spankis Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 So these issues all began in THIS thread, where I was trying to diagnose a mystery misfire and MAF/Vacuum issue on my parent's 2003 suburban. After my early diagnosis was inconclusive, more than a few people claimed it was the intake gasket, but replacing that didn't help either. I gave up and my parents took it to Mcdorman Chevrolet near their home, where they ended up pulling the valve cover. They came to the conclusion that a lobe on the cam is apparently worn and their diagnosis reads that the "lifter/rocker is rough". From there my dad took it to a shop he's used for many years in Baltimore for a second opinion. That shop also concluded that the cam is likely bad, but that compression is good. Nobody has pulled a head off yet, so I'm not entirely sure how they are determining this with much certainty? Are they measuring valve lift I assume? Right now the truck is my mom's daily driver, and it is the only tow vehicle for my parents camper. Although my Dad would like a Diesel he's not in a position to buy one right now. What is the next step? First get a better diagnosis? Rebuild current motor or drop a new one in it? If the cam is wiped do you put a cam and lifters in it and call it a day? What is reasonable in this situation? Should I be skeptical of it having a wiped cam? The truck has 155kish miles on it, but is VERY clean and is otherwise mechanically perfect.... Any internal work on it is beyond my comfort level, so I'm just trying to offer my dad good advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMeanGreen Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Throw some CTS-V lifters and LS6 cam in it and call it a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEMAN1647545504 Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Put a new cam and lifters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 If that's all it needs, where does all that metal go? And what causes that kind of damage in the first place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Throw some CTS-V lifters and LS6 cam in it and call it a day. Also, if this is a serious suggestion, isn't that more of a top-end horsepower cam? The truck is used for towing at nearly 90% of its rated capacity, so low-end torque would be the goal if the cam is changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Also, if this is a serious suggestion, isn't that more of a top-end horsepower cam? The truck is used for towing at nearly 90% of its rated capacity, so low-end torque would be the goal if the cam is changed. you will probably make more tq and more horsepower with the ls6 cam. And if there is mteal shavings anywhere drain the oil look at it and see if there is any in the oil then pull the pan and see if the mag has shavings on it. Or just buy a new ls motor to swap into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Keep opinions/ideas coming here. Does the 6.0L drop into a 5.3 truck fine? Require a tune/bellhousing/etc.? Options on interchangeability that would be well suited for towing would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Keep opinions/ideas coming here. Does the 6.0L drop into a 5.3 truck fine? Require a tune/bellhousing/etc.? Options on interchangeability that would be well suited for towing would be appreciated. I dont think it is a complete direct drop in but it shoul not need to many changes at that. It probably would not hurt to tune it either way. Look over on ls1tech a little and I am sure you will be able to find everything you need to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Isn't that a roller cam? That is suspiciously early from my limited experience for a lobe to be wiped. I'd suspect lifter failure that accelerated cam wear on that lobe, but either way throw a new cam with good lifter(s) in it and be done. The only wiped lobes I've seen were from high-mileage flat-tappet sbcs, or ones that were badly abused. I've pulled out roller cams with almost 200k on them that looked fresh and were completely fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Isn't that a roller cam? That is suspiciously early from my limited experience for a lobe to be wiped. I'd suspect lifter failure that accelerated cam wear on that lobe, but either way throw a new cam with good lifter(s) in it and be done. The only wiped lobes I've seen were from high-mileage flat-tappet sbcs, or ones that were badly abused. I've pulled out roller cams with almost 200k on them that looked fresh and were completely fine. I talked to Rob yesterday and he suspected the same. It has ran great up to this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 I honestly wouldn't be too worried about it. It's not a bad job to do, and won't cost very much either. Plus while you're in there you can check out other stuff (timing set etc.) and be good for another 150k miles I'll bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Very cool, anybody have suggestions for a good towing cam. Maybe the LS6 is a good option and I'm just misunderstanding or misinformed? Cheaper GM products rather than aftermarket would be great too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMeanGreen Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 LS6 would be decent and can be had for $100 of you look around. The job itself only takes a few hours, you could do it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 LS6 would be decent and can be had for $100 of you look around. The job itself only takes a few hours, you could do it yourself. The cam maybe I could, but I don't trust myself to go over everything else to ensure that anything damaged gets replaced. You basically pull the grill, radiator, condenser, etc. out of the way and pull it straight out the front I assume... If I had time and it were my own car I might make it a learning experience, but for my mother's only car I just want to get it back together quickly and correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Automotive Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Problem with wiping a cam lobe is detonation. Its a good way to get piston slap down the road. You can replace all the valve train and still have a problem. If someone gets in there to do it or you do, you need to hit the affected cylinder with a micrometer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brent1976 Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 If you do the 6.0l swap, it was one of the easiest things I have done to my truck. My 2 friends and I pulled the motor, swapped all accessories, and reinstalled the 6.0 in about 3 hours, and we were taking our time. It was a new longblock though, and didn't have to fight with old bolts or anything. Only thing it needs is a tune, but the 4l60e is the next week link. If you are going with a cam, the ls6 cam probably would be a bit of an improvement over the stock cam through all rpms, but will make the truck able to be reved higher than 5500 after it's tuned for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadz89GTA Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Keep opinions/ideas coming here. Does the 6.0L drop into a 5.3 truck fine? Require a tune/bellhousing/etc.? Options on interchangeability that would be well suited for towing would be appreciated. Your oilpan/intake/acceosries will all bolt. Just put a 5.3 in my Camaro due to my LS1 shitting itself, 6L's are more pricey and complete 5.3's can be had cheap got mine with trans and all the crap for 600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Keep opinions/ideas coming here. Does the 6.0L drop into a 5.3 truck fine? Require a tune/bellhousing/etc.? Options on interchangeability that would be well suited for towing would be appreciated. Bolts right in, minor tuning required. An engine with roller lifters having an issue like this would have me concerned. Are they sure it's not a bent pushrod? Pushrods are much more common. IMHO, buy a used 5.3 and swap it. Done. Given the mileage and the fact that it's used for a daily, it seems like an easy choice to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 i've seen cams wipe in less than 30k. sometimes there just isn't anything you could have done to prevent it. just replace the cam and lifters. its an easy job thats cheeper than a 6.0L swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Not entirely sure on anything yet, which is why it is difficult to make a very good decision at all. Sounds like I'm right to be suspicious of a "for sure" declaration of a wiped cam without having had the heads off.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 you can tell with a dial indacator taking the rockers off and measuring lift when turning the engine over. i wonder if you having a lifter collaps on you, that would cause all these issues. does the engine have alot of ticking that lasts more than a few mins when started? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SinisterSS Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 (edited) not sure what direction your heading but if you don't want to spend tons of money and if these parts will work in a 5.3L, I have some used lifters, rocker arms, push rods, camshaft, oil pan, I think I still have the oil pick up tube that goes in the pan(not sure if either will work in the 5.3L), a few valves and valve springs out of a 6.0L LQ9 block that had less then 1,500 miles on it, I bought a long block for my camaro and didn't use any of that stuff, I had a set of LS6 valve springs and retainers but those are spoken for, I just wanted the block Edited June 24, 2010 by SinisterSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 Sure does have some ticking, AJ. I honestly started hearing it probably 6 months ago when I last drove it, but wrote it off as the start of an exhaust leak. It's always been really faint until the misfire started. Craig, I'll keep you i mind if he decides to go that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 So, problem solved. Dad traded it in on a new Cummins Ram with a 6 spd manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 where at and what color was the truck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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