86 305 tpi. headers and y-pipe are comming, and i plan on running stock heads. ill paste the specs of the cam at the end. what all am i getting into with this. do i really need new valve springs? rockers? do i really have to take the entire intake off to swap the cam? i can always remember seeing just the rockers being taken off, the pushrods taken out, and then the cam pulled. what about the distibutor, how do i make sure i dont mess that up? its a comp cam

[align=center] Camshaft Specification Table [/align] Part Number 12-388-4 Engine 1955-1998 Chevrolet
262ci-400ci
8cyl. Grind Number CS 252AH-12 (V-8 T.P.I.) Description [hr] Intake Exhaust Valve Adjustment 0 0 Gross Valve Lift 0.425 0.44 Duration At 0.006 Tappet Lift 252 260 [hr] Valve Timing At 0.006 Open Close Intake 18 54 Exhaust 66 14 [hr] These Specs Are For The Cam Installed At 108 Intake CL Intake Exhaust Duration At 0.05 206 212 Lobe Lift 0.2835 0.2933 Lobe Separation 112 [hr] Recommended Valve Springs [b][font="arial,

 

New cam+old springs = valve float. Id hate to risk it. Replace the springs.

 

Get the proper springs and new lifters, as this appears to be a flat lifter grind. Yes, you have to remove the intake manifold because the lifters need to be moved out of the way. Also get plenty of assembly lube and use it.

 

Run the engine at 2500 rpm for 20 minutes after install, USE THE ASSEMBLY LUBE.

 

why does the intake need tobe removed to get to the lifters? cant they be slide out where the pushrod comes up? if not, cant i just use a magnetic rod to keep them up high to slide the cam out and in? how hard is it to remove the intake on a tpi car? i dont have any power tools or even a garage to work in

 

The intake shouldnt be to hard to take off. Thereis more than one lifter so you will need more than one magnet, it would be more of a pain to do it that way IMO, alot of syncronization and another body too. You dont neccessarily need 'power' tools, a good set of tools with the basic open/box end wrenches complete sae AND metric ratcheting wrench set and screw drivers = a basic phase one set, you will end up buying more tools as you go along WE ALL DO, it just part of the hobby

 

im thinking of getting a shop to do it for me. i will already have some of the intake apart, the exhaust off, water pump, thermostat, radiator, and a few other things off to replace them. im thinking of trailering it to the shop to get it done, depending on how much it costs.

any recomendations for roller rockers and valve springs?

 

Don't forget to put in new lifters. You have a flat tappet cam, which means :
(new cam) + (old lifters) = no lobes.
Call Comp Cams & ask what springs go with the cam.