Edelbrock Performer-Plus 2132, Performer-Plus 304-360-401 User Manual

PERFORMER-PLUS

CAMSHAFT / LIFTERS / LUBE KIT

CATALOG # 2132

MODEL: 304-360-401 c.i.d. AMC V8 engines

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

• Please study these instructions carefully before you remove your stock camshaft. If you have any questions or problems, do not hesitate to con­tact our Technical Hotline at: 1-800-416-8628.

• These instructions are designed to give general installation guidelines. A complete step-by-step procedure manual would require many pages. If
you are a novice or just learning to work on automotive engines, we recommend consulting either Chilton or Motors automotive manuals before
you begin. You may also wish to contact an experienced mechanic. Be advised: improper installation may result in LOW MILEAGE, POOR PERFOR­MANCE, COSTLY REINSTALLATION AND EVEN ENGINE DAMAGE. Installing a camshaft is a complex procedure. Please follow these instructions
carefully. Failure to do so may void your warranty.

• Before you begin the removal and installation process, please examine the kit for possible shipping damage. If the camshaft is damaged, contact
your dealer immediately. Also, make sure you have all the recommended tools and parts as listed below. As you read through these instructions
the first time, use the preparation checklist to check off the exact items you will need.

•

Performer-Plus

camshafts are ground specifically for use with the corresponding

Performer AMC

manifold #2131 or #3731. Both are dyno­matched and street proven to work as a team; especially when matched with Edelbrock Tubular Exhaust Systems. However, the Performer
camshaft package may be used by itself.

1. Disconnect the battery.

2. Drain radiator coolant. Drain plug will normally be located on lower
right or left side of the radiator facing the engine.

3. Remove radiator and air conditioning condenser if so equipped. In
some cases, the front grille may have to be removed.Measure dis­tance from front cover to grille or brackets that may interfere with
camshaft against the length of the camshaft.

4. Remove the gas cap to relieve pressure. Disconnect fuel line and
plug. Replace gas cap.

5. Disconnect all linkage from carburetor such as throttle, throttle
springs, transmission, cruise control and automatic choke.

6. Tag and remove coil wires and sensor wires.

7. Tag and remove vacuum lines.

8. Remove distributor cap and wires, rotate engine until rotor points
towards number 1 terminal in cap and pointer on front cover is on

top dead center (TDC) and remove distributor. Note the approximate
position of the distributor housing in relation to the manifold to assist
in getting the distributor properly located during re-installation.

9. Remove valve covers.

10. Remove carburetor and intake manifold. Remove and discard intake
manifold gasket.

11. Remove rocker arms and pushrods.
NOTE:

Late model engines- Intake and exhaust rocker arms of each
cylinder pivot on a bridged pivot assembly which is secured to cylin­der head by two cap screws.
WARNING: Cap screws should be loosened alternately one turn at a
time to avoid breaking bridge. Keep rockers and pushrods in order for
re-assembly.

12. Remove hydraulic valve lifters.

PREPARATION CHECKLIST

Hardware & Parts To Buy
o Gaskets - Fel-Pro #MS 96011, OEM or equivalent
o Pipe plugs, if needed
o Edelbrock Gasgacinch #9300
o RTV Silicone Sealant
o Chalk
o Paper and pencil
o Radiator coolant
o Edelbrock Sure Seat Valve Springs, #5832 or #5932 (for rota-

tors)

o Edelbrock Performer-Link True Rolling Timing Chain and Gear

Set, #7818
o Teflon tape
o Front cover oil seal,OEM or equivalent

Tools & Equipment For Installation
o Box and open end wrenches
o Socket set
o Distributor wrench
o Pliers (channel locks & hose clamp)
o Screw drivers (regular and phillips)
o Torque wrench
o Hammer
o Gasket scraper or putty knife
o Timing light Vacuum gauge
o Rags
o Water bucket
o Harmonic balancer puller
o Masking tape (for tagging hoses and electrical wires)
o Engine oil & filter
o Crankshaft dampener puller

©2008 Edelbrock Corp. Rev. 9/08 - AJ/mc

Brochure #63-2132

REMOVAL OF ENGINE PARTS BEFORE CAMSHAFT INSTALLATION

Be sure to keep all parts in order

WARNING! DO NOT REMOVE RADIATOR CAP OR

RADIATOR HOSES WHILE ENGINE IS HOT!

13. Remove crankshaft pulley, and using a suitable puller, crankshaft
dampener.

14. Remove two front oil pan bolts. Remove bolts securing timing chain
cover to block.
NOTE: Bolts vary in length and must be installed in same location as
removed. Pull cover forward until free of locating dowel pins.
NOTE: The front cover oil seal should be replaced before the front
cover is re-installed.

