Ls3 lifter failure
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
Ls3 lifter failure
need some input here. any idea what would cause the lifter to fail ? it spun on the cam and break the roller and then all hell broke loose. cam, timing chain, valve failure. does this just happen on Ls3's or Ls in general? and the engine had 32k miles on it when it happened. i dont track it or take it to the strip, i just drive it like most anyone under the age of 60 would drive a corvette haha. this all happened 1300 miles after i had a shop install a cam kit, coincidence? cars also has novi superhcarger, meth kit and basic bolt ons. making 740 hp. but i was told the power levels were safe and was tuned by reputable shop. lemme know what you think.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
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From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
You know what .... I don't think I have ever read when a LS series engine with the stock cam and stock valve springs has ever had lifters turn in the lifter trays to a point where the lifter roller destroys a cam lobe.
Certainly the lifter is turning in the lifter tray to cause this damage, but it only seems to happen when big cams along with aftermarket stiff / high lift valve springs are used.
Strange ....
Certainly the lifter is turning in the lifter tray to cause this damage, but it only seems to happen when big cams along with aftermarket stiff / high lift valve springs are used.
Strange ....
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
As far as I know they didn't replace the trays at all. The quote they provided me at time of install doesn't show that they replaced the trays. However the quote they provided me for doing the fix, after the engine broke down, does show they replaced lifter trays (and with factory trays). So i would assume if they did replace them in july when cam kit was installed then they would have quoted and charged me for the trays.
I did watch a Youtube video of Richard Holdner having this same problem on one of his test engines. Lifter/ roller had problems and started leaving marks on the cam and found out the lifter wasn't fitting in tray properly. so i see what you're getting at. as a shop that specializes in C5-C7 corvettes, you would think they would know to replace the lifter tray??
I did watch a Youtube video of Richard Holdner having this same problem on one of his test engines. Lifter/ roller had problems and started leaving marks on the cam and found out the lifter wasn't fitting in tray properly. so i see what you're getting at. as a shop that specializes in C5-C7 corvettes, you would think they would know to replace the lifter tray??
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
well you are correct, in that the cam is a big cam. i think .660 lift. its a supercharger cam. it just seems more than coincidence that this lifter failure happened right after they worked on the cam. seems too related to just be an accident. i maybe biased since its my car and my wallet about to take a beating but i cant chalk this up to "sometimes this just happens, its rare but it happens" reason that the shop gave me.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
My 2011 GS is supercharged too. I really was thinking of installing an aftermarket cam that would work well with boost, but I just didn't want to go through the trouble of changing the cam, and I didn't want to decrease the longevity of the valve train by using real heavy double valve springs capable of +.650" lift.
So, what I did is just replace the stock 1.7 ratio rocker arms with Comp Cams 1.8 ratio roller rocker arms and installed a set of PAC 'Beehive' valve springs that accept a little more lift that the stock springs .... hoping this setup will last as long as the stock valve train would.
These 1.8 ratio rockers will increase both intake and exhaust valve lift by .030" (30 thousands of an inch)
We shall see ...
So, what I did is just replace the stock 1.7 ratio rocker arms with Comp Cams 1.8 ratio roller rocker arms and installed a set of PAC 'Beehive' valve springs that accept a little more lift that the stock springs .... hoping this setup will last as long as the stock valve train would.
These 1.8 ratio rockers will increase both intake and exhaust valve lift by .030" (30 thousands of an inch)
We shall see ...
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
My 2011 GS is supercharged too. I really was thinking of installing an aftermarket cam that would work well with boost, but I just didn't want to go through the trouble of changing the cam, and I didn't want to decrease the longevity of the valve train by using real heavy double valve springs capable of +.650" lift.
So, what I did is just replace the stock 1.7 ratio rocker arms with Comp Cams 1.8 ratio roller rocker arms and installed a set of PAC 'Beehive' valve springs that accept a little more lift that the stock springs .... hoping this setup will last as long as the stock valve train would.
These 1.8 ratio rockers will increase both intake and exhaust valve lift by .030" (30 thousands of an inch)
We shall see ...
So, what I did is just replace the stock 1.7 ratio rocker arms with Comp Cams 1.8 ratio roller rocker arms and installed a set of PAC 'Beehive' valve springs that accept a little more lift that the stock springs .... hoping this setup will last as long as the stock valve train would.
These 1.8 ratio rockers will increase both intake and exhaust valve lift by .030" (30 thousands of an inch)
We shall see ...
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Cypress TX
Let me guess, solid stainless steel valves and dual springs? Same thing happened to me in my LS7. I caught it before catastrophic failure, but I still ended up rebuilding the engine anyway. I swapped out the springs for Katech's beehive springs and titanium retainers and replaced the heavy solid SS valves with Ferrea hollow-stems. I kept the stock titanium intake valves and just had them micro-polished.
Never had a problem since. Katech several years ago provide some Spintron data that showed horrible valve bounce with the heavy valves and dual springs. The new owner tracks the car regularly (I sold it in 2015).
Never had a problem since. Katech several years ago provide some Spintron data that showed horrible valve bounce with the heavy valves and dual springs. The new owner tracks the car regularly (I sold it in 2015).
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 296
Likes: 87
Although freak accidents happen...with the timing being so close to the install of the cam I am willing to bet it is related to that.
The trays should always be replacing when changing lifters and use only OEM GM trays. The LS3/LS7 lifters are ok...but many swap out to a much better choice such as johnson lifters.
I personally have Johnson 2010's and have no issues for the past 7k miles. My engine builder only uses Johnson lifters and has built dozens of LS platform cars putting down 800-1200whp.
The trays should always be replacing when changing lifters and use only OEM GM trays. The LS3/LS7 lifters are ok...but many swap out to a much better choice such as johnson lifters.
I personally have Johnson 2010's and have no issues for the past 7k miles. My engine builder only uses Johnson lifters and has built dozens of LS platform cars putting down 800-1200whp.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
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From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I am also using the Comp Cams roller rocker arms with 'caged bearings' in my supercharged LS3 ... As I stated above, these 1.8 ratio rockers replaced the stock 1.7 ratio rockers.
And with the stock cam and PAC 'beehive' single springs, hopefully my stock lifters will last a long time and not chew up the camshaft .... fingers crossed
And with the stock cam and PAC 'beehive' single springs, hopefully my stock lifters will last a long time and not chew up the camshaft .... fingers crossed
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If you have a stock LS3 that you don't beat on all the time ... leave it stock ... don't change anything ... it will last a long long long time.
It's when you install a real high lift cam along with real heavy dual valve springs is when you start having problems with the valvetrain.
Just my opinion ...
It's when you install a real high lift cam along with real heavy dual valve springs is when you start having problems with the valvetrain.
Just my opinion ...