Well the cam came in and as I was installing it 4 lifters dropped <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> . Makes the 3rd cam swap on this truck and I guess the holders just were not up to the job of holding anymore. Had to drop the front diff to remove the oil pan and remove the lifters. Of course I had to take the right head and intake off to reinstall the lifters. Now my truck is down until I can locate the head gasket and bolts. Local dealer sucks. Know any sponsers who carry them? I need em quick so I can get this baby running again. Thanks for your help or anybody else who chimes in.

 

Check GM Performance parts they have head gaskets for small blocks but i can't verify the part numbers at the moment.

 

paceparts.com

 

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> Hate to hear that guys! Put some thinner head gaskets on that motor <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Jason

 

Oh man. Bad luck. Something always messes up the fairly easy jobs.

Question: Did the holders fail because it was the 3rd cam swap, or are they semi worn due to the higher mileage of the motor? I have about 50K right now, and dont want to have to worry about dropping lifters when I change my cam.

Not sure about the gaskets either. I bet it will be difficult to find an aftermarket gasket for the 5.3 bore. NAPA makes an inexpensive gasket for the LS1, but I dont know about the LM7. I also haven't heard anything about aftermarket "inexpensive" head bolts. You may be stuck with getting GM stuff.

Keep me informed please. Good luck w/ the finish.

- one more thing - How many miles do you have? How do the cylinders look after you pulled the head?

Richard

 

Well after much research I found I was SOL. Had to get the GM stuff from a dealer 50 miles away and the head gaskets are on backorder. I may get them by Friday from what the parts guy told me. I gave him my vin so he could input it as a vehicle down and to hurry the hell up and send em.
The truck has 21,000 miles on her. Not my daily driver. The cylinder bores looked excellent with no wear apparent. I believe the holders were just worn. This is the last cam for me so I am not to worried about them. Some cross hatch still remains and mine does not knock either <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" /> . The combustion chambers had little carbon as was the intake tract. If you want I can snap a few pics for you if ya want em to show the bore and any other thing you may want to see. Mostly have it back together now except for the head and intake. I just work on it when I have time.
By the way if you need to remove the pan it is a hell of a lot easier to lower the front axle about 5 inches instead of pulling the motor. I did not have to remove the axle completely just enough to get the pan off.
One day I will be <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" /> again. Later

 

I would love to see some pics if It's not much trouble. My truck has 24678K on it now, Not bad for 2 years.Thanks And good luck...