Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

For those of you using LS7 lifters with dual springs, what oil weight are you using, what is your oil pressure, and what preload are you running?

The reason I ask is because with 5W-40 I had a loud tapping sound coming from a single lifter I think. It was just one loud tap at half the engine speed. With 10W-30 the tapping sound got much quieter. My hot idle oil pressure is about 37psi with 10W-30, and 42psi with 5W-40. My preload ranges from 0.075 to 0.096. Lift is only 0.561. I'm running Tooley dual springs as well.

Thanks.

CamanLS1

iTrader: (2)

I have always ran 5w-30 Mobil 1. Then Ive been reading some really bad reviews about Mobil 1 and changed over the Catrol Edge 5w-30. My valvetrain has always been loud since my cam install, but it seems now its even louder. So Im not sure if its the oil, or I have a rocker thats coming undone, puked its bearings, or a bad lifter. My noise sounds like a pushrod bouncing in between the rocker and lifter. The noise speeds up with the engine, so I know its something in the valve train. My preload if I remember correctly was .083, and my idle pressure is 28psi. I didnt want to go to heavier oil because that it was I believe causes premature oil pump failures.

hiltsy855

iTrader: (35)

In my experience w/ lifter noise it always seems quieter right after changing oil and then it goes back to normal (noisy) after a few miles. I changed from dual springs to PAC beehives and it didn't make much difference. Changed preload from .050 to over .100, no change. Tried 10W-40, 10W-30 (several brands), and Mobil 1 synthetic, no change. LS7 lifters is the only constant.

CamanLS1

iTrader: (2)

^^Hmmm...good to know.

RedRocketZ28

iTrader: (19)

I am running LS7's and dual Lunati springs in my car. Using Rotella 15w-40 in my turbo car. My oil pressure is insanely high. Hot idle is around 60 and jumps up to almost pegged when getting on the gas. I need to get a mechanical gauge on it to see what it's really doing.

My valvetrain is noisy though. I can hear lifter tap between 1400-2000 rpms.

tjwashow

iTrader: (2)

subscribed here, i am going to be running the same setup as the OP, would like to know cuz i dont want to be replacing lifters all the time.

CamanLS1

iTrader: (2)

Maybe LS7 lifters are just noisy in general??? My only concern is, why does it only sound like 1 is bad? My mom has an SS also, and my dad said her car has the same noise as mine, only sounds like 1, not all 16. Mine sounds like its on the passenger side. Ive heard it since the install, but just attributed it too the headers amplifying it. Now its gotten louder, but its not always louder.....LOL! Thinking mine is prolly an oil issue.

3rdCoastPowerSports

iTrader: (5)

personal car... running prc duals with .060 preload on LS7 lifters, Mobil 1 5w-30. I have a lifter that makes alot more noise than the others. It comes and goes but most of the time that lifter is making noise. LS7 lifters are fine for some builds but to be honest I AM NOT IMPRESSED with the LS7 lifters. I do not build with them anymore. There are better quality lifters out there to be had.
oh yeah, 36 psi hot on melling reg press/volume pump

Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

Use a mechanical gauge. My dash gauge was reading 10-15psi too high, so I pulled the needle off the gauge and moved it so it was reading correctly.

KCS

iTrader: (20)

I'm running dual springs with roughly 440lbs open pressure on LS7 lifters with about .080" preload and its quiet.

cknoma2005

iTrader: (3)

I installed ls7 lifters and pac dual 650 springs a year ago when I did my cam swap and its quieter than before. I also did the comp cam trunion upgrade as well which may contribute to that. I always use Mobil 1 5w-30. Sometimes I substitute a quart for one quart of Lucas upper cylinder lubricate. Oil always looks clean.

Here is a link to thread with my car idling.

http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/k...t=IMG_1320.mp4

Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

Just drove home and the tapping is still there, albeit not as loud. Still curious why a thinner oil helped quiet down the valvetrain.

What lifters are better than LS7's without breaking the bank? When I think of GM lifters, I think longevity, but not necessarily good with larger cams and springs. When I think of aftermarket lifters like Comp or Morel, I think the opposite, great for aftermarket valvetrains but may not last as long. Am I smoking something?

I think I'm going to replace all of my lifters with another LS7 set or something else.

chevybayboy

iTrader: (6)

just got my ls7 lifters installed the other day should be running tomorow ill chime and let you know

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

LS7 lifters work well with moderate spring pressure and lightweight valves. My theory is too often they are loud because they are bleeding down at idle causing the rappatap because of the unoptimized setup. For the LS3 and LS7 where they are OEM, the valves are much lighter than LS1 and the lifters are operating optimally (but within spec either way). Comp 850 would be a good alternative for not insane amounts of cash. Morel get my vote tho since I'm not skimping on that on the engine.

Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

I was thinking the same. My idle pressure is 35psi, and 45psi at cruise, but it taps the loudest between 1500 and 2000 rpm. Maybe a higher pressure pump would help.

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

Talk to Brian Tooley. He has told me about travel limiters he can install in LS7 lifters.
I told him he needs to market them as a cheaper but reliable alternative to the Morels and Comps.

muayyadf1

I think the old LS1 lifters were more reliable and also quieter than those LS7's

hiltsy855

iTrader: (35)

I am in the same boat - only 1 or 2 are noisy. I installed a new Melling high pressure pump and it helped but didn't cure the problem. Idles around 45 psi, cruises at 60psi (stock gage). I was told the Comp 850-16 are basically LS7 lifters. I think I'll be using Morels when I pull the heads over the winter.

Havoc40

I've said this before in previous threads. LS7 lifters are mass production parts, engineered to be ran in stock engines, with a wide leakdown span. The leakdown variation is the reason some are noisy and some are quiet. The reason for the different results with preload changes, most of the time is caused from a couple minutes/seconds of angle in the I.D. of the lifter bore. Meaning more preload changes the active leakdown rate due to the position change. Measuring them requires controlled ambient air, and equipment accurate to .00001". What happens when you measure the lifter body in one location, the internal components in another, then assemble and test in another? The result is majority of the passed parts coming in at the lower end of the leakdown rate, causing noisy parts.

Aggressive camshafts, heavy springs, HV oil pumps, oil viscosity, and weight of valvetrain components all play a roll in how a hyd. lifter operate.

muayyadf1

I'm curious, did you all buy the lifters in bulk or in a gm box? I'm thinking gm might sort lifters to have similar specs where others might not do this