C6 Tech/Performance LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Lifter question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 2, 2011 | 07:19 PM
  #1  
timd38's Avatar
timd38
Thread Starter
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default Lifter question

So if you have an LS2 with a relatively mild cam, would you use stock lifters, LS7 lifters, or aftermarket lifters. The motor will never see more than 7,000 RPM.

Thanks!

Tim D.
Reply
Old May 2, 2011 | 07:22 PM
  #2  
breecher_7's Avatar
breecher_7
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,169
Likes: 198
From: Your Sister's Bedroom
Default

Tim, stock lifters will be fine (LS7) $120 for a set of 16
Reply
Old May 2, 2011 | 07:29 PM
  #3  
Nightstalker Medic's Avatar
Nightstalker Medic
Pro
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From: Eagle River Alaska
Default

Your limitation is NOT the cam - it is your valvetrain and your rod bolts. LS series engines have weak rod bolts and at high RPM, have a tendency to separate - and putting a rod through the side of your block. The other limitation is your valvetrain. The hydraulic lifters will either pump up or collapse at sustained high RPM (above 7000) and the stock roller rockers will flex under that kind of sustained load. You stated that you would not take your motor that high though.

I use: Ultralite Ls1/Ls2 Shaft Rocker 1.7:1 ratio.
Reply
Old May 2, 2011 | 07:37 PM
  #4  
timd38's Avatar
timd38
Thread Starter
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Originally Posted by Nightstalker Medic
Your limitation is NOT the cam - it is your valvetrain and your rod bolts. LS series engines have weak rod bolts and at high RPM, have a tendency to separate - and putting a rod through the side of your block. The other limitation is your valvetrain. The hydraulic lifters will either pump up or collapse at sustained high RPM (above 7000) and the stock roller rockers will flex under that kind of sustained load. You stated that you would not take your motor that high though.

I use: Ultralite Ls1/Ls2 Shaft Rocker 1.7:1 ratio.
Thanks!

Will stock rockers with Camp Cam trunnions work?
Reply
Old May 2, 2011 | 07:39 PM
  #5  
breecher_7's Avatar
breecher_7
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,169
Likes: 198
From: Your Sister's Bedroom
Default

Originally Posted by timd38
Thanks!

Will stock rockers with Camp Cam trunnions work?
Yes, yes they will. People like to talk **** about them but GM puts a **** load of work into making sure things last for a very long time. Stock rockers are good, especially with the trunion upgrade. BUT... If you truly plan to spin that car consistently about 6K rpm I would invest in a nice set of comp or crane rockers.
Reply
Old May 3, 2011 | 11:43 PM
  #6  
DSOMC6's Avatar
DSOMC6
Race Director
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 106
From: God's Country, ID
Default

Invest in a good set of after market lifters.

I've got a busted lifter stuck that will not exit out the top. Now after removing the heads I have to pull the friggen cam and hope I can get the lifter out somehow?

I'm not the only one that has had a lifter break at the roller/pin. It's a weak point.
Reply
Old May 4, 2011 | 06:05 AM
  #7  
timd38's Avatar
timd38
Thread Starter
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Originally Posted by DSOMC6
Invest in a good set of after market lifters.

I've got a busted lifter stuck that will not exit out the top. Now after removing the heads I have to pull the friggen cam and hope I can get the lifter out somehow?

I'm not the only one that has had a lifter break at the roller/pin. It's a weak point.
Thanks! What kind of RPMs do you run?
Reply
Old May 4, 2011 | 08:54 AM
  #8  
breecher_7's Avatar
breecher_7
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,169
Likes: 198
From: Your Sister's Bedroom
Default

Originally Posted by DSOMC6
Invest in a good set of after market lifters.

I've got a busted lifter stuck that will not exit out the top. Now after removing the heads I have to pull the friggen cam and hope I can get the lifter out somehow?

I'm not the only one that has had a lifter break at the roller/pin. It's a weak point.
What rockers and cam were you running? The only busted lifters ive ever seen were due to improper adjustment of rocker arms and or running an extremely agressive cam.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

 Joe Kucinski
Old May 4, 2011 | 09:51 AM
  #9  
tjwong's Avatar
tjwong
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Default

Originally Posted by breecher_7
What rockers and cam were you running? The only busted lifters ive ever seen were due to improper adjustment of rocker arms and or running an extremely agressive cam.
I have seen broken lifters on a stock LS6 that used LS7 lifters. The cam was a LPE GT2-3 which is only slightly larger than a LS6 cam and it used LS2 valve springs. Not very aggressive at all. But I can also say that breaking a lifter don't happen very often. In this case it was a customers track dedicated Z06 which sees sustained high RPM use.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2011 | 01:45 AM
  #10  
DSOMC6's Avatar
DSOMC6
Race Director
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 106
From: God's Country, ID
Default

Sorry, didn't get back to you sooner:

Originally Posted by timd38
Thanks! What kind of RPMs do you run?
Car has been run soley on the street. Seldom have I exceeded 5800rpm and even that was for a very short duration.

Originally Posted by breecher_7
What rockers and cam were you running? The only busted lifters ive ever seen were due to improper adjustment of rocker arms and or running an extremely agressive cam.
Stock rockers & lifters, hardened pushrods, Mannley dual springs, cam is mild with only .581 lift.

Reply
Old Jun 1, 2011 | 04:54 AM
  #11  
99blancoss's Avatar
099blancoss
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
Default

The GM lifters are ok if your running a a mild setup or the GM springs and cam. When you swap stuff out and put a more aggressive cam in there and change the springs you change a lot of the dynamics and the GM lifters cant handle it. We use Morel lifters in our builds, they are a true hi performance lifter... Here its picture vs a an LS7 all the way to the far right...note the difference in construction..
These are link bar Morels ... one set is the Ultra Pro Morel.. We offer the best price on them.

The stock rocker is good after you rebuild the but they are limited as to how much lift you should run on the cam ( geometry)
Attached Images  
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2011 | 12:17 PM
  #12  
DSOMC6's Avatar
DSOMC6
Race Director
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 106
From: God's Country, ID
Default

Originally Posted by 99blancoss
The GM lifters are ok if your running a a mild setup or the GM springs and cam. When you swap stuff out and put a more aggressive cam in there and change the springs you change a lot of the dynamics and the GM lifters cant handle it. We use Morel lifters in our builds, they are a true hi performance lifter... Here its picture vs a an LS7 all the way to the far right...note the difference in construction..
These are link bar Morels ... one set is the Ultra Pro Morel.. We offer the best price on them.

The stock rocker is good after you rebuild the but they are limited as to how much lift you should run on the cam ( geometry)
As I stated in another post, the GM lifters and trays are, well, basically junk!
They are failing on bone stock LS motors? I have a mild cam (.581 lift) and never run over 6000rpm's (if that) and yet the lifter just imploded (see pic above). I'm also questioning if the the lifters trays are wearing-out and the lifter is turning in the tray causing failure. The lifter tray that held my busted lifter has a silver ring inside? Not sure if the lifter spun first or grabbed first then spun? Another reason to get a link bar lifter. I'm definately not putting GM lifters back in only to have it take out another cam or worse.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Lifter question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:50 PM.

story-0
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-20 17:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

Slideshow: 10 things C8 Corvette owners hate, but won't tell you.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-01 18:36:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

Slideshow: Should you add one of these incredible Corvettes to your garage?

By Brett Foote | 2026-04-01 18:14:05


VIEW MORE
story-7
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

Slideshow: Breaking down the 2027 Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Stingray, and LS6 V8.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-26 13:48:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

Slideshow: 5 reasons bad drivers crash sports cars & 5 ways to avoid a costly shame!

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-25 16:32:55


VIEW MORE