caddy vs ls7 lifters
09-14-2008, 06:19 PM
#1
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caddy vs ls7 lifters who can chime in who has had experience. I am trying to decide which ones to get. stock bottome end. will have the prc 2.5 5.3's and mostly street racing.
09-14-2008, 06:35 PM
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IIRC, they're around an additional $100-120? It's been a few years, but I actually got a bad lifter straight from GMPP, it manifested itself as a misfire above 4000RPM. After replacing the coils, plugs, wires, injectors, head gaskets etc. THEN buying the Caddy lifters (fixed the problem), I wished i'd spent the money from the start. To each his own!
09-14-2008, 06:48 PM
#5
I bought caddy lifters and they will go in when I do the cam/heads/procharger. The engine wont be turning 7000 rpm, but lighter weight valvetrain is a good thing at all engine speeds. And really, $225 for a set of lifters is still cheap. But I doubt you would have any trouble with the LS7 lifters. Both will do just fine.
09-14-2008, 07:09 PM
#6
I comes down to the usage and the end goal of the motor. Light weight racing parts are great for "Racing", for long term durability you would be better off with LS7 lifters. Don't to worked up in a name on these lifters, the "LS7" lifter is used on all LS based engines that do nothave active fuel management (DOD) . LS1, LS2, LS3 LS9 LSA, trucks engines, etc.
Last edited by 69LT1Bird; 09-15-2008 at 08:13 AM.
09-14-2008, 07:16 PM
#7
I agree with 69LT1Bird to a certian extent, but hollow/titanium/sodium filled valves are also "racing" parts that GM put in a production vehicle that is expected to go atleast 100,000 miles trouble-free. And they have done just fine. I put these lifters in the same category...yes they will help at 7000-8000 rpm, but will they live just fine on a weekend driver that only spins to 6500? Yes.
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09-15-2008, 08:27 AM
#11
Yes, they will work just fine in a DD or weekend warrior. The build the OP was describing, the miles on the engine, the intended use doesn't really justify the cost.
The 638 hp blown LS9 uses the standard LS lifter so for 99% of the people in here the Caddy one is over kill. Like I stated above, all GM LS based engines that are not DOD use the same lifters, also the bullet proof Buick 3800 engine family.
For the number of engines produced with these lifters since the first LS1 the failure rate is almost non-existant. You only here about the failures online, there will always be failures in when parts are mass produced, its the millions of non-failures that prove their durability.
If GM built a million engines per year with these lifters (actually a lot more than a million) with 16 lifters per engine, the LS1 since 1997 plus other engines, thats more than 17.6 million lifters on the road for the last 11 years. The incidents per thousand (IPTV) is probably well below 1.
The 638 hp blown LS9 uses the standard LS lifter so for 99% of the people in here the Caddy one is over kill. Like I stated above, all GM LS based engines that are not DOD use the same lifters, also the bullet proof Buick 3800 engine family.
For the number of engines produced with these lifters since the first LS1 the failure rate is almost non-existant. You only here about the failures online, there will always be failures in when parts are mass produced, its the millions of non-failures that prove their durability.
If GM built a million engines per year with these lifters (actually a lot more than a million) with 16 lifters per engine, the LS1 since 1997 plus other engines, thats more than 17.6 million lifters on the road for the last 11 years. The incidents per thousand (IPTV) is probably well below 1.
09-15-2008, 09:20 AM
#13
I agree with everything you have written, except for the fact that most people put in springs that far exceed anything in a stock GM motor, and cams that far exceed any of the factory motors as well in term of ramp rates.
From what I understand, the caddy lifters (designed specifically for the CTS-V's for the Lemans series) were designed to be able to work at sustained high rpm and lift environments.
Based on your logic, none of us should replace the rod bolts because GM put millions of them in our cars and they rarely see failures. That logic is fine if you stay within the intended specs of the motor. Once you exceed the factory hp rating by 100-200hp, all bets are off.
