DO I NEED LIFTERS? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Camaro_Mike · 12-09-2019, 12:23 AM

So I’m plan on camming my 2011 LS3 Camaro with 70K miles on it. I’m using a tick Performace stage 2 Cam 227/244 .618/.610 LSA 113+2. Do I need to replace my lifters as well? The shop told me that I don’t need to but I feel as if I should. Should I replace the lifters?

Black_SS10 · 12-09-2019, 04:01 AM

No, you don't NEED to replace the lifters. But it is cheap insurance for your new cam with your lifters having 70k on them.

pyroguy · 12-09-2019, 06:02 AM

On a LS3 you should be fine. If you had a L99 then yes. The answer is ALWAYS yes with a L99.

Camaro_Mike · 12-09-2019, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

No, you don't NEED to replace the lifters. But it is cheap insurance for your new cam with your lifters having 70k on them.

Ok I’ve heard so many stories of cam failure due to lifters. I’m not trying to end up in that group.

Camaro_Mike · 12-09-2019, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyroguy

On a LS3 you should be fine. If you had a L99 then yes. The answer is ALWAYS yes with a L99.

One guy told me that you should always change lifters when doing a new cam because you don’t want a fresh cam to hit the old beat on lifters.

John_C · 12-09-2019, 06:45 AM

I’d do new lifters.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

pnwdan · 12-09-2019, 07:08 AM

It's a choice really. Roll the dice. I didnt replace mine. Some people do and some dont. 100% of the people who do, wont regret it however some of the people who dont, will..

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Camaro_Mike · 12-09-2019, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_C

I’d do new lifters.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Are you saying that because you have the L99?

frankwjr · 12-09-2019, 07:32 AM

If you are pullin the heads then YES 'cause your already there, if not then inspecting the cam lobes on the cam coming out will tell you what you need to do.

I put a cam with more lift in 2 yr ago with 75k plus miles on the motor and zero probs so far incl a sh!t load of drag racing.

Just make sure to use a GOOD valve spring and correct P/R length. My P/R came in at 7.450 and I also use 3/8 p/r.

I would also strongly recommend getting the rockers upgraded with bronze bushings.

good luck!

PEACE

Russell James · 12-09-2019, 07:52 AM

Yes, new lifters.

While the heads are off, send them to a machine shop for a .005" clean up deck pass, competition valve job and spring install.

Aluminum heads will be off a few thousands when removed. Always do a clean up pass before a reinstall.

Sounds like you are interested in the most insurance to avoid failure = new lifters, a good machine shop handling the heads, upgrade the cam core to a higher quality Callies core, new lifters... The better cam companies like Cam Motion will have options for the best core material. Off the shelf mass produced cams will have a variety of core hardness, thickness of hardness... and some turn into lobe peelers. Cheap cams are cheap for a reason. If your budget can handle a few more hundred, the Johnson drop in COPO lifters are top quality. Comp has a nice pushrod length checker tool to perfect the length.

As mentioned before, bush the rockers. As long as the lift is below .620, bushed OE is fine. Roller tip needed if more lift. Upgrade the oil pump to a blueprinted one, be very careful with the O-ring. Prelube the engine to get pressure before starting it.

go_go_gadget88 · 12-09-2019, 08:44 AM

I only had 21k on my engine and still replaced my lifters. One of them had a small gouge that looked to have been caused by some kind of debris, and that would probably not have been a great thing to re-use. The cam matched though, so you can get a good gauge on your current lifters by inspecting the cam lobes from the cam that was pulled out.

Since it sounds like a shop is doing this, it would probably boil down to weather the heads were coming off for anything for me. If they are, I would just put new lifters in it since you are already paying for 95% of the labor there. If heads were staying on and cam looked fine, I'd probably just put a new one in and send it.

Camaro_Mike · 12-09-2019, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankwjr

If you are pullin the heads then YES 'cause your already there, if not then inspecting the cam lobes on the cam coming out will tell you what you need to do.

