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Will LS7 lifters work?

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Old 04-12-2008, 09:01 PM
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Will LS7 lifters work?

I heard they will work in a 87-98 SBC, is it true or false?
Old 04-12-2008, 09:25 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

OK, another site told me deffinatly.
Old 04-13-2008, 02:23 AM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

which site because i am curious about this as well?
Old 04-13-2008, 02:40 AM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

I was pretty sure they won't, as they are a larger diameter.
Any reason you'd want to use them? Something make them particularly good?
Old 04-13-2008, 02:53 AM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

i'm just trying to find a good set of lifters. i'm getting ready to do a cam swap and was looking for a good quality high rev lifter. i've heard the comp r's have gone down in quality and people are having problems with them.
Old 04-13-2008, 03:26 AM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

I have a guy who is a sponsor at another siste who stated that he uses them on his 383 engines he builds.


The reason t use them is that the sockers have issues of possible spinning in the lifter bore because above .530 lift the chance of dropping below the lifter retainer is possible on some cams, i am exceeding this lift with the next cam am was concerned.
Old 04-13-2008, 04:43 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

I'm sure I've heard of lots of LT1 guys using LS7 lifters in their motors, and the LT1 uses the same lifters as the '87+ small blocks don't they?

www.camaroz28.com is where I read that.
Old 04-13-2008, 04:58 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

The block would have to be machined. For up to .560 i would use stock if you don't spin the engine past around 6,200 rpms. After that i have had good luck with comp and lunati.

It's not a problem of going to low and dropping.... it's either going to break the retainer or bend it. We are talking about 10 year old technology meant for street driven, mass produced vehicles.

It works good for me at .510/.520 and mine is bad enough on the street.... At times i wish i had a milder engine in.
Old 04-13-2008, 07:38 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

They worked in my 383 with .520 .540 lift so i am just wondering about the bigger cam to come, i am going higher RPM so i think the LS7 lifters are a needed part.
Old 04-13-2008, 07:47 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

i've never heard of the excessive lift causing them to drop below the lifter bores

LT1 guys run them now as the LS7 lifters are now the replacements for LT1's and all GEN III/IV motors as far as i know

I researched this alot before deciding on LS7 lifters

Tommorrow or tuesday i hope to find out how they work in my block. I got abit over .600 lift on my cam and plan to spin up to 6500 rpms
Old 04-13-2008, 08:42 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

Originally Posted by Orr89RocZ
i've never heard of the excessive lift causing them to drop below the lifter bores

LT1 guys run them now as the LS7 lifters are now the replacements for LT1's and all GEN III/IV motors as far as i know

I researched this alot before deciding on LS7 lifters

Tommorrow or tuesday i hope to find out how they work in my block. I got abit over .600 lift on my cam and plan to spin up to 6500 rpms
Its an old trick to make the base circle of the cam smaller so that then they can get more lift out of the cam. Cause if they didnt reduce the base circle the lobes would be to tall, and wouldnt fit through the cam bearings.
Old 04-13-2008, 08:56 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

yeah my cam is a smaller base circle cam. Its just the first time i have heard of cam lift causing lifters to drop too low in the bore and possibly come out. I cant allow that to happen So now i will have to check that out

i understand the smaller base circle means the lifter will drop down more but i didnt think it would be THAT much of a difference in traveled motion. Here are some measurements. we are talking about a .30" difference in lobe size (diameter) from my custom cam with .603 lift to my L98 cam with .443 lift intake side with the 1.6 rockers.

Lifter bore on my late model block is around 1.68 inches tall. LS7 lifter is 2.5 inches top to bottom of roller. Stock lifter is same size. Cam lobes sit about .585" below the bottom of the lifter bore. So with the lifter top sitting flush at top of the lifter bore, there will be 0.82" of lifter extending out the bottom of the bore. Since the cam lobe at its lowest point is only another .585" down, there is plenty of room for that cam circle. there will be like .23" of lifter sticking above the top of the lifter bore.

For max lift the lobe raises about .383 inches so there is still plenty of lifter space to rise up the bore and not go too high

Last edited by Orr89RocZ; 04-13-2008 at 09:12 PM.
Old 04-14-2008, 07:50 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

I wonder if they use the same size roller wheel. You know cams are built taking that into account in their design. Using the wrong size roller wheel than what the cam is built for will cause problems.

Anybody got any pictures of a stock lifter side-by-side with an LS7 lifter?
Old 04-14-2008, 08:20 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

i'll upload one in a minute
Old 04-14-2008, 08:32 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?




ls7 on left, L98 on right

both same size wheel. .500 inch diameter with a track of .350 on cam lobe
Old 04-14-2008, 09:05 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

If they work in the LT1 there is no reason they will not work in the L98. In fact the Lt1 uses the same cam as the L98 except for the longer front pin for the Opti. I would check out the Cadillac racing lifters. Suppose to be a good bang for the buck.
Old 04-14-2008, 09:39 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

they are a good bang. lightweight parts up to 8000-8500 rpms!! Thats a crazy lifter for 220 bucks
Old 04-14-2008, 09:54 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

have a part number handy?
Old 04-14-2008, 10:06 PM
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Re: Will LS7 lifters work?

Try part number 88958689. I don't know if that is for 1 or 16. Scoggin Dickey Performance Center is supposed to have a good price on the.
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