Lifters & Trays
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 324
Likes: 157
From: Maine
Lifters & Trays
So I am planning to doing a cam swap this spring on my 2002 C5 A4, I changed the rear gears to 3.15 a year ago. I am planning on keeping the stock heads (241)s, should I pull the heads and replace the lifters and trays, currently the car has about 98k miles on it. I keep changing my mind just to reduce the amount work.
I will be replacing water and oil pumps, springs, push rods, belts, all the pulleys, spark plugs and wires, harmonic balancer etc.
I use the car a daily driver and just want a small bump in power 30-40ish hp (so a stage one cam that works with the stock converter)
Just typing this I think I change my mind twice. I am currently thinking change out the lifters and trays as they said on Top Gear "How hard could it be"
I will be replacing water and oil pumps, springs, push rods, belts, all the pulleys, spark plugs and wires, harmonic balancer etc.
I use the car a daily driver and just want a small bump in power 30-40ish hp (so a stage one cam that works with the stock converter)
Just typing this I think I change my mind twice. I am currently thinking change out the lifters and trays as they said on Top Gear "How hard could it be"
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 622
Likes: 169
From: Montgomery Texas
The lifter trays tend to be fragile, especially after many hundreds of heat cycles. These are the only thing keeping your lifters aligned with the cam lobes and preventing catastrophic engine failure.
With a stock cam and good maintenance habits, its not unheard of the OE Gen III lifters providing 200k miles of service, or more. With a modified cam and higher rate springs, Gen III lifters have been reported to fail, so either upgrading to the stronger design Gen IV lifters, or an aftermarket solution seems to be the preferred route.
Considering the repercussions of a failure of either of these parts, this is not an area where I would personally feel comfortable cutting corners, especially since these parts already have 100,000 miles on them. But, YMMV.
With a stock cam and good maintenance habits, its not unheard of the OE Gen III lifters providing 200k miles of service, or more. With a modified cam and higher rate springs, Gen III lifters have been reported to fail, so either upgrading to the stronger design Gen IV lifters, or an aftermarket solution seems to be the preferred route.
Considering the repercussions of a failure of either of these parts, this is not an area where I would personally feel comfortable cutting corners, especially since these parts already have 100,000 miles on them. But, YMMV.
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Moved to C5 Tech for more discussion.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 324
Likes: 157
From: Maine
The lifter trays tend to be fragile, especially after many hundreds of heat cycles. These are the only thing keeping your lifters aligned with the cam lobes and preventing catastrophic engine failure.
With a stock cam and good maintenance habits, its not unheard of the OE Gen III lifters providing 200k miles of service, or more. With a modified cam and higher rate springs, Gen III lifters have been reported to fail, so either upgrading to the stronger design Gen IV lifters, or an aftermarket solution seems to be the preferred route.
Considering the repercussions of a failure of either of these parts, this is not an area where I would personally feel comfortable cutting corners, especially since these parts already have 100,000 miles on them. But, YMMV.
With a stock cam and good maintenance habits, its not unheard of the OE Gen III lifters providing 200k miles of service, or more. With a modified cam and higher rate springs, Gen III lifters have been reported to fail, so either upgrading to the stronger design Gen IV lifters, or an aftermarket solution seems to be the preferred route.
Considering the repercussions of a failure of either of these parts, this is not an area where I would personally feel comfortable cutting corners, especially since these parts already have 100,000 miles on them. But, YMMV.
The last thing I want is it to have is a lifter failure and with my luck it would be on a trip with the wife far from home, out of cell phone range during a rain storm.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 897
Likes: 987
From: NW Burbs of Chi-Town
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If you pull the heads, which you must do to change the lifters, then you can go the CNC porting route to really wake up the engine. KATeck, Tony Mamo, Texas Speed (I went with them) all offer CNC porting along with performance Valve job. I started to do exactly with what you are proposing but with a rather spicy cam as I have an M6 car. its a slippery slope with lots of "While you are there" replacement parts that can be changed. Be aware, if you go big on the cam, you will likely want a new converter for the trans...
There is a spread sheet at the end of this post with the $$$ if you go the full Monty:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-coupe-m6.html
There is a spread sheet at the end of this post with the $$$ if you go the full Monty:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-coupe-m6.html
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 185
Likes: 43
From: Raleigh
If you pull the heads, which you must do to change the lifters, then you can go the CNC porting route to really wake up the engine. KATeck, Tony Mamo, Texas Speed (I went with them) all offer CNC porting along with performance Valve job. I started to do exactly with what you are proposing but with a rather spicy cam as I have an M6 car. its a slippery slope with lots of "While you are there" replacement parts that can be changed. Be aware, if you go big on the cam, you will likely want a new converter for the trans...
