Hydraulic Roller Lifters

[mikeyb1987]

Hi all,

I need to buy a new set of lifters so was after recommendations from all that have changed their cam/rebuilt their engine. I have been using some Brian Tooley slow leakdown lifters, but one has failed

It seems LS7 lifters are in vogue again (they were getting slated). Other than that, it seems some people who have upgraded their cam have just used standard GM lifters. Another option is Johnson lifters. Ha anybody used these or other lifters?

Thoughts/recommendations are welcome

Thanks

Mike

[Mud_]

I used them because the cam was relatively mild and the general principle OE equipment is typically good stuff whilst aftermarket is more dicey. There is loads of discussion on LS7 lifters on ls1tech and ls1gto though, contentious as you say.

[mikeyb1987]

Mud_ said:

I used them because the cam was relatively mild and the general principle OE equipment is typically good stuff whilst aftermarket is more dicey. There is loads of discussion on LS7 lifters on ls1tech and ls1gto though, contentious as you say.

What is your cam spec Ben? I'm swaying towards OE lifters if I'm honest.

Funnily enough, it was one of your posts (pre- T/R) that helped diagnose my issue- a chirping noise like you get with knackered pulleys. Took the belts off and the squeak was still there

[stevieturbo]

Really isnt much need to deviate from GM stuff unless you've a fairly wild setup.

Morels etc are considered upgrades...worth the money though ? Hard to say

You've just been unfortunate to have a failure, rather than a fault of the product itself I'm sure.

Are all installed preloads correct ? ie correct pushrod length ?

[ARAF]

Didn't someone use Caddy roller lifters as a better and quality component?

[mfp4073]

ARAF said:

Didn't someone use Caddy roller lifters as a better and quality component?

That does ring a bell, I think they may have been factory lifters for a CTS-V ?

[Mud_]

mikeyb1987 said:

What is your cam spec Ben? I'm swaying towards OE lifters if I'm honest.

Funnily enough, it was one of your posts (pre- T/R) that helped diagnose my issue- a chirping noise like you get with knackered pulleys. Took the belts off and the squeak was still there

.6" lift (222/226 115+3) - any more and I would have probably gone expensive aftermarket, but not based on anything other than reading the general consensus on the forums. I think GSD2000 knows a lot about aftermarket lifters.

Once you start hearing things from your engine it's easy to get super paranoid...so many scare stories and not a quiet engine (especially with a placcy intake and headers it would seem!).

[granjuiceymoose]

mikeyb1987 said:

What is your cam spec Ben? I'm swaying towards OE lifters if I'm honest.

Funnily enough, it was one of your posts (pre- T/R) that helped diagnose my issue- a chirping noise like you get with knackered pulleys. Took the belts off and the squeak was still there

Hi Mikey, could you notice any difference when driving the car? Mine tweeted like a flock of birds was under there at times, I'm slowly getting the pulleys replaced and its seems to be improving but still chrips and tweets, just more quietly. I should add my engine is standard however, so I'm hoping its just pulleys, certainly no issues when driving.

[stevieturbo]

mfp4073 said:

That does ring a bell, I think they may have been factory lifters for a CTS-V ?

I've had LS7's and Caddy...TBH couldnt really tell the difference. Certainly dont recall anything major between them

[MyM8V8]

ARAF said:

Didn't someone use Caddy roller lifters as a better and quality component?

[mikeyb1987]

stevieturbo said:

Really isnt much need to deviate from GM stuff unless you've a fairly wild setup.

Morels etc are considered upgrades...worth the money though ? Hard to say

You've just been unfortunate to have a failure, rather than a fault of the product itself I'm sure.

Are all installed preloads correct ? ie correct pushrod length ?

I'm starting to think GM lifters are the way forward. It's not a wild cam setup per se. It's a comp cam LSR so the lobes are not the mildest. Lift is circa 0.610.

I'm happy the preloads/pushrods etc were correct- it was AAS that installed the parts.

I think you're right- I've just been unlucky that one has failed.

[mikeyb1987]

Mud_ said:

.6" lift (222/226 115+3) - any more and I would have probably gone expensive aftermarket, but not based on anything other than reading the general consensus on the forums. I think GSD2000 knows a lot about aftermarket lifters.

Once you start hearing things from your engine it's easy to get super paranoid...so many scare stories and not a quiet engine (especially with a placcy intake and headers it would seem!).

My cam spec isn't wildly different from yours. Do you know the pet number of the lifters you fitted?

I'll be sure to be paranoid of any future noises!!

[mikeyb1987]

granjuiceymoose said:

Hi Mikey, could you notice any difference when driving the car? Mine tweeted like a flock of birds was under there at times, I'm slowly getting the pulleys replaced and its seems to be improving but still chrips and tweets, just more quietly. I should add my engine is standard however, so I'm hoping its just pulleys, certainly no issues when driving.

Hi Michael, no difference in driveability at all. It genuinely sounded like a knackered pulley. It was only when I got round to taking off the second pulley that I realised there was a greater issue. One slight difference was that when it's a pulley noise, it's usually more distinctive when cold. On reflection, mine was slightly noisier when warm.
I should add it only squeaked around idle to 1,500 rpm.

[Mud_]

mikeyb1987 said:

My cam spec isn't wildly different from yours. Do you know the pet number of the lifters you fitted?

I'll be sure to be paranoid of any future noises!!

12499225 appears to be the p/n for a box of LS7 lifters - short of new old stock, I don't think you can go far wrong though as it's just a box of GM lifters (standard replacement for LS1/LS2 now).

[mikeyb1987]

Mud_ said:

mikeyb1987 said:

My cam spec isn't wildly different from yours. Do you know the pet number of the lifters you fitted?

I'll be sure to be paranoid of any future noises!!

12499225 appears to be the p/n for a box of LS7 lifters - short of new old stock, I don't think you can go far wrong though as it's just a box of GM lifters (standard replacement for LS1/LS2 now).

Cheers mate. That's the part number I've been coming across when searching, which is good

[THUNDER STORM]

Mickey, just out of interest for you , plenty on Ebay from states if cheaper than uk suppliers.

Ade

[ringram]

I went around in a circle and ended up with LS7 race lifters. from GMPP.
They just seem to work and are probably the most widely used. LS7 is stock fit now IIRC like the clutches.

[mikeyb1987]

THUNDER STORM said:

Mickey, just out of interest for you , plenty on Ebay from states if cheaper than uk suppliers.

Ade

Cheers Ade. I was planning on buying them from the states

[mikeyb1987]

ringram said:

I went around in a circle and ended up with LS7 race lifters. from GMPP.
They just seem to work and are probably the most widely used. LS7 is stock fit now IIRC like the clutches.

Cheers Rich. Are the race lifters the same part number as the ones above?

ETA- a quick Google suggests they are

[ringram]

Yeah I think all the others got superseded by what used to be the LS7 race lifters..