LS7 lifters
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#8
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I have used stock LS1/2/6/7 (all the same) lifters for over 250,000 miles. Using dual valve springs on after market cams. I replaced one set of lifters at 125,000 miles while doing a head swap. I replaced that set of lifters at 228,000 miles due to a lifter making noise. It looks like stock lifters will last at around 100,000 miles. To me that seems like a pretty good life span on a very hard working part. I also use the much maligned stock rocker arms without the so called trunion upgrade too. One set of rockers were replaced at 80,000 miles that were still working fine. The next set is still on the engine that now has over 250,000 miles on it. The one thing you can be sure of is that the sky is always falling on the internet.
Last edited by slt200mph; 09-17-2012 at 09:27 AM.
#9
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The LS7 lifters magically became an "upgrade" on the internet, I have never seen any actual data to support anything about them being an "upgrade" other than people assumed it because they were put in the LS7.
Far as failures it seems like a more RECENT development. Companies are always trying to save a buck be it the OEM or whomever they have making the parts so it is possible something changed along the way and 5yo stuff was fine but new stuff can have a genuinely higher failure rate.
So it is great that the above poster has a lot of miles on them but that doesn't necessarily mean the set you but today will work just as well, especially not when you look at the number of reported lifter failures we are seeing.
On the LT1 side of things everyone jumped on this bandwagon too even though nobody was having trouble with stock ones, those same guys who bought new "because new was better" are experiencing their first lifter failures with 500mile LS7 lifters when the 150K mile LT1 lifters never gave them trouble and STILL they tend to believe it was an upgrade.
Far as failures it seems like a more RECENT development. Companies are always trying to save a buck be it the OEM or whomever they have making the parts so it is possible something changed along the way and 5yo stuff was fine but new stuff can have a genuinely higher failure rate.
So it is great that the above poster has a lot of miles on them but that doesn't necessarily mean the set you but today will work just as well, especially not when you look at the number of reported lifter failures we are seeing.
On the LT1 side of things everyone jumped on this bandwagon too even though nobody was having trouble with stock ones, those same guys who bought new "because new was better" are experiencing their first lifter failures with 500mile LS7 lifters when the 150K mile LT1 lifters never gave them trouble and STILL they tend to believe it was an upgrade.
#10
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (42)
I have worked in a Chevy dealer for the last 10 years. I have seen 1000's of vehicles with over 100,000 or 200,000 miles on them with no lifter problems. Keep in mind that there are a number of suppliers of LS engine parts besides GM. Another thing to consider is some do not have as high a quality parts as others. So the sorce of the parts is another thing that enters into the equation. I do know that lifter failure is a very very low percentage when it comes to the LS series engine repairs. They are very reliable to say the least. As always everything is always over hyped on the internet.
Last edited by slt200mph; 09-17-2012 at 09:53 AM.
#12
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We are on the same page sir. The stock GM lifter will work just fine for most street applications. I think that if you are going to run a verfy aggresive cam with a lift of over .600 a aftermarket high performance lifter would be the correct part to use. My cams have always had lift in the .590's with durations no higher than 234 degrees. So for that appliucation the stock lifter and rocker arm has worked out very well for me. Thanks for your input on the subject.
#13
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We are on the same page sir. The stock GM lifter will work just fine for most street applications. I think that if you are going to run a verfy aggresive cam with a lift of over .600 a aftermarket high performance lifter would be the correct part to use. My cams have always had lift in the .590's with durations no higher than 234 degrees. So for that appliucation the stock lifter and rocker arm has worked out very well for me. Thanks for your input on the subject.
#20
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Tsp 228r cam has aggresive xer lobes and can harm stock oem components such as the stock rockers and stock pushrods. Do yourself a favor and get a comp trunion upgrade and hardened pushrods it will save you money down the road.