07 Valley cover

[crownvic31]

Ok so just ordered the lifter release kit which comes with a vlom mod plug. Any of you guys herd of this vlom mod plug?

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Was this caused by using a non AFM valley cover incorrectly (keeping AFM lifters and cam) or was this lifter failure caused by something else?

It sounded like the consensus was that OP would be safe to run a flat valley cover while retaining the rest of the factory deactivated AFM system

 

[j91z28d1]

Ok so just ordered the lifter release kit which comes with a vlom mod plug. Any of you guys herd of this vlom mod plug?

I did his oil plug and vlom mod when I first got mine after researching how turn it off.

 

[crownvic31]

Was this caused by using a non AFM valley cover incorrectly (keeping AFM lifters and cam) or was this lifter failure caused by something else?

It sounded like the consensus was that OP would be safe to run a flat valley cover while retaining the rest of the factory deactivated AFM system

Exactly. My 07 escalade has the afm/dod parts installed but not active. I swapped the valley cover as i needed to replace the gasket so thought it was ok to use the flat one as suggested in other post. This caused my issue.

 

[crownvic31]

I did his oil plug and vlom mod when I first got mine after researching how turn it off.

In my case i can just do the vlom mod and oil plug and im done as my 07 afm/dod is not active.

 

[j91z28d1]

Was this caused by using a non AFM valley cover incorrectly (keeping AFM lifters and cam) or was this lifter failure caused by something else?

It sounded like the consensus was that OP would be safe to run a flat valley cover while retaining the rest of the factory deactivated AFM system

well he's got a bit of an off year setup.. I'm not sure if people knew 100% if he had the afm lifters, or just the vlom top plate.

when you do a delete where you replace all the lifters and cam with non afm lifters, or just have a engine without the afm lifters. you plug those oil passageways. since the lifter gets the oil they needs to work normally thru the block itself, the top holes can be a path to lose oil pressure. but if you have the afm lifters, those holes are how the lifters release is activated when oil is applied to it from the vlom solenoids and vented when the lifter is to go back into v8 mode.

what can happen though is the oil from the internal passageway that is used by the standard hydraulic part of the lifter can find its way around the bore and up out the afm activation port. because of internal lifter wear, lifter bore wear or just tolerances being on the loose side. if the oil pressure builds up enough the pins release in the lifter and it's collapses. my guess is in his case since they have never been used before, varnish has built up inside the lifter and it stuck. if he can get it to release, I might even spray some brake clean down there to soak if it doesn't pop right up. once popped up, vent it and he should be fine.

so I think it's partially not knowing what he's working with and the other part this board preaches doing things the correct way, full afm delete, use only oem parts.

stuff like the lifter release trick and bypassing the afm stuff, but leaving it all there is not trusted as a proper fix. some have turned the afm off in the tune but sill having it mechanically fail later. I don't believe anyone here has done the full bypass and had it fail, but even the guy that sells the vlom plug and release tool takes a afm lifter apart and shows you that if the wear inside is bad enough on the main pins, they can collapse and stick just from the valve spring pressure and at that point the damaged lifter needs replaced no matter what you do. but the idea is if you catch it early, while it's all in good shape, which I hope mine are since it was still working when I did the mods, and the OP here should be since it was never activated in the ecm, it's just been along for the ride. it shouldn't have worn pins either.

as much as it sucks to have happened, I hope it works out and will be interested in the results.

 

[j91z28d1]

In my case i can just do the vlom mod and oil plug and im done as my 07 afm/dod is not active.

I believe so yes. I hope it works out.

 

[crownvic31]

I believe so yes. I hope it works out.

Thank you. Now i wait for the part and hope for the best.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@j91z28d1 I don't know much about the VLOM plug mod, is this to plug the valley tower oil passages?

 

[j91z28d1]

yeah, it's just a little metal insert that taps in under the oil pressure sensor. it blocks the oil going to the vlom solenoids. incase they fail to seal off oil over time.

I wanna say it was like 20$ with shipping.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@j91z28d1 Won’t he encounter the same problem by plugged the valley tower oil ports since he is still running the AFM lifters?

 

[crownvic31]

@j91z28d1 Won’t he encounter the same problem by plugged the valley tower oil ports since he is still running the AFM lifters?

Theres a mod that must be done to the Vlom.

 

[Fless]

I bet that @iamdub could clear this up.

 

[crownvic31]

@j91z28d1 Won’t he encounter the same problem by plugged the valley tower oil ports since he is still running the AFM lifters?

 

[j91z28d1]

@j91z28d1 Won’t he encounter the same problem by plugged the valley tower oil ports since he is still running the AFM lifters?

the oil can't return or vent thru that pressure port. it's a tiny port with incoming pressurized oil. so in that video about it. it shows you cut the gasket over the ports in the block itself.

the blue arrow in this pic is what you clip.. you just need a way to relieve the small bypassed oil, so you do those 8 seals and it just drains back to the pan.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@j91z28d1 I see now, wasn't meaning to doubt anyone I was just being extra vigilant for our friend OP

 

[j91z28d1]

@j91z28d1 I see now, wasn't meaning to doubt anyone I was just being extra vigilant for our friend OP

yeah no worries. I spent weeks trying to wrap my head around this system before I got my truck, since a delete kit is not an easy option on the hybrid ones, I needed to have some faith I could make it all last. after watching all his break down videos and where he cuts the lifter in half I think I finally understood it a bit.

so I felt comfortable enough to pick up the truck, then I realized you could actually disable afm with hptuners that I already had. so I went with the vlom mod and turn off, instead of trying to refresh the whole system.

 

[iamdub]

I bet that @iamdub could clear this up.

I bet not. Just got caught up on this.

After reading OP's recent updates and @Geotrash's replies specifying the OP's VLOM being plugged in whereas his was not, it sounds like OP might've had active AFM. Or, maybe the lifters locked or unlocked upon building of oil pressure. At this point, I have no idea.

If they're knocking from being stuck in the collapsed state, wouldn't that cause slack in the rocker?

 

[crownvic31]

@j91z28d1 I see now, wasn't meaning to doubt anyone I was just being extra vigilant for our friend OP

Thank you for looking out. Trust me, I asked myself the same question. Takes alot of reading to try and understand this especially when you find yourself in this situation. If I am able to release that valve then I should be ok, I hope.

 

[crownvic31]

Received the tool and went at it. Been at it for 30 mins and nothing. Advice please. Is this stuck to the point of no return or am i not hitting it hard.