Tuckin15s

iTrader: (10)

Alright guys I had a lifter fail in my 5.3. Little info on my setup Cam only 2004 5.3 stock lifters, 7.4 pushrods, comp dual springs, 224/224 114 XER cam/stock 706 heads/ls6 intake. I was just driving and the engine developed a loud tick (oil pressure did not change) I parked it. On idle is has a tick that sounds like a lifter failure. I have yet to pull the heads and confirm but I am 99.9% positive that's my issue. My questions are what lifters should I run now? From what I have read a lot of guys recommend Ls7 lifters but I also read guys are having major issues with them. Does Comp make a replacement 5.3 lifter at all? Should I call brain tooley and see what he recommends?


Thanks,

Ross

MuhThugga

LS7 lifters
Morel makes a drop-in lifter as well for about $200 for the set.

Whatever you decide, if you don't go with linkbars, get new lifter trays.

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Have you pulled a valve cover yet and looked at the springs? I'd start there first...

Tuckin15s

iTrader: (10)

Yeah pulled both valve covers checked all the springs/rockers and inspected the push rods, Everything checks out up top.

Bowtie316

iTrader: (1)

I just had a lifter fail (collapse, had trash in it) and replaced them with gm part number 12499225. From my research, guys seem to have the best luck if they also replace the trays and prime the lifters before installing pushrods and rockers. I did this by cranking the motor over with the starter after lifter install but before head install. Mine seem to be working perfect but have only been in for a few weeks.

MuhThugga

You cranked the motor without having the valvetrain installed to hold the lifter to cam lobe?

Bowtie316

iTrader: (1)

Yes correct, until I got oil out the top of all the lifters. Sounds insane, but it worked, cam mostly spun without touching lifters, lifters filled with oil, done. Soaking them in oil will not fill the hydraulic portion.

redbird555

iTrader: (14)

Ya that doesn't make much sense to me. The lifters really need pressure on the cup to pump up. Plus if you do that the oil is just going to sit in the gray area.

fwiw though I usually just soak the lifters in an oil bath over night and make sure they're clean. They are never filled with oil completely when I pull them out. Just make sure the wheels are lubricated and drop them in. They'll pump up within a few secs.

Bowtie316

iTrader: (1)

The point is to fill the lifter with oil, not pump anything up.

What I had read, and it made sense to me, was that starting them up dry with high spring loads could cause issues with them ever pumping up correctly.

If you look at the anatomy of a hydraulic lifter, there is a large void that would take some running time to fill if it weren't primed.



This obiously doesn't pump up the lifter, I didn't want to do that, nor would I advise it. Just fill it with oil so it is not empty when it is first fired. This allows the lifter to adjust (pump up) quicker and gets oil to the top end quicker.

I'll see if I can find what I read.

Tuckin15s

iTrader: (10)

Word. The plan is to soak the lifters and prime them before start.