Knoxville's Heads 'n Cam Swap Build Thread

[Knoxville]

Update: Worked on the car some more tonight. Was able to get the crank plate and the remaining head removed.

The Torx bolts in the cam plate are quite the task! These bolts are stuck in that cam plate and I broke 2 different T40 Torx attachments trying to remove them. We ended up getting 2 of them removed but the other 2 are still stuck.

Looks like I'll need to go back to Sears and have the Craftsman T40 replaced.

Cam is very close to being swapped out.

Heads removed
http://i.imgur.com/CO0pHv3h.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/C90ENpVh.jpg

Valves removed from heads (btw, these LS3 CNC ported heads are for sale!)
http://i.imgur.com/On1mXeSh.jpg

Here are the suborn bolts that broke my 2 T40 Torx attachments
http://i.imgur.com/AOrcc0E.jpg

[Knoxville]

Here is the aftermath of the Craftsman T40 Torx Socket
http://i.imgur.com/sQ7BNUC.jpg

[asshanson]

Wow, that is some torque to break that torx bit. If I was still in the market for LS3 heads I might be interested... only a year too late.

Good luck with the project, want to see results of new new cam on the dyno.

[simulatedwood]

Knox, make sure to heat those bolts nice and good, Harbor Freight has impact ready Torx bits you can use the impact on for pretty cheap. That should solve this issue you are having getting them to break loose.

[Knoxville]

Thanks for the tip on the bolts. Looks like I'll need to get a propane torch along with some Impact sockets like these and giver ir hell:

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-12-in-drive-internal-impact-star-socket-set-67896.html

[Knoxville]

Well I went to Sears today and got a replacement Torx T40 socket today. When I got home I figured I would give the cam bolts one more try. I ended up using an impact wrench and the last 2 bolts came out!

Cam swap in progress...

http://i.imgur.com/nRHpaRZ.jpg

[turbotalon1g]

Nice!

[Knoxville]

Done working with the car for the night. Was able to get the old cam removed, and the new cam installed. Really happy to be past those cam bolts.

VMS 2.5 cam removed:
http://i.imgur.com/WVn05vJh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uXQFwoDh.jpg

Out with the old, in with the new!
http://i.imgur.com/POPOJoXh.jpg

New Lunatic cam installed and cam plate put back on:
http://i.imgur.com/d4CZU5Hh.jpg

[Knoxville]

Worked on the car a little bit this morning. Got the timing gear back on along with the crank cover.

We noticed a gouge on the outside of my crank pulley. I'm going to end up replacing it, along with a new crank cover seal that must be causing it.
http://i.imgur.com/ANjRpqbh.jpg

Clean pistons versus dirty piston
http://i.imgur.com/idqV4Dkh.jpg

Cleaned up the pistons and heads
http://i.imgur.com/HKLbZ6Kh.jpg

Engine is ready to mate with some fresh Crawford heads now
http://i.imgur.com/AtDsXoSh.jpg

[Mark Leasure]

Those are some flat top pistons! Looking good. I think I'm going to run an ls setup next.