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2008 Sierra 1500 5.3 Lifter Failure. What Would You Do?


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I have 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 Crew Cab that has 148K miles on it. Currently it is sitting in the shop (local shop not dealership) waiting to be repaired. It apparently has a lifter failure on cylinder 6.It is also intermittently generating a noise on the passenger side front drive train area. The quoted price for the lifter repair is $2100. The mechanic could not get the truck to make the strange noise coming out of the passenger side drive train. So, I realistically have two issues with the truck that need to be resolved.

 

Here is what I am thinking:

  • Pay the repair bill ($2100) for the lifter failure and drive it (also anticipating to repair what ever is going on with the front drive train).
  • Put a long block in it that has a 300K mileage warranty for $7500 and drive it for another 100k miles (also anticipating to repair what ever is going on with the front drive train).
  • Save the money on repairs to put into the trade of a truck for a newer model with fewer miles.

 

What would you do based on the information given, three scenarios listed above and why would you do it that way?

 

Side note: The past two GM trucks I have owned I put in excess of 300K miles and never went inside the motors. My past experience with these two GM trucks has made me very disappointed with my current GM truck. Did I get lucky with my past two GM trucks?

 

Thank you very much in advance for your feedback!

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Yep Like Bad Bowtie said. Get the AFM lifter delete kit. and have AFM totally removed from the equation.

 

Had a buddy with a 2008. AFM lifters went out on drive side bank around 125k. Had them fixed. Then the passenger side bank of AFM lifters went out about 3-4k later.

 

He sold the truck after that tho.

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It's always a very tough decision to make, keep throwing $ at it or start over. In my opinion, they ruined the very durable 5.3L engine with this AFM crap and you may never get close 300K from another 5.3 because of it so maybe getting rid of it as stated above and keeping this truck would be a good plan if the rest of it is solid. I tuned out my AFM right off the dealer lot when new so hoping for no trouble.

 

Noise from the front end could just be a bad wheel hub assembly, very common on these trucks and $300 to 400 to fix.

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I would buy an aftermarket cam & lifter kit (more HP), then have the AFM turned off (tune).

 

Thanks Bad Bowtie2 for the info!

 

What aftermarket cam and lifters do you recommend and how and or who does the AFM delete/detune? I live in the N. Texas area more specifically the DFW area.

 

Thanks again for the help!

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It's always a very tough decision to make, keep throwing $ at it or start over. In my opinion, they ruined the very durable 5.3L engine with this AFM crap and you may never get close 300K from another 5.3 because of it so maybe getting rid of it as stated above and keeping this truck would be a good plan if the rest of it is solid. I tuned out my AFM right off the dealer lot when new so hoping for no trouble.

 

Noise from the front end could just be a bad wheel hub assembly, very common on these trucks and $300 to 400 to fix.

 

Sir Dan, thanks for the feedback!

 

Unfortunately the noise from the passenger side front end is not the wheel hub assemblies. I replaced them while trying to figure out if that was the cause of the sound. One wheel hub was bad but it was not causing the sound.

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Not sure how long you have had this truck, but if its been a few years and its been good to you with no other issues then I would +1 on the aftermarket cam and lifter set. Nothing crazy just something with a bit more attitude.

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Not sure how long you have had this truck, but if its been a few years and its been good to you with no other issues then I would +1 on the aftermarket cam and lifter set. Nothing crazy just something with a bit more attitude.

 

What is the "Black Bear Tuned" I am reading posters are referring to?

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There are several hand held tuners that you can buy for your truck that will have options of pre loaded tunes set up for your specific truck. Black Bear Performance would take that to the next level. Go on their websight or search around the forum for them. They are very respected in here as well as other forums. Blackbearperformance.com I believe is the sight. You would perform a datalog of your vehicle (after purchase of the autocal, license, and software download), and send it to them. They in turn evaluate what your truck is doing based on your driving it and tailor a couple of custom tunes for your truck. For me, I have a couple of different tunes based on fuel grades, as well as the transmission tune. If your truck has a 6 speed transmission, you will really like what they can do for you... (kill the hunt).. I removed the AFM program as well as most of the "torque management". Butt dyno approved! Not exactly cheap but well worth it... :thumbs:

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$2100 to replace a lifter? Or even all the lifters and the camshaft?

 

The shop claims they have to pull the head to access the lifters. I think I read or saw somewhere on the internet for my engine, the head has to be pulled to access the lifters. Do you know if this is true on my 08 5.3L vortec engine?

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Heads have to come off to replace lifters. If you go in, replace ALL LIFTERS. I also would go aftermarket cam and lifters. Delete afm.

Wow - all I ever worked on was Pontiac engines so I never thought about pulling the heads for a lifter and cam. Learn something every day!

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Aftermarket cam for HP = worse mpg too. Just a thought if your conscious about that sort go thing. I. Kept the same cam lope, but aftermarket when mine delaminated. All new lifters, gaskets, trunion bearing upgrade, new water pump, labor, machining of heads, new cam, was $3100 for me.

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Heads have to come off to replace lifters. If you go in, replace ALL LIFTERS. I also would go aftermarket cam and lifters. Delete afm.

 

What aftermarket cam do you recommend and how do you delete the AFM?

 

Thanks!

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