15. Remove fuel pump and fuel pump pushrod. Rotate engine until timing
marks are aligned as in Figure 2.

16. Remove bolts retaining camshaft sprocket. Remove sprocket and
chain.

17. Remove crank sprocket using a gear puller.

18. Remove camshaft.

• VALVE SPRINGS
WARNING ABOUT YOUR WARRANTY:

In order for this

Performer-Plus

cam and lifter kit to be covered under ANY

WARRANTY you must use either the correct Edelbrock

Sure Seat

valve
springs or the stock original equipment valve springs. Failure to do so
could cause the cam lobes to wear excessively and could cause addi­tional engine damage.

1. This camshaft is designed to function either with the stock springs or
with Edelbrock

Sure Seat

valve springs #5832 (std. retainer set), or

for use with valve rotators, use #5932.

2. For older vehicles and vehicles with high mileage we highly recom­mend replacing the valve springs with Sure Seat Valve Springs #
5832 (std. retainer set), or for use with valve rotators, #5932.

3. Check spring height and set to factory specifications for correct year
and model.

• DUE TO THE MANY POSSIBLE SETTINGS OVER THE YEARS, WE
ADVISE CHECKING MOTORS, CHILTON, OR FACTORY SERVICE MANU­ALS FOR CORRECT SPRING HEIGHT FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

• LIFTERS

1. New lifters must be used with a new camshaft. Use only the lifters
supplied with your kit .

2. Check to make sure all lifters fit freely in lifter bores.

• INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Coat cam lobes and bottom of each lifter with MOS2 lube supplied
with your kit. This will prevent cam lobe and lifter wear from occur­ring during initial engine start up. Do NOT pre-oil or "pump-up" lifters
before installation as this may hold valves off the valve seat leading
to loss of compression and/or bent valves during initial engine start
up.

2. Install new camshaft with new sprockets and timing chain.
CAUTION: When using

Performer-Link True Rolling Timing Chain and

Gear Set

#7818 with an Edelbrock cam and lifter kit, straight up tim­ing alignment is achieved. If any other timing gear set is used, it is
necessary to check camshaft position for correct timing alignment.
This requires indexing the camshaft with a degree wheel to verify
timing alignment. O.E.M. or non-Edelbrock timing gear sets are not
recommended for use with Edelbrock camshafts. Use locking com­pound material on bolt threads holding gear to cam. Torque to factory
recommendations (30 ft./lbs.).

3. Install camshaft with timing marks lined up as recommended by fac­tory specifications. See Figure 2.

• PUSHROD AND ROCKER ARM INSTALLATION—After the cam is
installed and timed correctly (see Figure 2), install pushrods, lifters and
rocker arms.

• VALVE ADJUSTMENT

1. Rocker arm adjustment is 0 lash. Install push rods and rocker arm
assembly and tighten rocker arm nuts on early models and bridge
cap screws on late models. NOTE: On late models, alternately tighten
cap screws one turn at a time.

• FRONT COVER OIL SEAL REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1. For front seal removal, pry seal out from the inside of the cover.
Clean seal bore and apply light coat of suitable sealer such as
Edelbrock Gasgacinch #9300 to outer surface of new seal. Drive seal
into place from inside cover using suitable tool. When seal contacts
outer flange of cover it is installed correctly. Apply a light film of
engine oil to lips of neoprene seal.

• INSTALL FRONT COVER

1. Remove lower locating dowel pin from engine block and clean all
gasket surfaces.

2. Cut both sides of oil pan gasket flush with engine block. Using old
gasket as a guide, trim new gasket to correspond to amount cut off
at oil pan. Apply suitable sealer such as RTV Silicone sealant to both
sides of gasket and install on engine front cover.

3. Install front oil pan seal and align tongues of new oil pan gasket
pieces with seal and cement into place on cover. Apply suitable seal­er to cut-off edges of original oil pan gaskets and place cover into
position, then install two front oil pan bolts. Tighten bolts slowly and
evenly until cover aligns with upper locating dowel. Install lower
dowel through cover and drive into corresponding hole in engine
block. Install cover retaining bolts in same location they were
removed from and tighten.

5. Torque front timing cover bolts to 25 ft. lbs.

6. Install front harmonic balancer and torque to 80 ft.-lbs,.

7. Install fuel pump and pushrod.

8. Install water pump using new gaskets and torque to 4 ft.-lbs.

9. Install intake manifold using new intake gasket set and torque bolts
to 25 ft/lbs.

• DISTRIBUTOR INSTALLATION AND ENGINE TIMING

1. Turn the engine over in direction of rotation until the No. 1 intake
valve closes and continue until the pointer on the front cover is
approximately five degrees before top dead center (BTDC). See Figure
1 for firing order.

2. Re-install the distributor with the rotor pointing towards No. 1 termi­nal in the cap, and with the distributor housing in its original position.
If distributor will not drop down all the way to the flange on the
engine, it will be necessary to align the distributor shaft with the oil
pump drive. Slowly rotate the engine until the distributor drops down
against the engine, then continue turning until two complete revolu­tions are completed and the timing marks once again come to five
degrees BTDC.

©2008 Edelbrock Corp. Rev. 9/08 - AJ/mc

Brochure #63-2132