I put a cam with more lift in 2 yr ago with 75k plus miles on the motor and zero probs so far incl a sh!t load of drag racing.

Just make sure to use a GOOD valve spring and correct P/R length. My P/R came in at 7.450 and I also use 3/8 p/r.

I would also strongly recommend getting the rockers upgraded with bronze bushings. What can do you have? And did you change the lifters?

good luck!

PEACE

I’m not pulling the heads at all. Do you have an list of everything I’ll need for the proper cam swap?

dino2012ls3 · 12-09-2019, 09:39 AM

My first cam (notice the key word "first") only lasted bout 20k due to lifter failure. After that shop told me no worries everything is just fine. I guess I'll rolled the dice wrong. The second shop that replaced that cam and lifters highly recommended LS7 lifters. And now I'm just a tad over 40k on cam.

GONIF · 12-09-2019, 10:56 AM

IMHO, pull the heads, have them ported and make sure the guides are 100% and replace the lifters, springs, ,push rods, oil pump and timing chain and start fresh.

12-09-2019, 12:23 AM	#1
Camaro_Mike Drives: 2011 CGM SS LS3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Charotte Posts: 288 View My Garage	DO I NEED LIFTERS? So I’m plan on camming my 2011 LS3 Camaro with 70K miles on it. I’m using a tick Performace stage 2 Cam 227/244 .618/.610 LSA 113+2. Do I need to replace my lifters as well? The shop told me that I don’t need to but I feel as if I should. Should I replace the lifters?

12-09-2019, 04:01 AM	#2
Black_SS10 SomeguyK Drives: 2010 Black 2SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: FL Posts: 1,947	No, you don't NEED to replace the lifters. But it is cheap insurance for your new cam with your lifters having 70k on them. __________________ TMS 427, Dart iron Block, Forged assembly, Frankenstien heads, AGP TT 62/62 BB turbo's, AGP/Fore triple fuel system, Tilton clutch, Holley 1 7/8 shorties, Technostalgia tail lights,Oracle, Aeroforce, MGW shifter,Flowmaster, Pegasus subframe bushings,BMR trailing & toe arms,Z28 UCA bushings,Zl1 rear sway bar,Prothane,BMR,Goodridge brake lines,Ridetech HQ coilovers,3.91,Trutrac,billet caps,DSS axles,HE offest,built TR6060,1LE diffuser,Havoc spoiler,SSclones,20in MRR 017, Pirelli P Zero, Nitto NT555RII More to come.

12-09-2019, 06:02 AM	#3
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #831 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 6,919 View My Garage	On a LS3 you should be fine. If you had a L99 then yes. The answer is ALWAYS yes with a L99. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #831 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

12-09-2019, 06:45 AM	#6
John_C LSx FTW!!! Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS RS Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: TN Posts: 767	I’d do new lifters. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk __________________ 2010 2SS RS A6 781rwhp on E85 Stage 2 ProCharger D1X Circle D 3400 Triple Disc Kooks Jet Hot Headers Kooks Full 3in exhaust Trick Flow GenX 255's Polished PAC .660's & Ti-retainers TSP VVT 3.2 cam kit w/DoD Delete Smith Bro's Trunnion kit AEM X-Series OBDII Widebands FIC ID1300x Injectors GM ZL1 High Output Fuel Pump DSX Tuning Flex Sensor DSX Auxiliary Fuel System Tim King Stage 4 Max Effort CTSV 6L90 DSS 1 piece aluminum driveshaft JRE 6L80E / 6L90E Dipstick NGK Iridium IX spark plugs #7 heat range Mighty Mouse Camaro 5 Wild w/-12an and Billet Black HP Tuners VCM Suite

12-09-2019, 07:08 AM	#7
pnwdan Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Washington Posts: 848	It's a choice really. Roll the dice. I didnt replace mine. Some people do and some dont. 100% of the people who do, wont regret it however some of the people who dont, will.. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk __________________ 2014 2SS/RS LS3/M6

