Replacing OEM Lifters With?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,858
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
Replacing OEM Lifters With?
I'm replacing the OEM lifters (06 LS2) because one failed and looks like it took out my cam as well.
Here's a pic of the failed lifter vs intact lifter:
I spoke to a couple others on CF that had similar issues and they reinstalled another set of stock GM lifters. I was considering the same until I spoke with a local engine builder (that builds a lot of high performance chevy engine).
He stated there have been a rash of lifter failures on the LS motors recently. He feels there should be a recall (claimed it's possibely inferior metal) and stated many of the lifter failures are on engines with stock cams?
(For the record I have a cam with just a .581 lift and dual valve springs).
For those of you that have went with an aftermarket lifter:
- What lifter did you install?
- Pro's/cons?
- Input?
Here's a pic of the failed lifter vs intact lifter:
I spoke to a couple others on CF that had similar issues and they reinstalled another set of stock GM lifters. I was considering the same until I spoke with a local engine builder (that builds a lot of high performance chevy engine).
He stated there have been a rash of lifter failures on the LS motors recently. He feels there should be a recall (claimed it's possibely inferior metal) and stated many of the lifter failures are on engines with stock cams?
(For the record I have a cam with just a .581 lift and dual valve springs).For those of you that have went with an aftermarket lifter:
- What lifter did you install?
- Pro's/cons?
- Input?
Last edited by DSOMC6; May 31, 2011 at 10:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,858
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
Someone recomended CTS VR lifters. However, upon research I'm finding those are failing as well.
Any other suggestions?
Edit: I believe the LS7 lifter is the same as the LS1, LS2 & LS6 motors?
Last edited by DSOMC6; May 31, 2011 at 11:15 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
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.
These are link bar Morels ... one set is the Ultra Pro Morel.. We offer the best price on them.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,858
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
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.
These are link bar Morels ... one set is the Ultra Pro Morel.. We offer the best price on them.
Is there a weight increase with the Morel "street performance" vs oem lifter? Or increase in weight with any of the Morel lifters?
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
I agree the Morel's are a good lifter. But kind of pricey when I'm never gonna run over 6300rpm's, have just a cam with a .581 lift and Manely dual springs?
Is there a weight increase with the Morel "street performance" vs oem lifter? Or increase in weight with any of the Morel lifters?
Is there a weight increase with the Morel "street performance" vs oem lifter? Or increase in weight with any of the Morel lifters?
I agree.. you probably dont need them.. the LS7 might be fine.. it was more for information purposes for anyone considering a lifter swap...
there might be slight weight increase the Morel is a beefier lifter but its not over the valve so its not an issue really.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 29
From: STL MO
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Bringing this back!
I believe my stock lifters or one or more are going bad and wondered if you chose a lifter yet and if so have you installed them?
My engine sounded almost quieter than stock after having a cam put in, I upgraded to trunion bearings and the car was noticeably stronger as I suppose the stock rocker bearings were just sloppy at over 40K miles. Anyway, after a couple thousand miles of a nice and quiet valve train the motor now has a nasty clatter sound starting around 1300 rpm's and gets very noisy as the rpm's continue but sounds fine at an idle. I tore it down last night and removed a couple rockers to inspect and everything looks ok, even did an ohm test on the wires....plugs are almost new and all look to have the exact same burn pattern so..Let me know what you went with please.
Thanks,
John
I believe my stock lifters or one or more are going bad and wondered if you chose a lifter yet and if so have you installed them?
My engine sounded almost quieter than stock after having a cam put in, I upgraded to trunion bearings and the car was noticeably stronger as I suppose the stock rocker bearings were just sloppy at over 40K miles. Anyway, after a couple thousand miles of a nice and quiet valve train the motor now has a nasty clatter sound starting around 1300 rpm's and gets very noisy as the rpm's continue but sounds fine at an idle. I tore it down last night and removed a couple rockers to inspect and everything looks ok, even did an ohm test on the wires....plugs are almost new and all look to have the exact same burn pattern so..Let me know what you went with please.
