LS7 crate engines

[craig7l]

cross posted from engine forum..
beware of crate LS7s built jan07 to aug07 due to documented needle bearing failure
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1...

or insist on a 2008 built engine to be sure?

[jschwartz]

Yes, but a small percentage of failures, 28 out of how many thousands.

[San Diego GTR]

Jeff,
For those of us that just want to play it safe, can you please provide us with the part number of your favorite suggested rocker arms? A step by step procedure to change them out would be really nice too if you don't mind.
Thanks,
Paul

[ringram]

Harland Sharp provide stock arms with rebuilt bearings and a big circlip
The stock arms are pretty good and hard to beat. Weight and strength wise.

http://www.harlandsharp.com/

[Boosted LS1]

^ I'd be quite happy to use the stock arms as well. I've only ever seen one arm that had lost some needles and that was an ls1 many years ago. Also, the missing needle rollers had just dropped down to the sump without causing any issues. I do like the ls7 valvetrain, nice and light. Don't know if it's top dog but reckon GM put a lot of work into it.

[craig7l]

jschwartz said:

Yes, but a small percentage of failures, 28 out of how many thousands.

I am not convinced on that....28 reports on that forum.... i would probabaly, for peace of mind sake, make sure it was a recent built motor (08)

[ringram]

As mentioned there is no issue with dropped pins, they wont go anywhere except into the sump. I guess you just need to catch the arm in time.
GM fix is to only replace the failed arm.