Alright, I've finally settled on a cam. I'm getting an 01 ls6 cam and springs from JBsC5 (really nice guy).

There are two things I'm not really comfortable with about the install.

How exactly do I do this w/o pulling the intake manifold? I just don't know exactly how I could blindly hold the lifters off the lobes, keep the rollers in the correct direction, and not mess anything up.

Also... I don't really understand the spring swap procedure.
The top of the valve spring meets the bottom side of the retainer, correct?
Just tell me if this is correct?
Bring cylinder to TDC, remove the rocker arms, and lay a socket on the top of the retainer, lightly tap it several times. Compress the spring, and use a magnet to pull the keeper out, it should slip right off the notch in the valve stem. Pull the pull the retainer off, pull the old spring, and put the new spring back in place. Put the old retainer on top of the spring , compress it, and slide the keeper back onto the notch in the valve stem.
Basically, I don't even need to touch the valve spring seats and seals, and I can reuse the stock retainers and keepers.

I know this is a lot, but I would appreciate any help.

Thanks guys, you've all been lots of help!

 

Check out ls1howto.com

As far as the spring removal. I wouldn't tap the spring with a socket with the engine on tdc. I would be afraid of the valve hitting the piston. Plus if you have air psi holding the piston up and you smack the retainer with the socket, you risk the keepers popping off and flying somewhere, possible down the head into the engine somewhere. The thought is right but I wouldn't risk it with it at tdc. I would just use air pressure to hold the valves up and just compress the spring with the compresser.

The intake removal is not necessary because this isn't your typical sbc. You can't see the lifters unless you remove the valley cover that is under the intake and still its not necessary.

Remove the coil packs, valve covers, rocker arms and pushrods. Follow the rest of ls1howto.com and either use a tool to hold the lifters up (if you have never done it before) or you can wing it without the tool by rotating the cam a couple times around backwards, but thats not reccomended by a lot of people because if the lifter falls, then you will be removing the head.

I would also reccomend advancing this cam with an adjustable timing chain. These cams have a high power band, not really suited for a truck, so advancing it will bring it down to a more friendly level with a truck.

Good luck none the less.

 

Thanks man, very valuable info!

I wonder how much that adjustable timing chain would cost...?

I'm going to get a beefier torque converter soon, so do I really need to bother advancing it?

 

Does anyone else besides thunder racing sell those cam installation tools?

TR wants 85 for it, and I hate to pay that for something I will use once.

 

Just make your own. That's what I did, run a search and you will find where this has been discussed before. Just use a rod about 3/8", I put a little handle on mine, and I ground a flat spot all the way down it, just like the TR ones. Good luck!