nice and centered on the lobes.
The only problem that delayed the whole process was pushrods length.
I had only 14 pushrods of right length and had to find a way to go over this problem by extending length of two. Its just temporary solution, but I am posting photos so someone can use this method if needed.
Please comment on what do you think about it :)
Had to destroy 4 shorter ones to make 2 correct length.
I used 1.6:1 Crane roller rockers hence .640 cam lift and I guess 247/255 duration @.050".
I set the valve lash to 0.023" cold. Need comments here as I am not sure weather lashes given by manufacturers are cold or warm values.
First start:
The motor started right up! I was lucky enough to set timing at 12 degrees on assembly so it started instantly. I let it warm up, set the timing to 18 degrees. I took the valve covers off to check if oiling of the valve train is good. Luckily no issues here, also my extended pushrods did the job ;-)
What surprised me the most is how quiet the valvetrain is, comparing to hydraulic flat tappet with the very same rockers is much better. I expected it to be worse.
Did not drive the car much, just moved forward and reverse a bit. Sounds serious!
Will test drive this weekend and give feedback. Also am waiting for 2 missing pushrods from Summit.
For now I kept my Edelbrock TM6 with Holley DP carb. Will probably swap to tunnel ram and double quad in winter.
Hello again!
I wanted to report that cam swap is done. I started last week and it took me 4 days after work including heads machining.
Where disassembly was 1 day with heads off the motor.
Heads work:
I bought Comp Cams tool to machine my heads for double springs. When I got it I had serious doubts about this thing lasting the whole process, but my doubts were not justified. It did the job very well. It took me under two hours with two heads, I took my time with cooling it down etc.
I can highly recommend this, level of satisfaction after finishing this task is high ;-)
First conclusion is that as it is easy to remove single springs with hand spring tool, putting double springs on was not that much fun and in the end I asked my machine shop to put the springs on while machining the heads. When they saw I machined the guides and they saw my tool, they did the assembly for free ;-)
Putting the heads on and torquing them down went smooth and no issues. The biggest pain in A-Body with big block is headers(I have TTI headers). They are in a way and it takes lots of fiddling to torque the heads down. I used ARP bolts and can highly recommend them.
Camshaft install:
I am really impressed by the quality and finish of Howards cam you guys recommended! Also the Summit timing set with Torrington bearing was VERY well made, steal for the price I paid. I was very impressed by the fitment of cam and timing gear, also the timing chain seemed perfect and the slight tension looked really good. I used nylon cam button, to set the right length of it I used my daughters playdoh.
Lunati lifters I got also looked impressive, fit perfect and very nice and centered on the lobes.
The only problem that delayed the whole process was pushrods length.
I had only 14 pushrods of right length and had to find a way to go over this problem by extending length of two. Its just temporary solution, but I am posting photos so someone can use this method if needed.
Please comment on what do you think about it :)
Had to destroy 4 shorter ones to make 2 correct length.
I used 1.6:1 Crane roller rockers hence .640 cam lift and I guess 247/255 duration @.050".
I set the valve lash to 0.023" cold. Need comments here as I am not sure weather lashes given by manufacturers are cold or warm values.
First start:
The motor started right up! I was lucky enough to set timing at 12 degrees on assembly so it started instantly. I let it warm up, set the timing to 18 degrees. I took the valve covers off to check if oiling of the valve train is good. Luckily no issues here, also my extended pushrods did the job ;-)
What surprised me the most is how quiet the valvetrain is, comparing to hydraulic flat tappet with the very same rockers is much better. I expected it to be worse.
Did not drive the car much, just moved forward and reverse a bit. Sounds serious!
Will test drive this weekend and give feedback. Also am waiting for 2 missing pushrods from Summit.
For now I kept my Edelbrock TM6 with Holley DP carb. Will probably swap to tunnel ram and double quad in winter.
