Cascade Crew

QwkTrip · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:02 pm Post subject:

This cam swap has not been fun at all and has run me to the end of my patience. A lot of that is the learning curve of a first timer, but the other half is me noticing things and then that makes me have to research that topic... blah blah blah... tons of time lost and more frustration because of all the bad info on the internet.

The short story is I replaced my timing chain with a IWIS single roller because my old chain was too slack, and I am ordering shorter pushrods tomorrow. Should be making legitimate progress from this point on.

The old pushrods were only .025" longer but it was enough to unseat the valves and almost make contact to the piston. The shorter pushrods have correct lifter preload but piston to valve clearance is still pretty tight with somewhere in the neighborhood of 0.068" to 0.070". Still trying to decide if it is necessary to advance the cam or if I just leave it. I'd have to use an adjustable timing set and pull the heads again to accurately degree the cam. I have learned by trial and error -- LOTS of trial and error -- that it is impossible to accurately degree the cam with the heads on.

Haven't even touched the brakes yet. I still have to build out new hard lines.

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 4:49 am Post subject:

Being "particular" got the better of me and I pulled the head again to degree the cam. Good thing I did. My crank and timing set are phased a bit different and the cam was retarded by quite a bit. I swapped out the LS2 cam sprocket for a Cloyes Hex-A-Just and advanced the cam 5 degrees just to be equal to what should have been straight up.

I'm wondering if the phasing and the long pushrods are why the old cam didn't run right. Who knows, I'm not putting it back in to find out! I do hope this new setup runs like a bat out of hell though.

izcain · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:45 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:14 pm Post subject:

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:08 pm Post subject:

This ain't small block Chevy.

* Yes, long push rods will open the valve.

* Yes, you do need to use pushrods to check PTV.

* You need a solid lifter and push rod to degree the cam, unless you happen to have a dial indicator with a very long plunger that can reach the body of the lifter.

* Pushrod length is chosen based on lifter preload.

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:08 pm Post subject:

Here is some info for anybody that is interested.

LS cam swap (Comp Cams video at Westech Performance).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVzgxh73o78

LS pushrod length (Comp Cams video at Westech Performance)
http://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iv-internal-engine/1842989-oh-so-close-piston-valve-clearance-ptv.html

LS rocker arm trunion upgrade (Comp Cams video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcLAh8J6tPs&index=47&list=PLC21B6FC0745C5E60

chevymad · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:22 pm Post subject:

Difference is you aren't adjusting the height of the actual rocker arm since it's mounted on a pedestal.

In classes that limit cam lobe lift, shorter pushrods will actually increase lift slightly on a motor with adjustable rockers.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:46 pm Post subject:

My bad. Didn't realize they were shaft mounted rockers. Ideally solid lifter to degree sbc cam too. Or get creative with the dial.

I retract my previous statement.

Btw, pushrods are dumb.

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:56 pm Post subject:

Ya, we all know you like to play with your wankel.

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:10 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:31 pm Post subject:

QwkTrip · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 9:00 pm Post subject:

Finally fired up the car tonight..... only took 3 weeks!!! Rolling Eyes

Still can't drive it though. Now I need to do the brake lines.

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 12:43 pm Post subject:

The engine idles sooooo much better now!!! Dropped idle speed from 1150 rpm to 950 rpm with no ill effects, and it hasn't even been tuned yet for the cam.

Something good happened. Thumbs up

Dewey316 · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 6:31 am Post subject:

Nice! Forward progress.

QwkTrip · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 10:50 pm Post subject:

Got the brake lines together. I guess I'm getting better at making hard lines because it wasn't as difficult this time and I made very few mistakes. Still one of my least favorites things to do though! Did the first air bleed tonight and tightened fittings here and there to stop leaks. Needs another bleed tomorrow and one last check of each threaded joint.

My goal was to do away with as many adapters as possible. I used a Wilwood adjustable prop valve with inverted flare fittings (no NPT adapters). It also has dual outlets for front brake lines so that eliminated the front line tee, too. Downside is that it is only compatible with 3/16" line so I had to use a couple adapters where 1/4" line used to be. And lastly, I used only Brake Quip fittings everywhere to improve my odds of success. Let's hope my brake woes are over! Smile

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 2:46 pm Post subject:

Glad to see you opt for the Wilwood prop valve, I think it will be a good unit for you and it sounds like you've got the rest of it on the run. Cool

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 4:42 pm Post subject:

Car has a more aggressive sound than before. It's sweet. Laughing

Just too loud for my ears, that's all. My ears hurt now. I have to do something about that before I get hearing damage.

New cam drives a little better than before. Hard to tell if it is more powerful or not but there is a lot of rubber on the roads around town today. I thought I grew up by now but the fact is I drive this car harder than any car I have ever owned!

Brakes.... not so good yet. Obviously air in the system and my wife has only so much patience to help me with it.

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 8:47 pm Post subject:

Here is a clip at idle. It sounds way more thunderous an impressive in person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGny-zl63OQ

Dewey316 · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 8:38 am Post subject:

i like it, sounds good. It doesn't seem **that** loud. :p

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 9:44 am Post subject:

It's loud when you step on the 'go' pedal. The car does a screaming howl on throttle. Hurts ears.