Do I think the ls7 lifters are fine, yes, but if there is a benefit to be had with going to the caddy lifters, then you might as well buck up the extra coin and do it right the first time since it's not like it's an easy job to swap lifters.
From what I understand, the caddy lifters (designed specifically for the CTS-V's for the Lemans series) were designed to be able to work at sustained high rpm and lift environments.
Based on your logic, none of us should replace the rod bolts because GM put millions of them in our cars and they rarely see failures. That logic is fine if you stay within the intended specs of the motor. Once you exceed the factory hp rating by 100-200hp, all bets are off.
Do I think the ls7 lifters are fine, yes, but if there is a benefit to be had with going to the caddy lifters, then you might as well buck up the extra coin and do it right the first time since it's not like it's an easy job to swap lifters.
Yes, they will work just fine in a DD or weekend warrior. The build the OP was describing, the miles on the engine, the intended use doesn't really justify the cost.
The 638 hp blown LS9 uses the standard LS lifter so for 99% of the people in here the Caddy one is over kill. Like I stated above, all GM LS based engines that are not DOD use the same lifters, also the bullet proof Buick 3800 engine family.
For the number of engines produced with these lifters since the first LS1 the failure rate is almost non-existant. You only here about the failures online, there will always be failures in when parts are mass produced, its the millions of non-failures that prove their durability.
If GM built a million engines per year with these lifters (actually a lot more than a million) with 16 lifters per engine, the LS1 since 1997 plus other engines, thats more than 17.6 million lifters on the road for the last 11 years. The incidents per thousand (IPTV) is probably well below 1.
The 638 hp blown LS9 uses the standard LS lifter so for 99% of the people in here the Caddy one is over kill. Like I stated above, all GM LS based engines that are not DOD use the same lifters, also the bullet proof Buick 3800 engine family.
For the number of engines produced with these lifters since the first LS1 the failure rate is almost non-existant. You only here about the failures online, there will always be failures in when parts are mass produced, its the millions of non-failures that prove their durability.
If GM built a million engines per year with these lifters (actually a lot more than a million) with 16 lifters per engine, the LS1 since 1997 plus other engines, thats more than 17.6 million lifters on the road for the last 11 years. The incidents per thousand (IPTV) is probably well below 1.
09-15-2008, 05:46 PM
#14
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+1 for ls7 lifters. I got mine from a local dealer for an excellent price.
No problems spinning to 6800 so far. Not to mention everyone else that spinning them to 7k and beyond. No valve float issues with a big cam and big springs.
No problems spinning to 6800 so far. Not to mention everyone else that spinning them to 7k and beyond. No valve float issues with a big cam and big springs.
09-21-2008, 11:48 AM
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So you think LS7 lifters are needed for a big cam only car ?... even though this car has seen 7k numerous times. It wont see more than about 6800 rpms this time around ..
09-21-2008, 12:16 PM
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They get the job done for a little over 100 bucks.
09-21-2008, 02:07 PM
#19
Guys, don't make this so hard, ALL LS based based engines use the same lifters. LS1, LS2, LS3 LS9 LSA, trucks engines.
The LS9, LS7 and LS3 rev past 6k stock so I am not sure where you got your info but it is not correct. Just go to the dealer and order lifters for your car whether its an LS1, LS2 or whatever.
The LS9, LS7 and LS3 rev past 6k stock so I am not sure where you got your info but it is not correct. Just go to the dealer and order lifters for your car whether its an LS1, LS2 or whatever.
09-21-2008, 03:06 PM
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Caddy lifters are 10grams heavier then LS7 lifters
but that doesn't matter
weight on that side of the rocker arm, doesn't affect valvetrain.
however, the few lifters i've heard go bad lately have been GM racing lifters.
but that doesn't matter
weight on that side of the rocker arm, doesn't affect valvetrain.
however, the few lifters i've heard go bad lately have been GM racing lifters.