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Bad roller?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Bad roller?
Im looking to buy a corvette that a member has for sale on the forum. Its a 08 with 44k miles. He mentioned in the ad that it had a "bad roller" and that it was replaced along with the crank shaft.
So question is, is that something major that was replaced and that I have to watch for in the future. Btw Im not very mechanical :-)
So question is, is that something major that was replaced and that I have to watch for in the future. Btw Im not very mechanical :-)
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
I'm guessing he means "roller lifter".
Replacing a lifter AND a crankshaft seems really extreme for an '08. Very uncommon replacements absent extreme use or abuse. Yes there have been discussions over the years of bad camshafts either causing, or being caused by, bad roller lifters but again, not common at all. And if it was a bad roller lifter, that almost always requires replacing the camshaft unless the actual "roller" was okay and just the lifter body was defective in some way.
I would be really skeptical until I knew more, there has to be more to the story. Find out as much detail as you can and maybe he posted on the Forum about why he did that.
If you aren't mechanical you might want to stay away from anything that has had major repairs. There are a lot of great, unmolested, un-modded, un-repaired, fully stock Vettes out there, just have to be patient.
Replacing a lifter AND a crankshaft seems really extreme for an '08. Very uncommon replacements absent extreme use or abuse. Yes there have been discussions over the years of bad camshafts either causing, or being caused by, bad roller lifters but again, not common at all. And if it was a bad roller lifter, that almost always requires replacing the camshaft unless the actual "roller" was okay and just the lifter body was defective in some way.
I would be really skeptical until I knew more, there has to be more to the story. Find out as much detail as you can and maybe he posted on the Forum about why he did that.
If you aren't mechanical you might want to stay away from anything that has had major repairs. There are a lot of great, unmolested, un-modded, un-repaired, fully stock Vettes out there, just have to be patient.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Yes the camshaft was replaced. The member has the car for sale in the for sale section. You guys can prolly go look at his post to find put more, but from what I read it has kooks headers, x-pipe and corsa extreme exhaust and was tuned by a company. I dont wanna say he abused the car as Im not sure. I appreciate him being honest and stating that the roller was replaced.
I like the car, it has everything that I want only thing that bugs me is that roller replacement.
I like the car, it has everything that I want only thing that bugs me is that roller replacement.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
If you're not mechanically inclined, run away man. There're a lot of stories of cam installs gone wrong. One recent thread is the story of a guy who paid for premium components and was put lesser ones. Even if you were an expert in LS3 modifications, you still wouldn't know if the job was done right because you weren't there. And unless the previous owner dumped a ton of money beefing up everything, many components are going to fail earlier than a stock engine, depending on how aggressive the cam specs are; the only question is how early. There're tons of unmolested cars for sale out there; find one like that. Even folks who want to mod their cars with a cam, they always prefer to buy unmolested cars, precisely to avoid an expensive mistake. Good luck.
Last edited by JCtx; May 10, 2013 at 02:40 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
If you're not mechanically inclined, run away man. There're a lot of stories of cam installs gone wrong. One recent thread is the story of a guy who paid for premium components and was put lesser ones. Even if you were an expert in LS3 modifications, you still wouldn't know if the job was done right because you weren't there. And unless the previous owner dumped a ton of money beefing up everything, many components are going to fail earlier than a stock engine, depending on how aggressive the cam specs are; the only question is how early. There're tons of unmolested cars for sale out there; find one like that. Even folks who want to mod their cars with a cam, they always prefer to buy unmolested cars, precisely to avoid an expensive mistake. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 171
From: Vancouver Island
Was it all done under warranty, by a GM dealer? If so I wouldn't worry so long as everything else about the vehicle checks out OK
FWIW after I bought my 07 two years ago, within the first week I had it back at the dealer to look into some valve train noise. The car had 10,000 KM on it at the time. They stripped it down, inspected all lifters and the cam, and installed all-new lifters on one bank. Never had a problem since, after 25,000 more KM, and the car still has the usual LS valve train "tick"
FWIW after I bought my 07 two years ago, within the first week I had it back at the dealer to look into some valve train noise. The car had 10,000 KM on it at the time. They stripped it down, inspected all lifters and the cam, and installed all-new lifters on one bank. Never had a problem since, after 25,000 more KM, and the car still has the usual LS valve train "tick"
Last edited by v26278; May 10, 2013 at 03:28 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
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Well I guess it doesnt matter, he wanted $30500. I offered 28k, he refused so I went up to 29k and he said he think about it and replied today that he wants 30k. I think I made a very fair offer and after reading all the replies here, it might be sign not to buy the car :-).
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Well I guess it doesnt matter, he wanted $30500. I offered 28k, he refused so I went up to 29k and he said he think about it and replied today that he wants 30k. I think I made a very fair offer and after reading all the replies here, it might be sign not to buy the car :-).
It's 5 o'clock Somewhere
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,996
Likes: 21
From: HOUSTON TEXAS
St Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Here is my take on this. The roller went bad and was replaced by a GM dealer. Big deal. Cars break and it was repaired by GM. 30k for a Z51 3lt car with 44k is a good price as long as the carfax is clean. Now you add in the widebody kit, and if you want that it makes it a very good price. Not to mention he is gonna give you the other fenders that you can ebay for a few hundred bucks each. I dont see a problem here. If it has a clean carfax have a local tech that knows Corvettes verify everything to be good before you purchase it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
The blind selling to the blind?
Roller instead of lifter. Crank shaft instead of cam? Internal repairs to the motor but nobody knows by who, when or why?
OP; Best if you buy from a Dealer or at least buy a new enough car to get a GM Warranty. You need some kind of protection.
Roller instead of lifter. Crank shaft instead of cam? Internal repairs to the motor but nobody knows by who, when or why?
OP; Best if you buy from a Dealer or at least buy a new enough car to get a GM Warranty. You need some kind of protection.