[Z06] LS7 lifters went bad, time to upgrade cam
01-04-2018, 10:53 AM
#41
The "best" method is to relace the pan gasket. But that's a big job. You'd need to support the engine and drop the cradle. I would lower the pan as far as possible, remove the RTV, carefully. Inspect the red gasket seal, and look for tears and deformed spots. If you do not see damage, don't replace the gasket. Clean the gasket and block the best you can. Get a cover alignment tool. Use it. Smear RTV on all four corners of the pan gasket. Install cover. Then tighten pan bolts after RTV has started to set, but before it fully sets.
Keep in mind that the pan seals all the pump ports. If it is damaged, you can have pan scavenge, tank suction, or pressure issues. Not just pan leaks.
Keep in mind that the pan seals all the pump ports. If it is damaged, you can have pan scavenge, tank suction, or pressure issues. Not just pan leaks.
01-04-2018, 10:54 AM
#42
01-04-2018, 10:58 AM
#43
If you swap the cam I'd suggest you consider an 8620 core cam ground on a grinder that is designed for LS lobes. (ex. TSP, CamMotion, EPS). As for lifters, I love my Johnson 2110's that I went with in my build, a lot of happy folks with those lifters on the LSA's over in the Cadillac CTS-V forums.
CamMotion cams was suggested to me by another member and honestly its starting to catch my interest. So TSP (Texas Speed) and EPS use CamMotion to grind their cams or they use the 8620 cores?
I will be sure to look into the Johnson 2110's, most certainly don't want to perform this job again any time soon. It was totally unplanned for. Hate wrenching on cars in the winter lol. Would you mind sharing your setup? What valves, springs, pushrods and rockers are you using?
01-04-2018, 11:16 AM
#44
Premium Supporting Vendor
I would advise against that. Our valvetrain dynamics testing has shown that the more aggressive camshaft lobes combined with the heavier solid stainless steel exhaust valves do not meet our requirements for valvetrain stability.
01-04-2018, 12:49 PM
#45
Safety Car
Thank you BigVette427
CamMotion cams was suggested to me by another member and honestly its starting to catch my interest. So TSP (Texas Speed) and EPS use CamMotion to grind their cams or they use the 8620 cores?
I will be sure to look into the Johnson 2110's, most certainly don't want to perform this job again any time soon. It was totally unplanned for. Hate wrenching on cars in the winter lol. Would you mind sharing your setup? What valves, springs, pushrods and rockers are you using?
CamMotion cams was suggested to me by another member and honestly its starting to catch my interest. So TSP (Texas Speed) and EPS use CamMotion to grind their cams or they use the 8620 cores?
I will be sure to look into the Johnson 2110's, most certainly don't want to perform this job again any time soon. It was totally unplanned for. Hate wrenching on cars in the winter lol. Would you mind sharing your setup? What valves, springs, pushrods and rockers are you using?
01-04-2018, 12:54 PM
#46
Safety Car
BTW, CamMotion recommended the 5150 cam core for my custom grind. If they would have recommended the extra $20-30 core, I'd have done it. Don't waste money. It adds up.
01-04-2018, 07:35 PM
#47
Bow-Tie Guy
I unbolted and shifted the steering rack as far to the passenger side of engine compartment as possible (until gear head hits inner fender panel), easier said than done, but provides plenty of room.
01-04-2018, 07:47 PM
#48
Bow-Tie Guy
The "best" method is to relace the pan gasket. But that's a big job. You'd need to support the engine and drop the cradle. I would lower the pan as far as possible, remove the RTV, carefully. Inspect the red gasket seal, and look for tears and deformed spots. If you do not see damage, don't replace the gasket. Clean the gasket and block the best you can. Get a cover alignment tool. Use it. Smear RTV on all four corners of the pan gasket. Install cover. Then tighten pan bolts after RTV has started to set, but before it fully sets.
Keep in mind that the pan seals all the pump ports. If it is damaged, you can have pan scavenge, tank suction, or pressure issues. Not just pan leaks.
