swapping stripped uppers skill level?

[shakeyjake]

I've got a olympic car 15 carry handle upper on a spike lower and I want to get a stripped spike flat top upper so I can instal optics and a back up rear sight.I would like to know how difficult it is to do.I've looked on youtube but couldnt find a vid that did showed the swap. Any advise on how to approach
this task? All input will be appreciated. Thanks

[Tjfearl]

You really only need a few tools to accomplish this. You have to remove the handguard, drift out the gas tube roll pin, pull the gas tube out, then you need a barrel nut wrench to take the barrel off. then you do it in reverse on the new upper. the thing is that its kind of hard to do without a bench vise and upper vise block. Some people say that AR-15's don't really need to be head spaced, but then some people say you HAVE to check Head space. Ive seen some build videos on Youtube and it is very easy to do as long as you have the proper workspace and tools.

[goober]

stripped upper will also involve installing forward assist and ejection port cover parts if present/desired.
not difficult, but there is more to a stripped upper assembly than just swapping barrels.

[xpbprox]

Just remove gas block and gas tube as a whole.

[Rusty Scabbard]

Not very hard.
Use an upper vise block. It can be monkey rigged, but at the risk of destroying an upper. Use a torque wrench when tightening the barrel nut, and use moly grease. Tighten to torque and loosen a couple times before final tightening and adjusting for gas tube clearance. It'll be evident if the Oly wasn't greased when you try to loosen the nut. Sounds like you're not transferring the fwd sight base, but if you are, note the pins are tapered. They'll knock out much easier left to right... Make sure if you buy an M4 stripped upper, you have the M4 ramps on the barrel extension. You shouldn't need to worry about headspace when using the same barrel and bolt carrier; it's dependent on the barrel extension. When you install roll pins, a pair of channel-locks with tape on the jaws may be easier to use than a hammer and punch. A few more obscure details to be aware of are gas tube lengths (rifle/ mid/carbine/short) and gas block diameters (which should be consistent with typical parts and no caliber change)
Good shooting !

[707electrician]

It is easier than doing a stripped lower. If you are using the same barrel bolt that you have been using and the headspace is good there is no need to check it

[shakeyjake]

Ok I got it's WELL over my skill level. Anyone know how much a smith might charge for the job.

[goober]

its really not hard at all. if you can change a faucet you can do this. the only caveat is you need the right tools.
there are some uncertainties depending on whether you mean a truly "stripped" upper, or one that is assembled with FA and ejection port cover (if present) already in place or not.
but either way, this is not something that takes great skill. the cool thing about RARs is that they are like Legos. the design is such that assembly is no more difficult that your basic model kit.