LS2 vs LS1 Lifter Trays
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TECH Junkie
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From: Southside Chicago
LS2 vs LS1 Lifter Trays I asked this in my build thread but would like to start a thread discussion for future reference for others to find using search.
Which ones are preferred and why? I hear if you go the LS2 route you have to drill holes for oil to pass through? Sounds like a hassle; why not jus' go with the proven LS1 lifter for half the price? ($16 vs $32)
Which ones are preferred and why? I hear if you go the LS2 route you have to drill holes for oil to pass through? Sounds like a hassle; why not jus' go with the proven LS1 lifter for half the price? ($16 vs $32)
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2010
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I don't know others opinions but I know a lot of performance places iv spoken to recommend removing the lifter trays and put in the tiebar lifters u can get from comp, morel, etc due to the hassles of drilling holes and some have had noise from them so fit tie bar lifters, quick, easy and no later hassles.
The addition of oil drain holes is practiced on both designs for the same reason, to get oil off the top of the lifters.
I went with link-bar lifters so no trays here.
I looked at both. The ridge on the side of the LS2 tray will stiffen it and it appeared to be a bit thicker although I didn't measure. I went with the LS2. If I had to do it all over again, Morel link bars would have been used. I do have Morels, but with the LS2 trays.
I don't like the idea of drilling the holes. It weakens the lifter tray.
I don't like the idea of drilling the holes. It weakens the lifter tray.
I used ls2 trays. Didn't drill anything and works unless I was suppose to? One thing I did notice is ls2 trays have a certain way they go into the ls2 block and guessing they can go anyway in the ls1?
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The idea of drilling holes in the lifter trays presumably relates to the reputation of LS engines to accumulate too much oil in the top of the motor such that the low end of the motor can actually suffer from oil starvation at sustained high rpm operation. Since the oil pump lives in the low end of the motor it also can run out of oil and create an oil pressure "flame out."
The theory is that drilling holes in the lifter trays will allow oil to return to the low end of the engine more quickly. The counter theory is that since the oil trays hold a finite amount of oil, once they become full the rate of oil returning to the low end of the engine will actually be unaffected by the holes in the lifter trays.
I personally have no opinion as to which theory is correct. I have link-bar lifters with no trays.
The theory is that drilling holes in the lifter trays will allow oil to return to the low end of the engine more quickly. The counter theory is that since the oil trays hold a finite amount of oil, once they become full the rate of oil returning to the low end of the engine will actually be unaffected by the holes in the lifter trays.
I personally have no opinion as to which theory is correct. I have link-bar lifters with no trays.
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Verdad Gallardo There are some pre-drilled photos in this thread:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...-number-2.html
And drilling in this thread:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...ter-trays.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...-number-2.html
And drilling in this thread:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...ter-trays.html
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 253
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For those with link bar lifters, is it possible to do a cam swap without pulling the heads? I know with lifter trays it can be done. I don't think it's possible with the link bar style without anything to hold them up? Or am I wrong?
It'd be interesting to see if the link bars could be hooked with a piece of wire through a pushrod hole and pulled/held up. Wonder if anyone's actually tired it?
All you need to do is use a pen magnet to pull each lifter up individually and insert a rod/dowel into the lifters oil galley.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Hate to bump this old thread but your way off. Only someone who shouldn't be working on engines uses trays to hold lifters up. You are supposed to use dowels, those dowels rub against the side of the lifter itself to hold it up. Now, the real question is, do the morel lifters have the groove in them to allow the dowel to hold it up? I'd say morel would be pretty stupid if it didn't.
