I got a non-high performance cam for my 305 and I want to change it out. I get that I have to remove the gears and timing chain to get it out but I seem to have seen there is a tool that i need to insert to keep the lifters from falling in? I've googled for this tool but cant find anything, youtube has them installign it mostly while doing an engine build but I dont want to take the engine out of the car for this. Afterwards I need to set it back to TDC on #1 distributer spot right?

Any help? Do I really need to replace the lifters as well?

 

Anytime you change a cam, you REALLY need to change lifters.
The lifters get grooved to their specific cam lobe and wear into them, not a good thing on a new cam. There pretty cheap and the added insurance they would give me...

Hydraulic cams are so easy to ruin anyway I wouldn't take the chance.
Make sure you follow the camshaft breaking procedures. I wiped out a cam lobe on a 305 build a few years back and had to crack open my freshly built motor (only had 1200 miles on it) to replace the cam.

Anyway, I haven't heard of any tool to hold the lifters (not saying there isn't). There gonna be in the way of the cam lobes anyway so your just gonna have to pull em.

Not that difficult of a job, I changed mine by myself in a weekend, If you've got a buddy you should be able to do it in a day.

Pull the radiator/ac coil, grille, water pump fan assemble as a unit, brackets, dizzy, carb, valve covers, rocker arms, push rods, lifters,oil pan, timing cover & gears, and cam. Haha sounds easy that way don't it.

Pull #1 up to TDC, drop in dizzy pointing to #1 and follow firing order.