Keep in mind that the pan seals all the pump ports. If it is damaged, you can have pan scavenge, tank suction, or pressure issues. Not just pan leaks.
01-05-2018, 11:13 AM
#49
Correct. The seal between the pump ports and the pan gasket should be uniform. I suspect that the previous installer added that RTV bead thinking it would prevent pan leaks and customer complaints. The gasket may have been damaged.
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Les-10 (01-05-2018)
01-05-2018, 12:50 PM
#50
Bow-Tie Guy
I prefer black. I would lower the pan. Doesn't take much. Just enough to release the pan compressive forces on the pump.
Correct. The seal between the pump ports and the pan gasket should be uniform. I suspect that the previous installer added that RTV bead thinking it would prevent pan leaks and customer complaints. The gasket may have been damaged.
Correct. The seal between the pump ports and the pan gasket should be uniform. I suspect that the previous installer added that RTV bead thinking it would prevent pan leaks and customer complaints. The gasket may have been damaged.
01-05-2018, 01:03 PM
#51
Team Owner
The following users liked this post:
Les-10 (01-05-2018)
01-05-2018, 01:20 PM
#52
Bow-Tie Guy
01-05-2018, 04:26 PM
#53
Drifting
http://www.cammotion.com/camshaft-cores/
Thank you BigVette427
CamMotion cams was suggested to me by another member and honestly its starting to catch my interest. So TSP (Texas Speed) and EPS use CamMotion to grind their cams or they use the 8620 cores?
I will be sure to look into the Johnson 2110's, most certainly don't want to perform this job again any time soon. It was totally unplanned for. Hate wrenching on cars in the winter lol. Would you mind sharing your setup? What valves, springs, pushrods and rockers are you using?
CamMotion cams was suggested to me by another member and honestly its starting to catch my interest. So TSP (Texas Speed) and EPS use CamMotion to grind their cams or they use the 8620 cores?
I will be sure to look into the Johnson 2110's, most certainly don't want to perform this job again any time soon. It was totally unplanned for. Hate wrenching on cars in the winter lol. Would you mind sharing your setup? What valves, springs, pushrods and rockers are you using?
PSI makes a lot of valve springs for top NASCAR teams (Hendricks) MS90 is overkill but hell, it's why I went into the car as I did in the first place, so piece of mind was worth the price to me. Kohle at AHP recommended the Johnson lifters as his personal preference and I was happy with the research that I did on them; (GM uses them in the COPO Camaros.) Really like the PB Race Series balancers, as well.
Last edited by BigVette427; 01-05-2018 at 04:27 PM.
01-05-2018, 04:37 PM
#54
Safety Car
The OP should talk to CamMotion about it. Wasting $50 is wasting $50. I didn't skip it because I was worried about $50.
01-05-2018, 04:49 PM
#55
Drifting
http://www.cammotion.com/camshaft-cores/
8620 Carburized Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Camshafts
Cam Motion's standard LS camshaft cores are our 8620 Carburized Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum steel alloy camshafts. Our 8620 camshafts are a superior alloy to the 5150 cams and these cores also endure a more involved oven hardening process. This hardening process creates more durable wear surfaces on the lobes while maintaining the desirable ductility characteristics of the the 8620 alloy. The final product is a camshaft that is stronger with a more durable wear surface. Our 8620 cams are a superior product that are used in Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, Pro-Stock and more. The 8620 camshafts are available for all LS applications except VVT equipped engines.
Cam Motion's standard LS camshaft cores are our 8620 Carburized Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum steel alloy camshafts. Our 8620 camshafts are a superior alloy to the 5150 cams and these cores also endure a more involved oven hardening process. This hardening process creates more durable wear surfaces on the lobes while maintaining the desirable ductility characteristics of the the 8620 alloy. The final product is a camshaft that is stronger with a more durable wear surface. Our 8620 cams are a superior product that are used in Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, Pro-Stock and more. The 8620 camshafts are available for all LS applications except VVT equipped engines.