12-09-2019, 07:32 AM	#9
frankwjr Drives: 2010 SS 2SS M6 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Smithsburg, Md. Posts: 2,445	If you are pullin the heads then YES 'cause your already there, if not then inspecting the cam lobes on the cam coming out will tell you what you need to do. I put a cam with more lift in 2 yr ago with 75k plus miles on the motor and zero probs so far incl a sh!t load of drag racing. Just make sure to use a GOOD valve spring and correct P/R length. My P/R came in at 7.450 and I also use 3/8 p/r. I would also strongly recommend getting the rockers upgraded with bronze bushings. good luck! PEACE __________________ 2010 SS 2SS M6 - Tune by RDP dynoSteve!(Woot) - Daily Driver - *150K!* - All work by me...

12-09-2019, 07:52 AM	#10
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	Yes, new lifters. While the heads are off, send them to a machine shop for a .005" clean up deck pass, competition valve job and spring install. Aluminum heads will be off a few thousands when removed. Always do a clean up pass before a reinstall. Sounds like you are interested in the most insurance to avoid failure = new lifters, a good machine shop handling the heads, upgrade the cam core to a higher quality Callies core, new lifters... The better cam companies like Cam Motion will have options for the best core material. Off the shelf mass produced cams will have a variety of core hardness, thickness of hardness... and some turn into lobe peelers. Cheap cams are cheap for a reason. If your budget can handle a few more hundred, the Johnson drop in COPO lifters are top quality. Comp has a nice pushrod length checker tool to perfect the length. As mentioned before, bush the rockers. As long as the lift is below .620, bushed OE is fine. Roller tip needed if more lift. Upgrade the oil pump to a blueprinted one, be very careful with the O-ring. Prelube the engine to get pressure before starting it.

12-09-2019, 08:44 AM	#11
go_go_gadget88 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS ABM 6M Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Kansas Posts: 617	I only had 21k on my engine and still replaced my lifters. One of them had a small gouge that looked to have been caused by some kind of debris, and that would probably not have been a great thing to re-use. The cam matched though, so you can get a good gauge on your current lifters by inspecting the cam lobes from the cam that was pulled out. Since it sounds like a shop is doing this, it would probably boil down to weather the heads were coming off for anything for me. If they are, I would just put new lifters in it since you are already paying for 95% of the labor there. If heads were staying on and cam looked fine, I'd probably just put a new one in and send it. __________________ 2010 ABM 2SS/RS LS3 6 Speed -- Rotofab CAI \| Speed Engineering 1 7/8" Longtubes w/ cat Delete \| Magnaflow competition catback \| TSP 231/246 cam\| TSP/PAC .660" Spring Kit \| TSP CNC Ported Heads \| Bo White PTB \| GPI Ported/RM Intake \| 3.91's \| BC Catch Can \| MGW Shifter \| BMR 1" Drop Springs \| BMR Trailing arms/Toe Rods/Rear UCA Bushings \| Pegasus Subframe Mounts

12-09-2019, 09:39 AM	#13
dino2012ls3 Drives: 2012 ls3 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: humble Posts: 113	My first cam (notice the key word "first") only lasted bout 20k due to lifter failure. After that shop told me no worries everything is just fine. I guess I'll rolled the dice wrong. The second shop that replaced that cam and lifters highly recommended LS7 lifters. And now I'm just a tad over 40k on cam.

12-09-2019, 10:56 AM	#14
GONIF Drives: 73 VETTE ,, 05 2500hd diesel,14 1LE Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The Left lane PHOENIX AZ Posts: 2,626	IMHO, pull the heads, have them ported and make sure the guides are 100% and replace the lifters, springs, ,push rods, oil pump and timing chain and start fresh. __________________ OLD GUY FLYING FAST AND LOW