Trunnion question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 59
From: North Georgia
Trunnion question
I started researching trunnions after reading about replacing valve springs and found that some trunnions have oil slots. Some have oil slots made at the 1 o'clock/11 o'clock positions and some are made at the 2 o'clock/10 o'clock positions.
Is there a difference where the slots are located? Does one design make the oil flow better than the other?
Thanks.
Spaggs
Is there a difference where the slots are located? Does one design make the oil flow better than the other?
Thanks.
Spaggs
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
maybe get in touch with straub and they could give you a better answer... I do know they have changed the design slightly since first releasing their bronze bushing trunnion kits, this is what mine looked like when I got them about a year and a half ago
Last edited by StingrayRebel; Apr 1, 2026 at 05:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 59
From: North Georgia
I just saw another vendor that advertises that they have one channel and it is located at the 12 o'clock position on each side. So now there is a choice of no oil channel, one at 12 o'clock on each side, one at 1 and 11 on each side and one at 2 and 10 on each side. There has to be a reason, you would think.
Spaggs
Spaggs
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 535
Likes: 92
From: Raleigh NC
I just installed the Straub kit. Very nice kit. There are two grooves (the outer one is for the snap ring), and there's a flat spot that lets oil into the inner groove.
Honestly, I haven't heard of any of the kits failing because of an oiling issue. So while there may be some slight differences between brands, I think it's really just splitting hairs. The key is that there aren't needle bearings coming loose and playing mayhem in your motor.
Here's an installation video I made. At the beginning of the video there's a close up of the Straub trunnion and you can see the two grooves I mentioned.
Honestly, I haven't heard of any of the kits failing because of an oiling issue. So while there may be some slight differences between brands, I think it's really just splitting hairs. The key is that there aren't needle bearings coming loose and playing mayhem in your motor.
Here's an installation video I made. At the beginning of the video there's a close up of the Straub trunnion and you can see the two grooves I mentioned.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 59
From: North Georgia
Staub kit has my vote.
Chris Staub emailed me and said: "The current design we have a flat milled at 12’oclock and an oil grove 360 degrees supplying oil. During long periods of non use, there is no chance of a dry start as the oil channel stays full of oil giving instant lubrication during start up."
Thanks bigmackloud for the video.
Spaggs
Chris Staub emailed me and said: "The current design we have a flat milled at 12’oclock and an oil grove 360 degrees supplying oil. During long periods of non use, there is no chance of a dry start as the oil channel stays full of oil giving instant lubrication during start up."
Thanks bigmackloud for the video.
Spaggs
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
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
I had installed the CompCams kit, a number of years ago, when the stories of spit-out needle bearings, and the introduction of that kit both happened. Then came the stories of galled trunnions with the CompCams kit, so I switched to the Straub bushings. I will say, that the Straub kit makes for a quieter running engine.
Now if I could just figure out what to do with the CompCams kit.....
Now if I could just figure out what to do with the CompCams kit.....
Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 535
Likes: 92
From: Raleigh NC
Staub kit has my vote.
Chris Staub emailed me and said: "The current design we have a flat milled at 12’oclock and an oil grove 360 degrees supplying oil. During long periods of non use, there is no chance of a dry start as the oil channel stays full of oil giving instant lubrication during start up."
Thanks bigmackloud for the video.
Spaggs
Chris Staub emailed me and said: "The current design we have a flat milled at 12’oclock and an oil grove 360 degrees supplying oil. During long periods of non use, there is no chance of a dry start as the oil channel stays full of oil giving instant lubrication during start up."
Thanks bigmackloud for the video.
Spaggs
I will add, I had a question during my install and called Straub. I thought it was pretty impressive that Chris Straub himself was the one to answer the phone. Excellent customer service.
Last edited by bigmackloud; Dec 17, 2017 at 11:07 AM.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
... I don't remember yours being as bad as mine were but even if they were in good shape I wouldn't feel right letting someone else use them knowing what will eventually happen
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
I think that in the various discussions we found ourselves in, with respect to these trunnions, that we concluded that as long as you weren't running an exceptionally high lift cam, along with a stiffer valve spring, the CompCams trunnions just might be a reasonable alternative to the OE needle bearings.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
aren't you still using the stock cam and springs?... I thought you were and if that's the case then something still made you switch to straubs
... not trying to start an argument or anything and I know your comps had far less wear than mine but we now know what will ultimately happen to them so personally I will never recommend them to anyone regardless of the cam/spring choice
... not trying to start an argument or anything and I know your comps had far less wear than mine but we now know what will ultimately happen to them so personally I will never recommend them to anyone regardless of the cam/spring choice
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 59
From: North Georgia
I'm running 100% stock, except for a massive oil cooler, oil catch can, Katech serpentine pulley, Blue GM Springs, Gatorback belts and Water Wetter. I just don't want any surprises when I'm thrashing at an HPDE.
Spaggs
Spaggs
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
(social security checks only stretch so far.....)
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 22,591
Likes: 939
Last edited by Millenium Z06; Dec 21, 2017 at 09:07 PM.