Catastrophic roller lifter failure

[Bagged Dually]

I pulled a bad lifter out of my little brother Tahoe last night with a 5.3L in it. We had to pull the heads to even get at the lifter. What a job that was. The bad lifter didn't want to come out and I couldn't figure out why. Little did I know what we were about to find. This thing started making a ticking noise about a month ago. It ticked for a few miles and than quit. Than last week it started the ticking noise again but this time it never went away and just kept getting louder. We figured out it was the lifter and found this catastrophic failure. The lifter took the cam with it and who knows what else. I'm really hoping the rest of the missing roller tip is in the oil pan when we get it apart. Anyone have any idea why this lifter would fail this way?? Any predictions on where we might find the roller at??

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[bucket]

I'd say it probably started with a rusted/pitted cam lobe. I don't have much experience at all with the 5.3, but I have seen that before.

 

[89Suburban]

Ouch.

Is this a factory motor?

 

[Bagged Dually]

Yep it's 100% stock. It's my sister in laws truck so I'd say it doesn't get beat on to much either. It was still running really well when we pulled it apart also. Just making a slight knocking noise from the valve train.
I know something was wrong when we had to use a slide hammer welded to a pair of vise grips to pull it out after an hour of trying. It also put a slight groove in the lifter bore. Not a good situation at all. I've seen a lot of catastrophic engine failure in my life but I've never seen a lifter fail like this.

 

[HotRodPC]

Oh damn. I know that left a mark !!!

 

[89Suburban]

What year is it?


Posted while on the porcelain throne

 

[Bagged Dually]

I think it's a 2004.
The cam is smoked also. I looked down through the lifter bore and that lobe looks like it went threw a wood chipper. Pretty sure the engine is goin to have to come out on this one. I've not tore apart an LS series engine beyond the heads but I think the oil pump has to come out to remove the cam. What a PITA. Might be best to pull the engine, get it on a stand, get the pan off and see how much metal we can get out.

 

[HotRodPC]

I think it's a 2004.
The cam is smoked also. I looked down through the lifter bore and that love looks like it went threw a wood chipper. Pretty sure the engine is goin to have to come out on this one. I've not tore apart an LS series engine beyond the heads but I think the oil pump has to come out to remove the cam. What a PITA. Might be best to pull the engine, get it on a stand, get the pan off and see how much metal we can get out.

And if the pump picked up any find particles of metal, I'd hate to see those bearings.

 

[wagonman]

I Have done quite a few of the LS cams.Seem to remember a service bulliten about roller lifter bearing failures and cam lobes with poor hardening.That thing is the worst I have ever seen.

 

[Bagged Dually]

I'll post a pic of the cam when ever we get around to getting it taken out. It's the first cam I've ever seen with a dent in the love. I didn't even think that was possible.

 

[crazy4offroad]

Piston/valve contact?

 

[Bagged Dually]

Piston/valve contact?

Nope. Not that I can see. So far everything but the cam and lifter appear to be in great shape. This goofy thing was even still running just like normal when we started on it. It was just making a ticking like a bad lifter tick lol.

 

[89Suburban]

You been playing with this?

 

[AJII]

I think it's a 2004.
The cam is smoked also. I looked down through the lifter bore and that lobe looks like it went threw a wood chipper. Pretty sure the engine is goin to have to come out on this one. I've not tore apart an LS series engine beyond the heads but I think the oil pump has to come out to remove the cam. What a PITA. Might be best to pull the engine, get it on a stand, get the pan off and see how much metal we can get out.

You've probably found out by now, but the oil pump does NOT have to come off to remove the cam. Just the timing cover.