Lifter & Cam Shaft are done.

[brandonbalat]

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster. I have a question for the smart people on this forum. My 2012 Camaro SS has never had an issue until recently when I started hearing a loud ticking noise that increased with RPM. Took this issue into the dealer and turns out they think it’s a lifter problem and apparently when the lifter goes it’s likely the can shaft goes. So according to them I’d be in minimum 3-5k depending on the camshaft. I reached out to some more car savvy friends and they think my best bet is replacing the problematic parts with performance parts and overall beefing the engine up while I’m at it for a similar price. I’m obviously not very engine savvy. I’m interested in it, I just didn’t grow up with someone who was savvy with engines so I never really learned. I’m interested in spending the same amount to just building my car up. But I don’t really know what to look into. This is my daily driver and my goals with this upgrade would be to increase speed and performance without being TOO loud. I realize anything will likely make the car louder, and I’m fine and excited with that I just don’t want to get too loud where I’m kind of embarrassed by it. My friends recommend a Texas speed lifter kit and cam shaft. Which after reading this forum appears to be recommended. My question is really what else can I do within that budget that’s not super loud. Any advice would be appreciated, I’d also love if anyone had any recommendations on how to get more knowledgeable about what I need to do because obviously this situation is subjective. This is a stock camaro with minor cosmetics done to it, so beyond the lifters and the cam shaft this is a clean slate always wanted to add at minimum exhaust to it. Just never really had the money disposable income until now. I’m 27 had the car since 2013.

[Bigdumogre]

Are you doing the job yourself ? You will also need a tune if changing the cam.
When doing it you will need a new cam, lifters, trays, high volume oil pump while you are in there , timing chain plus valley cover.
If you bring it too a shop they have cam packages already set up and cam do a custom grind cam that would fit your needs. Usually cost 4-5k depending on parts and labor

[Rmkuper]

I'm not sure that I agree the cam is bad just because the lifters are bad. Is it a automatic or manual?

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[joshnmn]

Agreed. IF it’s a lifter then it may have damaged a cam lobe, but may not have as well. Have to see the litter to tell.

[hawkyV8]

In order to reap the benefits of a bigger cam you need to allow the motor to breathe. Long tube headers will help with that but they will be much louder. Obviously a cold air intake would be recommended as well.


It looks like you live in Cali. That alone creates all kinds of issues doesn't it?

[Greenhornet2]

Are you automatic or stick?
Auto do the AFM delete mild cam VVT or not up to you I would ask your tuner what they are comfortable with.
Stick doesn't have AFM or VVT so it is an easier job. If you want to talk cams contact BTR and tell them what you are looking for and they can get you the right cam for what you want or custom grind one. You will also want a good trunnion upgrade BTR V2 or CHE (what I have) Stick to under .600 lift if you are putting a lot of miles on it, will increase the life of your valve springs (I will be changing mine every 25k miles). Other things you can do is melling oil pump. I didn't as I didn't want to drop my pan so mine is still stock. Works fine.

Just doing a Cam isn't going to make it a lot louder. That said, if doing the cam I would also recommend headers and high flow cats, this will increase the exhaust decibel, but with cats and stock exhaust will still be reasonable. All of this requires tuning. The only issue I see is you are in California so your options will be limited. If you aren't doing the work yourself you'll want to research performance shops in your area and make sure they know what they are doing.

[brandonbalat]

Originally Posted by Rmkuper

I'm not sure that I agree the cam is bad just because the lifters are bad. Is it a automatic or manual?

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It’s a manual. To clarify it’s not a done deal the camshaft is gone as well. The dealer was essentially preparing me for the worst possible scenario once they get the heads off a actually go in there and look.

[brandonbalat]

Originally Posted by hawkyV8

In order to reap the benefits of a bigger cam you need to allow the motor to breathe. Long tube headers will help with that but they will be much louder. Obviously a cold air intake would be recommended as well.


It looks like you live in Cali. That alone creates all kinds of issues doesn't it?

Yes California is tough on smog. Technically, there’s plenty of guys that will hit smog your vehicle. But ideally I’d like to keep it smog legal to avoid the headache.

[brandonbalat]

Originally Posted by Greenhornet2

Are you automatic or stick?
Auto do the AFM delete mild cam VVT or not up to you I would ask your tuner what they are comfortable with.
Stick doesn't have AFM or VVT so it is an easier job. If you want to talk cams contact BTR and tell them what you are looking for and they can get you the right cam for what you want or custom grind one. You will also want a good trunnion upgrade BTR V2 or CHE (what I have) Stick to under .600 lift if you are putting a lot of miles on it, will increase the life of your valve springs (I will be changing mine every 25k miles). Other things you can do is melling oil pump. I didn't as I didn't want to drop my pan so mine is still stock. Works fine.

Just doing a Cam isn't going to make it a lot louder. That said, if doing the cam I would also recommend headers and high flow cats, this will increase the exhaust decibel, but with cats and stock exhaust will still be reasonable. All of this requires tuning. The only issue I see is you are in California so your options will be limited. If you aren't doing the work yourself you'll want to research performance shops in your area and make sure they know what they are doing.

Thanks for the tips. I won’t be doing the work myself, but I do have a performance shop in my area who friends of mine have used on their cars and recommend their work I trust them. Question, I think I may take this opportunity to throw and exhaust on while this work is being done. I’d like to throw some headers on, but is it possible to keep the exhaust noise level down when doing that? To be clear I’m not scared of louder than stock, I’m just more concerned with noise levels being to much while driving casually. Highway driving or city cruising, I don’t want to be drawing attention to myself essentially.

[brandonbalat]

Originally Posted by brandonbalat

Thanks for the tips. I won’t be doing the work myself, but I do have a performance shop in my area who friends of mine have used on their cars and recommend their work I trust them. Question, I think I may take this opportunity to throw and exhaust on while this work is being done. I’d like to throw some headers on, but is it possible to keep the exhaust noise level down when doing that? To be clear I’m not scared of louder than stock, I’m just more concerned with noise levels being to much while driving casually. Highway driving or city cruising, I don’t want to be drawing attention to myself essentially.

It’s an manual also to answer your question.

[brandonbalat]

I should also clarify the car has about 110k miles on it. The motor is definitely warn by this point. Is there any supporting mods that may be valuable given the mileage?

[Rmkuper]

Well if all they did was listen it might not even be the lifter. Anyway If it were me and I did not want it to be obnoxious(not me btw chop, chop, chop) I would just go with LS9 CAM, lifters and a trunion upgrade on the rockers. Have them replace the timing chain, oil pump and get rid if that trash timing chain tensioner and replace it with an LS2 dampener while they have it open and call it a day.

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[brandonbalat]

Also, forget to mention. I will be getting this tuned and Dyna’d after making this upgrade. To make sure my car is running right after these mods.

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Originally Posted by brandonbalat

I should also clarify the car has about 110k miles on it. The motor is definitely warn by this point. Is there any supporting mods that may be valuable given the mileage?

110k ?? At this point she is just getting broke in good!! There are plenty of folks on here that are way over that mileage and have had zero issues. If the motor is worn by this point, something is really wrong. These LS engines will run forever when cared for properly, even built up.