BigVette427

Can't find a whole lot on LS7 trunnion kits in recent posts, and am wondering what the general consensus (as of now, almost 2017) on using them in the LS7 are? They seem like a relatively inexpensive solution and as I'm researching who/how to have my heads rebuilt, I'm wondering if I should add these when I do the heads? I'm not really interested in changing rocker arms as I'm going to stay with the stock cam and my goal is to remain as original as I can.

I have read some older posts about one particular brand failing years ago? Are they durable and reliable? Is there a particular brand one would recommend? Do they help cut down on some of the "sewing machine" music that is typical of LS motors?

instg8er

Installed them on my car when I did the cam upgrade... it's cheap insurance in my eyes.. Valvetrain is over looked a lot but can be a power robber in not done right!

rjacobs

who's trunnion kit?

There are several.

Katech swears factory is good to go, I wont argue with that.

Comp Cams=never in a million years... Research how bad these kits are.

Straub/Colorado Speed/xxxxxxxxxxxxx... There are several kits that "appear" to all be made by the same person, which I believe is Straub. These are at home, DIY kits. A good option. There has been only 1 person who has taken theirs apart after some miles and saw some wear, but they werent even sure it was wear or just a bit of polishing. I dont think anything conclusive was decided. This is a newer, maybe a little over 1 year old option. I believe these are like 150-175 bucks.

CHE. These are the original bushing for the LS7 rockers as far as I know. The bushing material is slightly different than the Straub "type" kits. Supposedly has more zinc in it(better "lubricity" from what I know). There is also more to CHE's install than simply pressing in the bushing and snapping on a clip and calling it done. I believe they hone the rocker arm to true the bore. They also use spiral type snap ring instead of a normal c type snap ring to secure everything. Highest mileage I saw when I researched doing them was around 40k and the user reported they felt as tight as the day they installed them. I think I paid 400 for mine.


Those are probably the big 4 so to speak. I dont personally know of any other drop in kits.

Undy

No trunion kit!!!! Keep them stock. There is NO trunion kit (bushed or needle bearing) out there with the reliability and longevity of the stock rocker. Katech specs them on their builds too. Don't be another board Lemming...

sean69cam

I just finished installing my heads that American heritage performance fixed. Original cam, rockers. To me the sewing machine sound is noticeably less. Hard to say how much. Before I could hear the sound 10 feet away. Now I have to get a foot or two to hear it.

Sox-Fan

I don't know about board lemming..... but I do understand the thought. People still love the c5 Vararam.....

What I can tell you is that when we did my heads for new guides we took my rockers apart and several of the needles were pitted and in rough shape. One rocker pretty much fell apart on it's own when we went to do the Straub kit. You can call that whatever you want to but I call it glad that I did it when I did. And the Singer Sewing machine sound is noticeably lessened.

That said, I got the car at an auction. 42k miles. It was poorly treated but I really have no idea how poorly. Your experience will vary.

I have no idea how long the Straub kit will go, but I have a lot more confidence in it than I do the factory setup that came off.

Unreal

geezel

In the middle of a AHP head reconditioning on my 30K mile 07 Z06. After much research, decided to stick with stock rockers. The original rockers appeared to be OK, but I bought a new set of GM's anyway.

MTPZ06

Unless you have a 2007, stick with stock or CHE. Only reason I went to CHE is that I didn't like the side to side slop of the stock trunions, as minimal as that may be.

Tech

Has anyone reported premature wear with BTR trunnions? They haven't been mentioned in this thread and I don't recall reading about any failures.

Unreal

Yes.

Tech

Who? When? How did they fail? Same way as Comp?

MTPZ06

He's been out of stock on his own "Comp Style" trunion kits for a while...I wonder if he's even going to start carrying them again, or just stick with selling the Smith kits.

meanjoe

I used them on one car no problems. Talked to Brian T and he said his were made from a better grade of steel than the Comp ones. Went through a few sets of Comp Cams ones and they didn't last.
I now have the CHE rockers I got from WCCH, been on for over a year and they seem fine. Looks like the only options other than burning money is stock or CHE. I also had a set of Yella Terra shaft rockers with the roller tip. Roller tips were locking up and their warranty was a bitch to collect on.

Unreal

Saw a few post about it. Search around. Same way.

08mojo

Since you are staying with a stock cam, keep the trunions stock. If you go with an aftermarket cam, keep the lift reasonable and keep the stock trunions.

Tech

I searched when I bought my BTR trunnions and I just searched again. Didn't find anything. There are lots of Comp failure threads where BTR is mentioned, but the consensus of those threads were BTRs do not (or should not) experience the same premature wear. Clearly you're saying that BTR trunnions fail in the same way, but I have yet to find anything to support it. If you run across another, I'd love to read it.

instg8er

We have Always used Comp.. from 600rwhp NA to 1200s on twins..just my experience.

Dubstep Shep

I bought and installed the BTR kit, which is similar to the Comp kit, after my stock bearings came apart. I found a few of the rollers on my magnetic drain plug and immediately pulled the rockers off and found one bearing completely gone.

MTPZ06

From your BTR kit, or from your stock ones?