2008 Silverado 1500, 5.3L/4L60E, 232,xxx miles.
This customers owns a used car lot & has a decent "B" Tech on staff. Roughly a year & 15,000 miles ago.....This engine had one of the original lifters stay collapsed. I quoted a price to delete the AFM hardware along with a stock LQ4/LQ9 Camshaft & Tuning.
He decided that was too much & he'd let his mechanic change all the lifters with stock replacements. I even warned him to stick with GM Lifters.
Didn't hear anything about it 'til this mourning when it rolled in with a lifter clacking away, First thing I said "It's very unusual to have a GM AFM lifter fail that quickly".......Well, He used Melling replacement lifters. Melling usually has pretty good stuff, But AFM Lifters are NOT something I trust to the aftermarket.
There's a trick to unlock these, Then turn the AFM off via Tuning Software which prevents the lifter from collapsing & getting stuck again. I wouldn't normally do this for a customer as it sets a bad precedent (They think you have a cheap hack for every issue). But this guy sends me a TON of electrical diagnostic & drivability work.
I had a piece of bar stock ground at a 45 degree angle that I used in the past but I couldn't find it, Just as well because soft mild steel doesn't work all that great anyway. A cut the tip off a Snap-on #2 Phillips long cabinet style screwdriver.....Leaving the hardened end. Seemed to work far better than mild steel bar stock.
This video explains the process a little better than I can.
This guy didn't pioneer this, But he's certainly monetizing it. Not that I care as he's the one taking the time to produce videos.
This one freed up really easily, Probably because the lifter has so few miles on it. I personally will not beat the snot out of the lifter....Or use an air hammer. If it doesn't unlock fairly easy, I'm calling it & recommend Lifters or a Full Delete!!
This customers owns a used car lot & has a decent "B" Tech on staff. Roughly a year & 15,000 miles ago.....This engine had one of the original lifters stay collapsed. I quoted a price to delete the AFM hardware along with a stock LQ4/LQ9 Camshaft & Tuning.
He decided that was too much & he'd let his mechanic change all the lifters with stock replacements. I even warned him to stick with GM Lifters.
Didn't hear anything about it 'til this mourning when it rolled in with a lifter clacking away, First thing I said "It's very unusual to have a GM AFM lifter fail that quickly".......Well, He used Melling replacement lifters. Melling usually has pretty good stuff, But AFM Lifters are NOT something I trust to the aftermarket.
There's a trick to unlock these, Then turn the AFM off via Tuning Software which prevents the lifter from collapsing & getting stuck again. I wouldn't normally do this for a customer as it sets a bad precedent (They think you have a cheap hack for every issue). But this guy sends me a TON of electrical diagnostic & drivability work.
I had a piece of bar stock ground at a 45 degree angle that I used in the past but I couldn't find it, Just as well because soft mild steel doesn't work all that great anyway. A cut the tip off a Snap-on #2 Phillips long cabinet style screwdriver.....Leaving the hardened end. Seemed to work far better than mild steel bar stock.
This video explains the process a little better than I can.
This guy didn't pioneer this, But he's certainly monetizing it. Not that I care as he's the one taking the time to produce videos.
This one freed up really easily, Probably because the lifter has so few miles on it. I personally will not beat the snot out of the lifter....Or use an air hammer. If it doesn't unlock fairly easy, I'm calling it & recommend Lifters or a Full Delete!!