cam ?

[choley]

Well I was just wondering is it possible to put a cam in my 87 GTA with the motor in the car and the front clip on.Or do I have to pull one of them to do it?

[tenpin842]

Well I was just wondering is it possible to put a cam in my 87 GTA with the motor in the car and the front clip on.Or do I have to pull one of them to do it?

Do it with the motor right in the car. Radiator and all have to come out. But I just got done putting one in my 87 TA in August of "06". Its expensive......but worth it!

[choley]

Thanks for the help how expensive?

[tenpin842]

Thanks for the help how expensive?

Depends on what you want. I spent $280.00 on my camshaft alone.
You will need new springs. So I bought the matching springs that went with the cam. I think those were around $120.00
It required a AFPR, so I bought a Holley one, almost $100.00.
You can use your stock lifters, I did. Very rarely do roller lifters go bad. I had 100,000 miles on mine and mine were like new.
I used my stock push rods, I just soaked them in parts cleaner and cleaned them all up real good. So that's up to you if you want to upgrade them.
While your in there I would change your valve seals. Very common to have that little puff of smoke on start ups on third gens.
Also might as well upgrade your timing chain and gear. (I bought a double roller off Summit for $85.00).
I bought a new polished aluminum timing chain cover...just for looks.
I also swapped all my intake stuff at the same time too. Edelbrock intake, runners, ported and polished plenum, also LT1 24# injectors. But thats up to you, thats another $900.00.

[choley]

Thanks for the help I guess I will be shopping tommrow since the motor can stay in.I already did all the plenum stuff so thats all good.But I will be changing all the other stuff like you mentioned.thanks for all the help

[1bad83ta]

you know what cam your getting tony? I have some comp cams cam selection software and I can point you in the right direction if youd like.

[choley]

That would be cool I want to go with the most radical cam I can put in it

[SS4Matt]

wow that stuff is really inexpensive, my cam alone was around $400!

i don't know about 3rd gens, but cam swaps in 4th gens are not hard at all!

[choley]

Thats what im hopeing for easy

[tenpin842]

I bought a Crane cam 104224 and the springs 11308-01.
And my cars a 305.
If you go to Crane's site you have to look under chevy....not Pontiac.
But there the same motor.
No prob with the help. I love my car with the new cam. Id rather listen to the exhaust then the stereo now!

[1FSTBRD]

wow that stuff is really inexpensive, my cam alone was around $400!

i don't know about 3rd gens, but cam swaps in 4th gens are not hard at all!

yea third gen cams are even cheaper to buy!

[choley]

Thats what I want is a chugging machine

[tenpin842]

I know to swap the springs and the valve seals, your going to need a couple special tools.
1st you take out a spark plug, hook up an air hose in its place, and pump the cylinder up with air. This will keep the valves from dropping. Then you tap the top of the valve with a hammer to loosen it up.
Then you get another tool that compresses the valve spring, take off the keepers, take off the old spring, put on your new valve seal, install your new spring, compress it again, and reinstall your keepers. Do the same for the remainder 15 valves.
OOOO.... remember intake and exhaust have different valve seals, so don't mix them up.
The the last thing you do is re-adjust all your lifters and your good to go.

[tenpin842]

yea third gens are even cheaper to buy!

LOL who wants a 4th gen?

[choley]

sounds good thanks