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limits of ls7 lifters

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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 09:39 AM
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Default limits of ls7 lifters

I see ls7 lifters used in just about every build now. My question is, when should you think about actually going aftermarket? What are the benefits or are ls7 lifters on par with most aftermarket lifters?
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 09:44 AM
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The LS7 are just stock replacement and inexpensive, if anything they might not be as good as original. If your originals are fine I would reuse for most builds.
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 10:38 AM
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The LS7 lifters are fine for Springs with less then 155/400 seat/open pressure, rpm 6800 or less, and a cam with a 53 degree lobe or greater. Using the correct length pushrod also makes a difference. For a little more money the new improved Morel 5315 is a nice upgrade with better oiling.

When aggressive lobe camshafts with higher spring rates are used, then it's time to jump up to a 2110 Johnson for a quality drop in or 2116 for a reduced travel link bar.

Have folks ran LS7 lifters with aggressive cams and big valve springs...yes. Is it the right way to do things, I will let somebody else answer that because opinions are like ********.
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
The LS7 are just stock replacement and inexpensive, if anything they might not be as good as original. If your originals are fine I would reuse for most builds.
That is incorrect. They are better than stock as they can handle more rpm than the stock LS1 lifters. That is why they are the new replacement lifters and GM phased out the old style. If you are doing a build why skimp out and reuse the one part that is usually the first thing that goes out on these engines?

To the OP, we use LS7 lifters in most of our builds with great success. The only time we are forced to use a different lifter is if someone is using a GM LSX block or they are pushing higher rpms than 7,000. Then we choose to go to the link bar style lifters. We also offer Morel lifters which many really like as well. When customer's are pushing over 1,000 rwhp I will usually recommend the Morel link bar lifters. They are a little more expensive but we have had great results with the morel's. Give us a call. We would be happy to go over your combination and help point you in the right direction.

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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 11:13 AM
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The LS7 are just stock replacement and inexpensive, if anything they might not be as good as original. If your originals are fine I would reuse for most builds.
I would not re-use 13 year old LS1 lifters when new ones are that inexpensive.

And I'm pretty sure lifters used in 60k Z06s are a bit better than ones in fbodies.
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 11:22 AM
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for a 900hp turbo build Im assuming you would recommend a good aftermarket link bar then
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by k_garretson23
I see ls7 lifters used in just about every build now. My question is, when should you think about actually going aftermarket? What are the benefits or are ls7 lifters on par with most aftermarket lifters?
The LS2/LS7 lifter is a inexpensive durable part.
We have used them in many high hp builds.
Now what is different is the cycle life on the part With heavier spring pressures and more rpm these are not 100,000 mile parts.
We recommend halving the o.e. cycle life, same goes for the o.e. rockers.
When the valve train is set up properly we have had great durability out of those.
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 01:11 PM
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I am surprised to hear this, as i was looking at a stage I turbo grind cam and was told to not run the ls7 lifters.... but it seems as many people are running them with great success.
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 02:09 PM
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Lifters fail with too much RPM or too aggressive cams and stuff like that not having too much power from a turbo.

Thus having a turbo car that you rev to 6000rpm means LS7s are just fine. Expensive linkbars are for sustained and high RPM, not necessarily power.

Although I would still do something a little more than the LS7s, there's no need for 1000 dollar set of lifters. Leave that for the people looking to turn 8000rpm on a consistent basis.
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 03:16 PM
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i will be revving it out to around 7k so a decent set of lifters would be nice insurance. I was just curious as to how well the ls7s hold up since many people run them.
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 05:54 PM
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LS7s got some titanium in the valvetrain not seen in other LS variants and that has MUCH more to do with rpm potential than the lifters. People mistake the lifters for the answer. They are popular because they are cheap not because they are better, and of course vendors want to sell new lifters as they have no idea about condition of old. On the LT1 side I have seen more LS7 lifter issues than reused original lifter issues.
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Old Aug 6, 2015 | 07:16 PM
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For 7000 rpm I would go morel or Johnson lifters
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