AFM/DOD OE repair

[madmax032]

Why not just do a DOD delete and use a stock GM LS3 cam? I did this in mine with and spent around $600. That was with sourcing out a used LS3 cam off the Camaro forums. I ended up find a used cam with 18k on it for $100 and that included the valve springs. I got my DOD kit from Texas-speed that was only $480 but that didn't include shipping since I was able to pick it up from them. I think you would be better off doing a delete rather than replacing.

I would really like to keep my lame tiny cam and DOD since I already get bad enough gas mileage for my long daily commute. Also, I don't have a lot of time to work on this so assuming that the cam is not borked, I would rather just pop off the heads, swap the lifters with the second design, and be done with it. Not as fun but functional!

[LDM]

Are you certain it's one of the DOD lifters that's ticking and not one of the other eight?

For just replacing lifters, you could probably get by with just new head gaskets, new head bolts, and new exhaust gaskets. Intake and valve cover gaskets should be reusable. Rocker bolts are reusable. If the ticking lifter damaged the cam at all though then your parts list just increased a bit...

[wnathan57]

I think once you figure out exactly what the problem is will help you decide. Also if it is a lifter that's failed, it would be better to get rid of the dod. Also the ls3 cam can run on the stock gt tune you will just have to have the dod turned off.

Stock l76 cam - 200/208......0.472/0.479
stock ls3 cam - 204/211 .551/.525

Not much of a difference from the l76 cam and the ls3 cam.

[madmax032]

While it is not the preferred option by most, I ended up going with an OE DOD lifter replacement as the cam was undamaged. I was able to get a nice close look at it with my inspection camera and there was no scoring or pitting. I did replace the regular lifters with some new LS7 lifters as they were fairly cheap and it seemed like a good idea

While the heads were off, I got to see that the rather pristine cylinders that still had their crosshatching. I suppose that the engine is in pretty decent shape otherwise!


While the first few minutes after startup were scary from all of the lifter clattering (despite me soaking the new lifters in oil beforehand), the engine smoothed out and lifters quieted down. Aside from the poor coolant temp sensor that I accidentally murdered while torquing the heads, I would say mission success!

[Doug Hilliard]

Not sure if you primed the oil pump before start up but you can pull the fuel pump fuse in the trunk, with plugs removed, go through three crank cycles (hold the key in start position till it times out). This keeps the load off the internals while the oil pump gets oil all through the system including lifters.

[BobinHSV]

A DOD Delete is a long term remedy. These engines run for 400K miles on non DOD versions. If you read the technical description of the DOD system, you will want to remove it. The lifters have a separate port which disables the lifter by releasing a small (real small) pin which allows the lifter internal parts to prevent valve opening. Very complex, small parts with catastrophic results on failure. By the way, a new, from GM LS3 cam is only $128.23, so I would never us a used one. Extremely good insurance for good engine life if you catch it before it fills the engine with tiny metal bits.

[MongosG8]

This is something Im considering. The parts are very reasonable. I priced a kit from Pace last year and I now have some $ I put aside. We have a new service manager at work ..he came from Chevy. Been a tech for over 30 years ..LS specialist. First thing he asked was did you get rid if that DOD shit yet?