Lifter question
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
You can use the factory lifters if they are in good shape. But if you are doing a complete head and cam swap, you are right there so getting a new set of lifters would be very wise. As the previous member list mentioned, the best bang for the money are the GM LS7 lifters. I use these in all my head and cam jobs and also in many small block applications as well. These semm to be much more reliable and easier to use than the Comp Cams Comp-R lifters.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
You can use the factory lifters if they are in good shape. But if you are doing a complete head and cam swap, you are right there so getting a new set of lifters would be very wise. As the previous member list mentioned, the best bang for the money are the GM LS7 lifters. I use these in all my head and cam jobs and also in many small block applications as well. These semm to be much more reliable and easier to use than the Comp Cams Comp-R lifters.
And the LS7 lifters are said to limit, if not remove, the sewing machine noise
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
Spend the noney for the Cadillac Racing Lifters.
Here's a comment from someone I gave a ride to after the 403/L92 build:
I just road in this car...
Of all the rides I have been in this is absolutely the most mechanically quiet. I simply don't understand it, 13 degrees overlap and the steering wheel was not shaking at all at idle. You hear the car from the exhaust, not from under the hood...
Throttle response was brutal and rolling through 3rd gear flat puts your *** in the seat.
I was one of the original skeptics from earlier posts and I am not afraid to admit I am now eating crow about this.
Absolutely the most civilized 500rwhp I have ever experienced... Props to all those involved
Here's a comment from someone I gave a ride to after the 403/L92 build:
I just road in this car...
Of all the rides I have been in this is absolutely the most mechanically quiet. I simply don't understand it, 13 degrees overlap and the steering wheel was not shaking at all at idle. You hear the car from the exhaust, not from under the hood...
Throttle response was brutal and rolling through 3rd gear flat puts your *** in the seat.
I was one of the original skeptics from earlier posts and I am not afraid to admit I am now eating crow about this.
Absolutely the most civilized 500rwhp I have ever experienced... Props to all those involved
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Spend the noney for the Cadillac Racing Lifters.
Here's a comment from someone I gave a ride to after the 403/L92 build:
I just road in this car...
Of all the rides I have been in this is absolutely the most mechanically quiet. I simply don't understand it, 13 degrees overlap and the steering wheel was not shaking at all at idle. You hear the car from the exhaust, not from under the hood...
Throttle response was brutal and rolling through 3rd gear flat puts your *** in the seat.
I was one of the original skeptics from earlier posts and I am not afraid to admit I am now eating crow about this.
Absolutely the most civilized 500rwhp I have ever experienced... Props to all those involved
Here's a comment from someone I gave a ride to after the 403/L92 build:
I just road in this car...
Of all the rides I have been in this is absolutely the most mechanically quiet. I simply don't understand it, 13 degrees overlap and the steering wheel was not shaking at all at idle. You hear the car from the exhaust, not from under the hood...
Throttle response was brutal and rolling through 3rd gear flat puts your *** in the seat.
I was one of the original skeptics from earlier posts and I am not afraid to admit I am now eating crow about this.
Absolutely the most civilized 500rwhp I have ever experienced... Props to all those involved
All I can do is WAIT.
As recommended by WKMCD..these are the ones to get.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
This testimony is GREAT encouragement!!! I have been waiting 2.5 months for my Caddy Race Lifters to be shipped to me. Holding up installing my new Patriot heads. There s a back order because GM is behind in producing more of them. So SDPC assures me that they should receive a new batch on April 7.
All I can do is WAIT.
As recommended by WKMCD..these are the ones to get.
All I can do is WAIT.
As recommended by WKMCD..these are the ones to get.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
They will eliminate the noise if and only if the proper preload is applied to the lifters. So in saying that it is very important that your installer checks for proper push rod length and preload on the lifter. Most of the time a 7.400" push rod can be used without any issues. Then with some cam profiles and head combinations a longer or a shorter length is required depending on how much the heads were milled, head gasket thickness and cam profile. For instance I just installed a sleeper cam into a new C6 LS2 using the stock heads and stock head gaskets, in this instance I actually had to use a 7.450" length to acheive the proper preload on the lifter. After the installation and engine start up, the car ran as quiet as if it was built in Bowling Green. This cam is a .631/.644 lift so the base circle is considerably smaller than a stock cam so a longer push rod was needed in this case.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Roanoke VA
They will eliminate the noise if and only if the proper preload is applied to the lifters. So in saying that it is very important that your installer checks for proper push rod length and preload on the lifter. Most of the time a 7.400" push rod can be used without any issues. Then with some cam profiles and head combinations a longer or a shorter length is required depending on how much the heads were milled, head gasket thickness and cam profile. For instance I just installed a sleeper cam into a new C6 LS2 using the stock heads and stock head gaskets, in this instance I actually had to use a 7.450" length to acheive the proper preload on the lifter. After the installation and engine start up, the car ran as quiet as if it was built in Bowling Green. This cam is a .631/.644 lift so the base circle is considerably smaller than a stock cam so a longer push rod was needed in this case.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,979
Likes: 31
From: Wichita KS
So will I be ok with stock pushrod length on TSP stg 2.5 5.3L heads and a 233/239 cam with LS7 lifters or will I need longer or shorter?? Please someone chime in before I order
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
^ Only way to truly tell is to get a pushrod length checker and measure, then order your pushrods.
FYI stock is actually 7.38X vs. the 7.4s... I compared my oem to new ones when putting my cam in.
Many guys put 7.425s in for a little more pre-load... I went ahead an went w/ the 7.4s b/c that's what came w/ my LGM kit... also, I'll probably install milled heads down the road.
My car is only marginally lounder than stock, but I have yella terra full roller rockers.
FYI stock is actually 7.38X vs. the 7.4s... I compared my oem to new ones when putting my cam in.
Many guys put 7.425s in for a little more pre-load... I went ahead an went w/ the 7.4s b/c that's what came w/ my LGM kit... also, I'll probably install milled heads down the road.
My car is only marginally lounder than stock, but I have yella terra full roller rockers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,970
Likes: 19
From: San Marcos Texas
Just call Texas speed since your using there heads. 7.4" rods should work fine if the heads were not milled...