LSX Cam Bearing Clearances: What bearings are everyone using?
10-02-2013, 10:52 AM
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LSX Cam Bearing Clearances: What bearings are everyone using? The cam bearings that the machine shop installed are to sloppy in my consideration. After start up I had good oil pressure but kind of low after warm. Cold pressure idle was 65 and warm was 25, idles at 1000. What do you guys think and are factory bearings tighter? Clevite cam bearings are what they installed. Thanks guys
10-02-2013, 07:40 PM
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I have clevite bearings installed in mine. 20-50 rotella oil with a Melling high volume pump and I idle at 750-800 65-70 cold and 50-55 hot and it runs at 100 psi at 5000+ all the way to the 7200 limiter.
Last edited by 89gmcs15; 10-02-2013 at 07:51 PM.
10-02-2013, 08:57 PM
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I cant wait to get back to the track! Thanks again for the input brother.
10-02-2013, 10:10 PM
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I never checked. Sorry. I think the oil weight has a effect on the pressure, 20-50 is pretty heavy com paired to straight 30 or even 5-20 I run in my escalade. Stock engine 5-20 idles at 40 psi hot and like 65 in the upper rpms
10-02-2013, 11:24 PM
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yeah I'm at 45-50 psi hot, and 80-90 wot. I think mine were 30 thou, on the mains. Cant exactly remember. I just don't see running super thick oil on these tight ls clearances. I'd see running a thicker oil on a looser race clearance. But i'm not an daily engine builder. I run 10-30, bc I'm not running an oil cooler, If i was i would probably run 5-30 like they recommend.
10-03-2013, 07:37 AM
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I ran about 30 hours idle time (tuning) and 250-300 miles driving (3000 rpm) then changed my oil from my break in "formula" to the rotella. I cut the filter open and found nothing, no metal anywhere. I was surprised and worried at the same time. After about 2000 (hard) miles I changed the oil again. It was darker than new but still oldish brown on my finger. Cut the filter again and once again not a flake/spec/resin of metal on the filter. I figure I'm good to go.
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10-03-2013, 11:30 AM
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I ran about 30 hours idle time (tuning) and 250-300 miles driving (3000 rpm) then changed my oil from my break in "formula" to the rotella. I cut the filter open and found nothing, no metal anywhere. I was surprised and worried at the same time. After about 2000 (hard) miles I changed the oil again. It was darker than new but still oldish brown on my finger. Cut the filter again and once again not a flake/spec/resin of metal on the filter. I figure I'm good to go.
10-03-2013, 09:16 PM
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10-03-2013, 09:24 PM
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I was totally expecting to find it on the first, especially with a fresh hone and bearings. Nothing period. So I got worried and ran it a bit and changed it again with no metal. 3rd change and still nothing. Idk, maybe it's fine, I'd figure it would be ruined by now if it wasn't lol?
10-05-2013, 10:29 PM
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I had the Durabond CHP-23 cam bearings installed by the machine shop in an LS2 block. They had over .0045" clearance to the cam journals when I measured them.
I did some research and it seems to be hit or miss on cam bearing clearance with the LS motors. Either too tight or too loose.
I decided to make my own bronze bearings with .0025 clearance. I Have 30 psi hot oil pressure idling at 750 with 5-30 oil. So far so good.
I did some research and it seems to be hit or miss on cam bearing clearance with the LS motors. Either too tight or too loose.
I decided to make my own bronze bearings with .0025 clearance. I Have 30 psi hot oil pressure idling at 750 with 5-30 oil. So far so good.
10-06-2013, 02:32 AM
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Does cam bearing clearances reflect more on oil oil pressure than your mains and rod clearances? Does it oil the cam and lifters and then the rods and mains?
