How to replace lifters and head gaskets on a Chevy 5.3 Vortec LS engine. COMPLETE GUIDE - Part 3

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Complete guide detailing the process of replacing both head gaskets and lifters on a GM 5.3L LS engine. Specifically, the engines found in Chevy Silverado, Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban vehicles, GMC Sierra and Yukon vehicles, and Cadillac Escalade.
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Buy the torque angle gauge here: amzn.to/33OYnQw
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Camshaft replacement video: • Chevy GMC Cadillac 5.3...
Part 1: • How to replace lifters...
Part 2: • How to replace lifters...
Part 3: • How to replace lifters...
Part 4: • How to replace lifters...
Part 5: • How to replace lifters...
Part 6: • How to replace lifters...

[@Only1JOAT]

I watched your videos to pull my head and fix my stuck lifter. A shop requested I get another motor although my truck ran perfectly fine before my lifter got stuck. I saved myself a bunch of money watching your videos my guy.. thanks a million

[@greglopez2217]

How long did it take you to do it?

[@Only1JOAT]

1 week but I was only working on it between 5:30pm- Dark.. for my first time it went pretty good. I also was going to the store alot buying different tools (torque wrench, angle torque etc) I spent alot of time prepping the block and the heads as well.. im sure the next time (hopefully there’s not a next time) it will be alot quicker

[@jaywaters4832]

@@Only1JOAT did you machine the heads? And I didn’t see the angle torque yet...?

[@Only1JOAT]

@@jaywaters4832 no i didnt theres no need. Look on my page

[@leroylira8460]

Did you go get the heads resurfaced or did you clean them yourself?

[@davidmcdonald7060]

best collection of videos I've ever seen! thanks

[@Kenichi_one]

Question. I have a 2007 tahoe ltz 4wd and works fine except that about 2 years ago I started getting low oil pressures light alarm. Long story short, I replaced the small filter that sits under the oil pressure sensor, it was covered with sludge. The. A few weeks later it did it again, and again and again. So, the reason turns out was that the coolant was getting mixed with the oil, I also had to put more coolant, along with oil at least once a week. So I used a head gasket sealant and it worked, it has been a year now and I am expecting it to fail soon because that is just a temporary fix. Should I go ahead and replace the head gasket only? Or just wait? My lifters are fine from what I can hear. I do want to disable the afm.

[@paramedivmso4]

1:02.. A question..is there any other 10mm bolts like these that would fit elsewhere? I have 4 left over that I have to find where they go. i must have put wrong bolts in a place where these go. So i am taking manifold off. I must have mixed up bolts. But the truck starts. Is not leaking oil or fluid. But i do have an awful misfire. good oil pressure and no over heating.

[@justin-lg6830]

hey bud, how long should i soak the lifters in the oil before installing them? and should i keep them upright or laying down or is there any difference at all. thanks!!

[@JlAriviere2020]

Hi Buddy ! Very nice video !! I'm in this process with my 09 5.3 sierra and unfortunately I have to change my cam... I'm looking for your video about the cam but I can't find it.. are you able to put the link here ? Thanks and have a good day !

[@TheUrena66]

Yeah yeah cam video link !!!! Getting ready my self to get all this done to my 08 sierra too hopefully everything going smoothly on your end !!!

[@AutoRex101]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nl6nq4ljpKh_grM That video took way longer to edit than I expected.

[@CherishTheDead999]

The 2nd step after you removed the ground wire, i dont have coolant passage plugs? 2011 chevy Tahoe ppv

[@danielsmithingell9806]

If tje lifters and tje cam has been smacken and wearing isn't tjere going to be metal throughout the motor? Thank you

[@mtsanchez27]

Do you have the parts numbers for the lifter guides please?

[@giosrt]

when disassembling, do rockers also come apart or can you just take off the heads to get to the lifters

[@deez6686]

Almost my rocker arm have little play in them what that mean on 2007 Cadillac Escalade 6.2 liter but I haven’t checked the lifters yet

[@chaseaustin6898]

Good day sir, Are you located in Dallas?

[@rukus347]

How much do you charge for this job?

[@devindurkee8190]

What would cause a lifter spring to compress and not retract back out?

[@relaxitsonlyagame]

There are locks on the lifters that fail and get stuck in the collapsed position. Crazedperformance has some very insightful videos on the AFM lifters.

[@stephenguerra576]

Is it possible to run the engine without the coolant passage plugs? While removing mine i saw there was none on maybe from the last person who had it.

[@amdurham18]

I tore mine down yesterday and didn’t have any on the rear but had the “bridge” across the front. Must be ok?

[@58thatdude]

Where are you located lol I need my lifters replace

[@williamanthony4512]

What state are you in autorex

[@eduardotrevino5325]

I have a 05 5.3 z71 no fuel mangement ( flexfuel) would mine have those other style lifters im not sure i think its just the normal lifters just want to make sure i gotts do the heads and wanna make sure i buy everything i need all at once

[@eduardotrevino5325]

never mind just answered my own question

[@jesus-qq8ih]

Even after replacing the bad lifter it kept knocking and bending the pushrod. Changed them twice. Do I need to change the lifter guides. What could be causing it to keep knocking

[@jesus-qq8ih]

It was the same push rod and lifter every time

[@nicholasbardsley7097]

get rid of the afm entirely dod delete

[@MrKeepItPushin]

Is this the same process with the 4.8 just non dod/afm???

