LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Lifter Q's

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 7, 2009 | 10:31 PM
  #1  
myltwon's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 7
From: Palm Harbor, FL
Default Lifter Q's

well I started up the new motor tonight, and noticed some sound coming from under the valve cover. figured maybe had to recheck my valve lash so oh well. upon pulling the valve cover I realized every rocker except the very back one was bone dry. fired the car up and looked like only the back rocker was oiling at all and it was gushing out pretty healthily.

car has 60~psi of oil pressure on cold start up and I'm running the LS7 lifters. just wondering if anyone believe the lifters are the culprit, since I believe I've heard of it happening to people before.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2009 | 10:34 PM
  #2  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

How long did you prime the oil system before the motor was fired for the first time? It took about 2 or 3 minutes of priming before oil came out of the pushrods with my LS7 lifters.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2009 | 10:40 PM
  #3  
myltwon's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 7
From: Palm Harbor, FL
Default

I pretty much just dry started it a few times for the intial fire, it was running for a few min and didn't notice any oil

how do you recommend priming it?
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2009 | 11:29 PM
  #4  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Originally Posted by myltwon
I pretty much just dry started it a few times for the intial fire, it was running for a few min and didn't notice any oil

how do you recommend priming it?
You prime a new motor with a GM oil pump priming tool and a power/air drill to spin the pump. You prime it until you get oil up to the rockers.

Did you at least soak the lifters and pushrods in oil over night?
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2009 | 11:31 PM
  #5  
myltwon's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 7
From: Palm Harbor, FL
Default

yes I soaked the lifters and pushrods atleast for a day or more
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2009 | 02:24 PM
  #6  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

So, you started a new motor (new bearings, etc.) without priming the oil system, is that right?

Not good at all. Like shoe said, you use a priming tool attached to a drill to pump oil through the oil gallies and out of the bearing clearances. This pre-lubes all of the moving parts to prevent metal-to-metal on startup. It inserts in place of the oil pump stub drive and engages the pump drive shaft. Spin the pump until you see oil pressure (I used a gauge inserted into the factory pressure sender). You should see pressure pretty shortly, but it will take longer for the oil to build and pump up through the lifters and pushrods.

I wouldn't worry so much about the lifters and pushrods - I'd be more concerned about the rest of your bearings.
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2009 | 04:24 PM
  #7  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
So, you started a new motor (new bearings, etc.) without priming the oil system, is that right?

Not good at all. Like shoe said, you use a priming tool attached to a drill to pump oil through the oil gallies and out of the bearing clearances. This pre-lubes all of the moving parts to prevent metal-to-metal on startup. It inserts in place of the oil pump stub drive and engages the pump drive shaft. Spin the pump until you see oil pressure (I used a gauge inserted into the factory pressure sender). You should see pressure pretty shortly, but it will take longer for the oil to build and pump up through the lifters and pushrods.

I wouldn't worry so much about the lifters and pushrods - I'd be more concerned about the rest of your bearings.
LOL, am I getting mixed up with Shbox? I'm honored.
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2009 | 07:05 PM
  #8  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

Man, I am really shittin' the bed lately. Hahaha.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 8, 2009 | 09:52 PM
  #9  
myltwon's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 7
From: Palm Harbor, FL
Default

quite an honor to get mixxed up with the mighty shoe lol
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:27 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE