I am here for advice.
Story:
About 4 years ago #7 Lifter started sticking but we drove it until it died. I went to a shop and wanted the DOD delete but the motor was so bad they would not do it and recommended a new motor. After months of thinking we decided the vehicle was in good shape and decided to do the new motor. It has been great. Then we had a front shock bust on a tire rotation. Replaced all shocks and everything else with the suspension. New tires about 6 months ago. Im in for close to 10k in the past three years.
Today:
About a week ago we noticed the sub starting to act weird. I took it to the shop where I had the motor replaced and you guessed it #7 lifter sticking again. I am three weeks out of warranty so I am in the same boat as before. I purchased the plug from amazon to see if it helped anything and it doesn't other than keeping the engine light off. It comes and goes while driving around.
So here I am looking for advice on how anyone here would move forward. The shop I had the motor replaced wants around 5k for a delete now. (was 2k about 4 years ago) I know if we keep driving it we will be on the side of the road again and its not very saleable the way it is running atm. Do I chalk it up to a loss and just get what I can? Do I delete and keep spending on a 16 year old vehicle? Or is there something I am missing that could get me another year or so out of it?
Any advice would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks
Gennings
When these lifters fail they don't come and go so to speak. They typically fail or they don't. The failure is always caused from lack of oil pressure during activation unless it is spun in the bore from a bad plastic guide. If the afm disabler isn't working then most likely you have something else going on.
I am a very straightforward person and with that said I will give you my opinion on the shop. Looking at it from your side of the story, the first time the shop looked at it they didn't know what they were getting into. So not no one what they were getting into they just assumed bad engine and told you that you needed to replace it. It most likely didn't need an engine. If they told you 4 years ago a delete was $2k and now it's $5k they aren't being honest with you. The parts have only increased in cost about 15% 4 years ago a delete kit was $600-700 and now it's $700-800 for parts. Expecting they mark it up the usual mark up it should have went from $1000ish to $1200ish. The labor hrs hasn't changed. It takes 20-25hrs depending on if the oil pan is getting pulled or not. So at $100per hr (for example) do the math. Then you have the tune to shut off AFM. That's $50 from lt1swap.com and hasn't changed. The other cost would be machine work to the head. So unless the went from $40 per hr to $120 per hr it doesn't add up.
Where are you located? Perhaps I know someone or am close enough myself. You really should get it actually properly diagnosed.