[@hustlinghard8081]

Yes

[@franciscoaponte6235]

12 Tahoe ppv. Opened the valve cover looking for a loose rocker arm found a rocker that won’t move even when I turned it on. Could it still be a stuck lifter?

[@EatMyYeeties]

I dunno if you've fixed it yet, but that is exactly what it is. It's a collapsed AFM lifter that won't actuate anymore resulting in a dead cylinder.

[@rlacroix4]

Thanks. Perhaps i missed it. On 5.3 How many lifters AFM and Standard? I have 4.3v6. How many do i need to orderer AFM and Standard? Do you have a preventative mileage recommendation to do full lifter swap? I have 2015 4.3 v6 112k flawless miles. Been changing oil at 5 to 6k miles 40 to 50% oil life rate. Considering doing this job to prevent problem. I lost my 2O10 5.3 3 times under warranty and traded 1 month before warranty over. So i live in fear or losing cam. I think i can do lifter job but not at all confident in cam job.

[@firstnamelastname4686]

Where to buy AFM and non-afm lifters today? GM ones are out of stock everywhere and amazon is full of noname suspiciously cheap components

[@SlaneVintageModern]

Did you find them?

[@longshot153]

I’m assuming machining the head isn’t necessary…?

[@dalejrfan820002000]

Are lifter know to speak? I have a noise coming from my engine with the belts off.

[@95redchevy]

Did you buy all 16 lifters or did you reuse some?

[@rlacroix4]

I have experience but am no means an authority. If he reuses lifters he should flush his head down toilet 😂. From the video he may not have stated it but appears he did them all. But always replace all if there on any engine

[@nicholasbardsley7097]

you can reuse the reg. lifters if the cam is not being replaced nothing wrong with doing that most of the time they are better quality lifters when what people buy when doing this job

[@keenaneriksson556]

How for the love of Christ do you shove the exhaust manifold out of the way?

[@wally7856]

take out the spark plugs and use a crowbar

[@scottlavoie5405]

87k miles and I have to replace my lifters, not happy with GM!

[@cwnicholas5333]

I wonder how this tutorial would differ if he was doing an actual AFM delete 🤔

[@nicholasbardsley7097]

it’s not much different other than adding a cam swap with a 3bolt cam that’s compatible with stock springs lm7 cam would be cheapest probably need a 3bolt 4x cam gear you would be trashing the valley cover for a part # 12598832 you’ll need atleast 8 ls7 lifters & 2 ls2 lifter trays aside from however you plan on shutting off the afm either a range device or pay someone who has hp tuners $100 for two gm credits to shut it off you’ll need a pulley to get the balancer off aswell i think that’s it unless in forgetting some thing. it seams like a lot more but once your in there and have the the heads off its not to bad oh and be sure to buy a new cam retainer plate w/ countersunk bolt holes you’ll notice after removing the factory one the gasket on it will be flat af and may bleed off oil pressure ive been there Having to take apart the front of the engine again

[@cwnicholas5333]

@@nicholasbardsley7097 yea.. so what you're saying is I should pay someone to do the entire job for me 🙃

[@nicholasbardsley7097]

@@cwnicholas5333 if you can handle what’s done in this video you should have no problem being able to do the cam swap aswell one of the more difficult parts is making sure you do not snap off the exhaust manifold bolts if you don’t have a welder just as he does in the video spray them down with nothing else but bp plaster a week even before you plan on doing the job we’re are you located anyway?

[@cwnicholas5333]

@@nicholasbardsley7097 NY.. I'm capable of doing the repair, but I don't have the time nor do I have a suitable workspace. Doesnt need it yet, pushing 140k, just changed out the plugs which were cracked/fouling out. Idk who worked on the truck before me but there was a mixture of Bosch Iridiums and the OE acdelco double plats 🙄 runs much better now! I've got the range afm disabler for now.. but I'm guessing at some point I'm gonna have to get the lifters done.. or drop in an older 5.3L, .. one of the two.

[@nicholasbardsley7097]

@@cwnicholas5333 i hear ya i’m in nj maybe you get threw t he winter then do the job if not you can also look in craigslist or fb market place in and around your area for someone renting out there shop with daily rates i’ve seen them from $50-$100 some with lifts compressors some without but if have own tools you can haul over heat the only thing i care about & atleast lights and outlet or two but as for the older motor you can make it work but it would be way more trouble then its worth mainly the reluctor wheel on the crank would have to be changed to the 3rd gen 24x ring to a 58x the 4th gen timing cover off your org. motor and more at that point the whole engines coming apart aswell unless you buy $280 lingenfelter trigger conversion module not worth it you can do the job on a weekend tho so if can find somewhere and do it yourself def save big time esp. since you probly won’t do it till after winter gives you time to hunt for deals i put my dod delete kit together for next to nothing retail was around $2000 in parts and i did mine at 320k miles the afm was still working all tho you could feel it carfax had no significant repairs but who know a lifter may have went and had it replaced by whine ever but anyhow good luck

[@stevesalisbury6865]

You do not soke your lifters anymore

[@jnkfishing9274]

If your going to go this deep in the motor it makes no sense to not afm/dod delete the engine while in there

[@AutoRex101]

This was explained to them. The owner really wanted that tiny little MPG gain from AFM.

[@timoman6071]

Is this the same process for a 2015 Silverado 1500wt 4.3 liter v6?

[@rlacroix4]

I bern watching lots. Same job on 4.3 just slightly easier or lighter work. But in principle identical except less lifter to replace