There is a spread sheet at the end of this post with the $$$ if you go the full Monty:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-coupe-m6.html
There is a spread sheet at the end of this post with the $$$ if you go the full Monty:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-coupe-m6.html
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 185
Likes: 43
From: Raleigh
So I am planning to doing a cam swap this spring on my 2002 C5 A4, I changed the rear gears to 3.15 a year ago. I am planning on keeping the stock heads (241)s, should I pull the heads and replace the lifters and trays, currently the car has about 98k miles on it. I keep changing my mind just to reduce the amount work.
I will be replacing water and oil pumps, springs, push rods, belts, all the pulleys, spark plugs and wires, harmonic balancer etc.
I use the car a daily driver and just want a small bump in power 30-40ish hp (so a stage one cam that works with the stock converter)
Just typing this I think I change my mind twice. I am currently thinking change out the lifters and trays as they said on Top Gear "How hard could it be"
I will be replacing water and oil pumps, springs, push rods, belts, all the pulleys, spark plugs and wires, harmonic balancer etc.
I use the car a daily driver and just want a small bump in power 30-40ish hp (so a stage one cam that works with the stock converter)
Just typing this I think I change my mind twice. I am currently thinking change out the lifters and trays as they said on Top Gear "How hard could it be"
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
I have a modded LS7 in my C5. Cam, springs (PAC duals), and lifters have almost 50,000 miles on them. Cam has .603"/.610" lift, 232°/250° duration. Stock LS7 lifters. If anyone is going to stick with the lifter trays, buy ONLY GM trays. WAY too many failures on Chinese and other brands. YMMV........
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 622
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From: Montgomery Texas
I don't know what the RPO # is for a crystal ball, but somehow these cars always seem to know the most inopportune time to **** the bed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 897
Likes: 987
From: NW Burbs of Chi-Town
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thanks, Very rewarding experience and I learned a lot. I would do it again in a heart beat.
Here is a set of 243 heads:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ve-covers.html
The GM lifter buckets are like $12 so like Grinder11 said, not a good place to skimp for that cost.I see Grinder over on the LS1 forums btw
Lots of good folks on here that gave some good advice on my build. Ask questions and ask why people recommend certain parts, beware of posers. Again, lots of good folks here. Ask questions.
Here is a great "How to" (I think should be a sticky):
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Ping me at any time if I can help I will. I also can steer towards the tools I used, mostly Summit, made in USA and worked great.
Here is a set of 243 heads:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ve-covers.html
The GM lifter buckets are like $12 so like Grinder11 said, not a good place to skimp for that cost.I see Grinder over on the LS1 forums btw
Lots of good folks on here that gave some good advice on my build. Ask questions and ask why people recommend certain parts, beware of posers. Again, lots of good folks here. Ask questions.
Here is a great "How to" (I think should be a sticky):
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Ping me at any time if I can help I will. I also can steer towards the tools I used, mostly Summit, made in USA and worked great.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 130
Likes: 43
From: US
So I am planning to doing a cam swap this spring on my 2002 C5 A4, I changed the rear gears to 3.15 a year ago. I am planning on keeping the stock heads (241)s, should I pull the heads and replace the lifters and trays, currently the car has about 98k miles on it. I keep changing my mind just to reduce the amount work.
I will be replacing water and oil pumps, springs, push rods, belts, all the pulleys, spark plugs and wires, harmonic balancer etc.
I use the car a daily driver and just want a small bump in power 30-40ish hp (so a stage one cam that works with the stock converter)
Just typing this I think I change my mind twice. I am currently thinking change out the lifters and trays as they said on Top Gear "How hard could it be"
I will be replacing water and oil pumps, springs, push rods, belts, all the pulleys, spark plugs and wires, harmonic balancer etc.
I use the car a daily driver and just want a small bump in power 30-40ish hp (so a stage one cam that works with the stock converter)
Just typing this I think I change my mind twice. I am currently thinking change out the lifters and trays as they said on Top Gear "How hard could it be"
I have went back and forth for months on whether or not to swap the cam in mine. After some consideration on all the choices out there in regards to cams/heads etc and goals in mind for what I want to do with the car, I finally decided to start putting the pieces together together. I hope you're successful in your search as you climb the hp ladder. I wanted to ask you if you have long tube headers already? Might be a quicker way to gain 30hp. Since you mentioned that you go back and forth about the amount of work you want to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,511
Likes: 4,359
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Thanks, Very rewarding experience and I learned a lot. I would do it again in a heart beat.
Here is a set of 243 heads:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ve-covers.html
The GM lifter buckets are like $12 so like Grinder11 said, not a good place to skimp for that cost.I see Grinder over on the LS1 forums btw
Lots of good folks on here that gave some good advice on my build. Ask questions and ask why people recommend certain parts, beware of posers. Again, lots of good folks here. Ask questions.
