Hood off, airbox off

The easy part

Steering rack blocks crank pulley

Tools necessary to free steering rack; one large can of whoop-ass

Steering rack loose, moved to side, pulley clear!

Only a week later

Coil packs off

No problemo

Intake manifold off

Coolant lines removed when LS6 intake installed.

Driver side valve cover off.

Everything looks good in here.

Heads off! Many skinned knuckles later...

Should have removed plugs before headers.

Bottom of pass-side cylinder head. Needs a bath!

These are stock '02 LS6 heads/valves/springs

Cyl 1 & 2/lifter gallery. Plastic lifter guides?

Major evolution from previous SBC, lifter gallery now UNDER the heads.

Failed Comp lifter on #8 intake, the Culprit!

This is what started the whole problem/project.

Crank Pulley removed

Should have gotten a 1" longer crank bolt, easier to pull.

Front engine cover off.

Cam gear off.

Cam cover plate off.

Cam 3/4 out.

Only had to pull back on the condenser 3-4" to get cam clear, nice and easy.

Oil pump off.

Crank sprocket off. PITA! Finally got that SOB.

Used the OTC #1025 two arm gear puller, perfect for the job.

Here is the stock cam out.

Here is the damaged #8 intake lobe (last one).

Not as bad as I thought it would be. Mostly surface wear.