01-05-2018, 04:54 PM
#56
Safety Car
Or... you can click on the link straight to Cam Motion's website and draw your own conclusions. Obviously, it's not compulsory, the GM camshaft is 5150, and it's not like anyone ever had one of those go bad.
http://www.cammotion.com/camshaft-cores/
http://www.cammotion.com/camshaft-cores/
01-05-2018, 06:19 PM
#57
Le Mans Master
Take the improved surface treatment / hardness of components every time, it's a no-brainer "ounce-of-prevention" move..
Last edited by Dan_the_C5_Man; 01-05-2018 at 06:19 PM.
01-06-2018, 12:29 PM
#59
Le Mans Master
Had a Crane lifter make noise for about a minute coming home from Eureka Springs last fall. It was time for a valve spring change, so I took it to the shop. The mechanics noticed the problem and pulled the lifters....one was bad, but had not hurt the cam. They installed Johnson lifters .....the motor noise is about 50% less than with the Crain lifters. I always thought that the engine was rather noisy, now it's sounds good.
Last edited by lebvette; 01-12-2018 at 01:28 PM.
01-06-2018, 12:42 PM
#60
I'll most certainly will be giving CamMotion a call. I feel that I need to get their input on exhaust valves, springs etc as I am currently running the SS exhaust valves and it seems that they are not ideal for aggressive cam.
Hopefully I will be doing the rack next weekend. Temps are slowing going up here.I prefer black. I would lower the pan. Doesn't take much. Just enough to release the pan compressive forces on the pump.
Correct. The seal between the pump ports and the pan gasket should be uniform. I suspect that the previous installer added that RTV bead thinking it would prevent pan leaks and customer complaints. The gasket may have been damaged.
Correct. The seal between the pump ports and the pan gasket should be uniform. I suspect that the previous installer added that RTV bead thinking it would prevent pan leaks and customer complaints. The gasket may have been damaged.
The only reason not to go with an 8620 carburized Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum core is the extra $50 they charge for it. Whether or not the $50 is worth it to you for the peace of mind is up to you.
http://www.cammotion.com/camshaft-cores/
Cam Motion is supplying camshafts to both LME in Houston and on COPO 427 Camaro's. I liked TSP as they are local and I've personally toured their Landis CNC cam grinder. Cam Motion probably has more lobes to chose from for the LS7's 1.8:1 rocker arm ratio, but I'm extremely satisfied with my TSP cam.
PSI makes a lot of valve springs for top NASCAR teams (Hendricks) MS90 is overkill but hell, it's why I went into the car as I did in the first place, so piece of mind was worth the price to me. Kohle at AHP recommended the Johnson lifters as his personal preference and I was happy with the research that I did on them; (GM uses them in the COPO Camaros.) Really like the PB Race Series balancers, as well.
http://www.cammotion.com/camshaft-cores/
Cam Motion is supplying camshafts to both LME in Houston and on COPO 427 Camaro's. I liked TSP as they are local and I've personally toured their Landis CNC cam grinder. Cam Motion probably has more lobes to chose from for the LS7's 1.8:1 rocker arm ratio, but I'm extremely satisfied with my TSP cam.
PSI makes a lot of valve springs for top NASCAR teams (Hendricks) MS90 is overkill but hell, it's why I went into the car as I did in the first place, so piece of mind was worth the price to me. Kohle at AHP recommended the Johnson lifters as his personal preference and I was happy with the research that I did on them; (GM uses them in the COPO Camaros.) Really like the PB Race Series balancers, as well.
Very nice set up
Are the Ferrea F2042p valves hollow sodium filled like the stock or Katech exhaust valves? (Might need to replace valves for lighter ones, still debating...). Did you need to upgrade the oil pump to run the Johnson lifters? Any difference in oil pressure?Sorry for all of the questions, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about what my options are before I start ordering stuff. I would really like to have the car ready for when the weather warms up
