I was just wondering what is involved in changing the lifters when I make the cam swap? Do the heads have to be removed? I had bought new lifters due to having 83000 miles on my truck. I was wondering what needs to be done in order to change them? I had seen a picture of an LS1 with out heads and you can see the lifters, but I was wondering is that the only way? I did not buy new head gaskets or bolts and dont really have the money to right now. Can I reuse the bolts if I have to remove the heads? Thanks for any help

 

You have to remove the heads ... head gaskets are about 36 a piece. You can get the OEM head bolts from some of the sponsers for about 60 for the set. ARP bolts are just over 100 I think, but the studs run up to roughly 200.

But .. to get to the lifters, yes, you have to pull the heads off.

 

that really sucks, What if I use my stock lifters do you think I will have any problems? aslo has anyone ever reused the head bolts?

 

im running my stock lifetrs with no problems.

 

mine are bad

 

when my cam gets changed, i'll be using the same lifters and bolts. i will by some new head gaskets. basically, i am gonna get what i need to get and nothing more. if i blow the bastard up, then i'll get a job and buy a 6.0. or ask my brother in law for some money. which ever seems easier.

 

If only I could do that. Well I went and ripped her all apart yesterday and will post up some pictures in a new forum. I pulled the heads off and my stock lifters look fine but I have already bought a set of Comp cam High energy roller lifters so thay will be going in. I will be getting some port work on the heads while they are off so hopfuly I will hit a high 13 on slicks.

 

I reused the head bolts on a 340 after the heads got a valve job. The factory repair manual said nothing about using new bolts. That engine had higher compression (10.5:1) than my 4.8 . I used a solid copper gasket and just retorqued a couple of times after some running and had no problems.

 

you cannot reuse the head bolts. they are torque to yeild bolts. i know it sucks but that mean that when they were torqued at the factory they were stretched to a point X. then one they have been used once they will never provide a proper seal. THe old adage goes "if you can't afford to do it right the first time, where are you going to find the money to fix it right the second time?" As for the lifters. inspect and clean them than reuse them if no visable damage and the wheels spin freely and show no damage. I have 130K plus miles on mine with no problems what so ever.

 

by the way, it's not the lifters that wear, it's the valve springs that start to get spongy. If you are going to replace anything do gaskets, head bolts, and valve springs. Hope that helps some