Thanks,
John
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
Comp has a new short travel LS lifter now. They did great in the last test on a GM big block but I have not seen them tested on an LS yet, just look into them 
http://www.jegs.com/p/Comp-Cams/Comp...23212/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/p/Comp-Cams/Comp...23212/10002/-1
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 29
From: STL MO
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Comp has a new short travel LS lifter now. They did great in the last test on a GM big block but I have not seen them tested on an LS yet, just look into them
http://www.jegs.com/p/Comp-Cams/Comp...23212/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/p/Comp-Cams/Comp...23212/10002/-1
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,858
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
I did quite a bit of research and in the end just installed gm LS lifters again. 
The cost of linked lifters (morels etc) were too much IMHO and the increase in weight also concerned me. I figured I got 50k miles out of the origonal set so...
The cost of linked lifters (morels etc) were too much IMHO and the increase in weight also concerned me. I figured I got 50k miles out of the origonal set so...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 29
From: STL MO
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Thanks for replying to your old thread! I wanted to compile some info before pulling the heads off and your feedback is very helpful.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 5
Question re lifter/upper end noise that goes away after warm up?
I have a blown LS3 in my 2008 coupe with blower cam/ new springs/stock lifters/meth. I recently developed a ticking that sounds like a bad lifter BUT had one side replaced and other side checked and diagnosis was my tap is NOT a lifter but noise remains. However, after 15 minutes of running noise seems to go away. SO most likely not a rod bearing etc as it should increase in noise when warm not go away.
Now looking at forging bottom end and have my block broken down to find the tick? ANY ideas what it might be as the noise seems like upper end and not lower we all agree.
Also, for the new short block when re installing my cam what are the opinions on what lifters to use. As is, I sit at about 765 rwhp.
Thanks........
Now looking at forging bottom end and have my block broken down to find the tick? ANY ideas what it might be as the noise seems like upper end and not lower we all agree.
Also, for the new short block when re installing my cam what are the opinions on what lifters to use. As is, I sit at about 765 rwhp.
Thanks........
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 737
Likes: 24
From: Edwardsville IL
Bringing this back!
I believe my stock lifters or one or more are going bad and wondered if you chose a lifter yet and if so have you installed them?
My engine sounded almost quieter than stock after having a cam put in, I upgraded to trunion bearings and the car was noticeably stronger as I suppose the stock rocker bearings were just sloppy at over 40K miles. Anyway, after a couple thousand miles of a nice and quiet valve train the motor now has a nasty clatter sound starting around 1300 rpm's and gets very noisy as the rpm's continue but sounds fine at an idle. I tore it down last night and removed a couple rockers to inspect and everything looks ok, even did an ohm test on the wires....plugs are almost new and all look to have the exact same burn pattern so..Let me know what you went with please.
Thanks,
John
I believe my stock lifters or one or more are going bad and wondered if you chose a lifter yet and if so have you installed them?
My engine sounded almost quieter than stock after having a cam put in, I upgraded to trunion bearings and the car was noticeably stronger as I suppose the stock rocker bearings were just sloppy at over 40K miles. Anyway, after a couple thousand miles of a nice and quiet valve train the motor now has a nasty clatter sound starting around 1300 rpm's and gets very noisy as the rpm's continue but sounds fine at an idle. I tore it down last night and removed a couple rockers to inspect and everything looks ok, even did an ohm test on the wires....plugs are almost new and all look to have the exact same burn pattern so..Let me know what you went with please.
Thanks,
John
Remember - I have an 'in' for pricing at my local Chev dealer if we want to get 2 sets of chev parts (LS7?). Sent Pat G a cam spec request. Labor and tuning is basically set up once I have parts. LMK which way you decide on lifters please.
Bruce
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 29
From: STL MO
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
John, sorry to see this info! If affordable - I will likely want to change mine with the new CAM. I'm still looking forward to your phone call - but know you have much going on.
Remember - I have an 'in' for pricing at my local Chev dealer if we want to get 2 sets of chev parts (LS7?). Sent Pat G a cam spec request. Labor and tuning is basically set up once I have parts. LMK which way you decide on lifters please.
Bruce
Remember - I have an 'in' for pricing at my local Chev dealer if we want to get 2 sets of chev parts (LS7?). Sent Pat G a cam spec request. Labor and tuning is basically set up once I have parts. LMK which way you decide on lifters please.
Bruce
I will either go with the stock replacements or Comps OE replacements as I have run them before with good results.
Working on the car right now, just trying a couple more things before tearing it apart.
John
