Thread: How difficult is it to upgrade/replace lifters?

Just for info, I own an 05 Grand Prix GT, with about 80,000 miles on it (poor baby was a rental, upkept well except for fluid changes, oil not too bad, but damn that was some nasty tranny fluid, have to replace my PCC now...)

I was looking to... "beef up" some of my valvetrain later on to get the most out of my L26 and do my own tune, just to make it more fun as my DD until I save up all the money for a Z3 turbo kit and a transmission build (probably a few years down the road). I was planning on ER rockers, sturdier chromoly pushrods, 105# crow cams springs with retainers nad valve locks, an HV3 (all of this being from zzp), along with a homemade FWI and headers.

I have never done any internal engine work, but all of those things seem relatively straight forward to do. I've got all the socket sizes I think I'd EVER need (thanks for the b-day present ma!), along with a torque wrench (any other recommended tools/equipment save a lift?)

I was interested in upgrading my lifters as well though, to some Comp Cams OE-R lifters, mainly for peace of mind really, but probably good to get out of the way for the turbo later on. So here's the couple questions I've got for the more experienced GP owners:

1) How much more tear down is required to access the lifters, and what exactly is meant by installing between 1/4 and 3/4 turn vs 1/2 to 1.5 turns on stock lifters?
2) Are there any other tools that are reasonably priced which would make the job go smoother/parts I'm missing?
3) Which gaskets should I replace? I believe I already have aluminum LIM gaskets as it's an 05 but I could be wrong, I should probably flush out my coolant as I have no idea if the rental place ever got rid of the Dex.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice, I searched a bunch f times but I'm still scratching my head about thee couple things

I'd LOVE to do a cam but I'm honestly really hesitant about accomplishing that myself, I feel as if there's more that could go wrong compared to rockers.

I could be wrong though, I may not have any hands on experience with engine internals, but I've done my suspension (sway bars, trailing arms, etc, just skipped the struts due to how effed PA roads always are), electrical (HO alternator, Big 3, soldered all terminals), and all the basic maintenance, so I could possibly learn.

I didn't realize the lifters would be that easy though, about as hard as the rockers and such! I'll look into the F-Body lifters, I know what you mean by engine chatter, my 05 GP makes just a bit when I start it cold until it's warm, hope that's not bad.

I could have swore that ZZP had an option for previous TOG, I thought they meant headers, but now that I think about it they could just mean downpipe and such, I'm forgetting how a turbo GETS its power :P

I've got all those sockets, but I did just realize that my torque wrench may not go that low (better suited for suspension parts I guess... or something like that), I'll make sure I get one capable.

I did find a video by another member on lifters and a new LIM gasket: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5O9...5NmY3ZTk0/edit

He's working on an L67 so the Eaton being there as opposed to me not having one is a bit confusing, but I'll watch it through and take some notes a few times to make sure I understand. Thanks for the help guys! Time for an interview, I'll check back in this thread once I finish that up and sort out everything with this project of mine. I'm pretty excited though, definitely going to get a tuner along with all of this, probably a good thing to learn and way better than any "boxed" tune.