is it worth it to replace lifters on cam swap?
 

i'm installing an ms3 cam in my car. it will be a cam only build with pushrods, springs, oil pump, headers. i ordered ls7 lifters, but didn't realize you had to remove the heads. now i'm looking at head gaskets, bolts tons of extra work and probably several other parts i'm missing.

so my question is with an ms3 cam install is it even worth it at this point? if it isn't i may just hold on to them because i do plan on getting new heads someday (no time soon).

How many miles do you have on the stock lifters?

replace them no matter what. personally i wouldnt even put LS7s back in there, but thats me.

^^^^^^^^what this dude said.

another thing is it looks like you went head first into this project blindfolded. before you even buy your first part do your research!!! read read read. there are tons upon tons of resources on the internet, the books store. i have 4-5 books about LSX engines. very helpful.

How many miles on stock lifters? It's all about how comfortable you are not changing them out. Plenty have just left stockers in with cam only setups. I left min stock. I have been cammed for 15k miles. I do plan on a head upgrade and will prolly change them out next year but so far so good. Others have not been so lucky but I think that number is slot smaller then the number of people who have been just fine. If you do end up pulling the heads have a good vale job done on them.

I wouldn't mind keeping stockers in if they were low miles and the cam was mild, but with a big cam like an ms3 I would def spend the extra 2-300 bucks on some morel/Johnson lifters and new head gaskets and bolts....but unless you plan on drag racing every weekend and beating its ass you should be fine, but remember its a roll of the dice...

I would replace them no matter what.

the car has 22,000 miles. it will never see a drag strip. it's my cruise around and blow off some steam car. i'll go ahead and change the lifters to be safe. i had planned on doing heads too until my wife chimed in :P after that i decided to go cam only. that's what messed me up. i dont have any experience with cam swaps and i guess i didn't read as much as i thought i had.

LOL@ "until my wife chimed in" If she was a car girl, and it was HER car, it would of been "OK"

Why install a probably dated cam design? Have Martin @ TICK performance or Patrick G. spec you one. I doubt you could find one negative post about either guy. Martin has quite a few new series of cam threads going here @ LS1tech. with STELLAR results/happy customers. Just a thought.

With that low of miles I would pass on the lifters. You have to get gaskets and new head bolts and its a good amount of extra time. However it is peace of mind to do them....me personally I would and did pass on them lol

Using that logic why doesnt he just swap in a LT1 from the Stingray?


The MS3 is a proven performer and there is nothing wrong with it and its "dated" design.

my buddy recommended the ms3 and it was on my short list already. at first i wanted to get a custom cam spec'd but never got around to it. when i was informed by the boss lady that i could buy a cam package i didn't want to wait for it lol.

i'm not as whooped as i sound i promise :secret:

if i do the lifters what all extra will i need to buy?

already have lifters
trays?
head gaskets
head bolts
anything else?

With that low miles on your motor, no need for lifters. Just do the proper install and tune on what you have.

thank you

If your going to put the stock lifters back in, I would at least do the trunior upgrade for them!!!

I am sure you mean rockers and not lifters

Lol that's good shit

haha ooopsies!! its been a long day, cut me a break!