5.3 build with bad lifter

[kyhunter89]

i supposed to pick up a 04 5.3 sunday. its missing cam, lifters and intake. Supposed the roller on the lifter locked up and took a cam lobe out with it. I havent heard of this being a common problem, but the motor is already took apart and I want to install a cam and rodbolts before i put it in.

plans
tr220-112 (best?)
arp rodbolts
tb stall and headers.

should I look into thinner headgaskets or milling the heads for a CR ratio bump? If i decide it needs a rering ill pull the pistons out of the 4.8 and put them in. supposedly 107k miles on it...

opinions?

[kyhunter89]

the real question is whats the most a bad lifter can damage, im know metal can get in the bearing but whats the chances it messed up the lifter bores?

did 04 still have piston slap?

[kemble]

I called about the engine your talking about. I personally think it's overpriced, The thing needs to be totally tore down and built back. There are running 5.3's on craigslist from time to time close to what he's asking.

[kyhunter89]

how much was it priced at?

[kemble]

350 is the price on Clist, theres 7 5.3 engines within 250 miles for less than 500. There is a 16K mile 06 5.3 for sale in lexington area I think for 500. It does need a headgasket though.

[kyhunter89]

I getting it for 250... I cant see how thats so bad of a deal, I can build it the way I want from there...

[Mang213]

The '03 model year revisions cleared up the piston slap issue

[kyhunter89]

sweet... check bearings, throw a cam in it, rodbolts and be good to go?

[country_3030]

I just tore down a 5.3 that had a lifter come apart. There was metal everywhere in the pan and the windage tray but very little in the pump screen and filter. For the most part the bearings looked perfectly fine. The main issue was the pin from the lifter roller bounced off the crank and busted a piston skirt before coming to rest in the bottom of the pan. The cylinder with the broke piston scratched the bore up. Now it will be a Iron LS1 build for me, ordered parts tonight.

I say a good cleaning and check over before reassembly then bearings for safety, cam, and rod bolts. If you want a little bump in compression you could put on felpro gaskets. Vatozone carries them for like $20 a piece with a installed thickness of 0.040.

[Show&Go]

Ill throw out my 2 cents. As stated above there is a chance there could have been some damage. If you decide to re ring the truck youd need to pull the pistons out anyway. It would give you a chance to check everything on the bottom end with a fine tooth comb. If it were me Id throw the 4.8 pistons in anyway for a CR bump that way. And the tr220 cam is a great performer for a DD truck if that is what you are going for.
Completely off subject but If you were willing to get work done for the heads finding a set of 243s to mill and throw on there with the 4.8 pistons would be a very interesting combo for what you would have wrapped up in it