Stuck lifter

[Loki357]

Hi I have a 2009 suburban with 163.000 miles. I started hearing loud knocking noise coming from valve cover the other day. I just remove the cover and notice one of the rocker arms is moving back and forth easily. So I'm assuming it's a stuck lifter. My question is can i get away with just replacing that one stuck lifter or do I have to replace all them? Thanks 

[Jsdirt]

Back in the days of the 350, you could do this in a weekend (one day only!), and for under $50! Today is a different world.

 

The LS engine SUCKS as far as mechanical work goes. Book time to replace lifters on this engine is over TWENTY HOURS. Heads MUST come off to replace lifters on the LS engines. Also on these newer engines, you can't just replace the lifters with the AFM system. The VLOM has to be replaced as well. There's also a good chance your bad lifter wiped out the camshaft. In the professional auto repair industry, I've seen many techs get burned by trying shortcuts, like just replacing the bad lifter, or, replacing the lifters without replacing the VLOM - all ended in comebacks, and repeat problems. At your mileage, and the amount of work and money required to do the job right, in addition to other possible failures down the road, I'd go with a long block crate engine, and just swap over the usable parts from your OE engine. If you go with a junkyard or used engine, it had better be documented to have very low miles, or you'll run the risk of a repeat after all that work doing the swap. The old days when things were cheap and easy have been destroyed by the auto industry.

 

The new crate route depends on the condition of the body and frame. If you live where it snows, and they use road salt & liquid brine, it might be time for another truck in better condition, depending on how bad things look underneath. Manufacturers are sneaky today. They get the bodies to last longer than the old days, but the stuff that counts, everything underneath it, rusts out faster than ever in history.

[tlaw91]

+1 what jsdirt said.

Needs vlom and lifters. If it’s a southern truck, it’s straightforward. Here in Georgia trucks don’t age, I don’t hesitate to start removing exhausts on 20 year old vehicles they come off just like the day they left the factory it’s great. 5.3’s don’t smoke cams as often as 6.2’s, just be sure to roll the cam over when it’s off to make sure you don’t see anything scored.

If it’s a northern truck, you better have a welder handy with some throw away nuts to remove all the broken manifold bolts you’re about to have. Ugh. I hate northern trucks.

Anyways, hope we’ve helped!


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[Jsdirt]

I hate 'em too, tlaw! On the rare occasion we get a southern one, we take pics and call up all our buddies, lol - it's a big deal!

 

I got spoiled the 2 years I lived in Phoenix - didn't need a sledgehammer and torches for front end work.