Here is a great "How to" (I think should be a sticky):
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Ping me at any time if I can help I will. I also can steer towards the tools I used, mostly Summit, made in USA and worked great.
Here is a set of 243 heads:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ve-covers.html
The GM lifter buckets are like $12 so like Grinder11 said, not a good place to skimp for that cost.I see Grinder over on the LS1 forums btw
Lots of good folks on here that gave some good advice on my build. Ask questions and ask why people recommend certain parts, beware of posers. Again, lots of good folks here. Ask questions.
Here is a great "How to" (I think should be a sticky):
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Ping me at any time if I can help I will. I also can steer towards the tools I used, mostly Summit, made in USA and worked great.
The heads Joe gave the link for are not bad, but they should get a valve job and you don’t need the springs. Shipping via UPS will cost about $100, so maybe you can try and negotiate the asking price down. 😎 Bear in mind that you’ll be adding new springs to match your cam, and all the other little parts. In other words all you’re keeping is the castings and valves.
I didn’t get the porting, but did buy all new valves, then had a valve job ($600) and milled the heads (should end up 10.75:1). Option number two: For about $1,000 Texas Speed will do the valve job AND port the heads. Since I’m staying with the stock exhaust (famous last words), I elected to save the money.
Swapping the heads is quite a bit more involved, but I’m making my way through it. Just taking my time, pictures, bag and tag, etc. Highly recommend the baggy method for all the fasteners. The worst part is unhooking all the invisible crap attached to the back of the heads, lol. If I can do this anybody can.
Keep us posted on what you decide!
Last edited by vette4fl; Jan 4, 2024 at 11:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 324
Likes: 157
From: Maine
At this point I want to stay with the staying with the stock exhaust, I take the car to work at 5am and don't want wake the wife.
Before having a corvette I rode motorcycles and would push them down the street away from the house before I started them. Happy wife happy life
I also started with the plan of only doing the harmonic balancer and started buying parts.................and the parts just kept coming.
I have all the parts for the harmonic balancer change, including a new C6 power steering pully and upgraded bracket, water pump all belts pullies hoses. So I am not counting that in my cost for the cam swap.
Before having a corvette I rode motorcycles and would push them down the street away from the house before I started them. Happy wife happy life
I also started with the plan of only doing the harmonic balancer and started buying parts.................and the parts just kept coming.
I have all the parts for the harmonic balancer change, including a new C6 power steering pully and upgraded bracket, water pump all belts pullies hoses. So I am not counting that in my cost for the cam swap.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 897
Likes: 987
From: NW Burbs of Chi-Town
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Since I'm keenly interested in these LS engines now that I have one and threw a bunch of parts at it. I was doing some research on the LS6/Z06/243 heads and came across these at $2k. Just released in October. These are new castings (could be Chineasium casting?) with all new parts, 5 angle valve job and CNC ported (just like my used LS6/243heads). Just a thought. I may have snagged these had they been available in the spring. I like the fact that they are new everything. I would have swapped springs to the single beehives with the small .550 cam I have in the car now. I'd call TSP for a cam recommendation with the manifolds . Call/email the experts (Like Bill and I did) and ask questions. Many good cam grinders like KATech, Momo, Cam Motion... Someone offered the AFR 205 heads in my cam swap post and would have compare flow numbers and cost between the two. Just a thought and yet another option for these wonderful engines...
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-18424-...retainers.aspx
I started the same as you, HB, belts and hoses, and might as well stuff a cam in it... $$$ later, 431hp/400 ft/lbs. I'd do it again in a heart beat. Oh, I get the happy wife thing!
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-18424-...retainers.aspx
I started the same as you, HB, belts and hoses, and might as well stuff a cam in it... $$$ later, 431hp/400 ft/lbs. I'd do it again in a heart beat. Oh, I get the happy wife thing!
Last edited by Prop Joe; Jan 5, 2024 at 08:13 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
At this point I want to stay with the staying with the stock exhaust, I take the car to work at 5am and don't want wake the wife.
Before having a corvette I rode motorcycles and would push them down the street away from the house before I started them. Happy wife happy life
I also started with the plan of only doing the harmonic balancer and started buying parts.................and the parts just kept coming.
I have all the parts for the harmonic balancer change, including a new C6 power steering pully and upgraded bracket, water pump all belts pullies hoses. So I am not counting that in my cost for the cam swap.
Before having a corvette I rode motorcycles and would push them down the street away from the house before I started them. Happy wife happy life
I also started with the plan of only doing the harmonic balancer and started buying parts.................and the parts just kept coming.
I have all the parts for the harmonic balancer change, including a new C6 power steering pully and upgraded bracket, water pump all belts pullies hoses. So I am not counting that in my cost for the cam swap.
Last edited by grinder11; Jan 6, 2024 at 10:23 AM.