Today after doing my spark plugs and wires i noticed what sounded like some lifter tap. Im going to be doing a cam swap soon, along with the springs and pushrods. Should i go ahead and take off the heads to replace the lifters while i have it apart? It still runs good but the slight sound gets on my nerves. I have a 2003 silverado with the 5.3 in it.

 

Welcome from Florida. To swap the cam, you have to remove the lifters. You should replace them as part of the cam swap.

 

FYSA I just posted what fixed my noisy tap...knock sensors replacement fixed mine

 

#1 some tapping is normal on all VORTEK engines. it's because they have heavy duty mechanical push rods and springs. it's actually one of the (if few or not) strengths of the chevy - the engine's rhobustness and sheer weight of it.

Check your oil. YOU SHOULD BE LOWER THAN FULL MARK WHEN ENGINE IS HOT. That means if your checking cold you should be ONLY 1/2 way into the hash mark at most. The full mark means "maxiumum" not "average". High oil pressure will definitely increase tapping noise.

You can adjust it. but you shouldn't need to. "some tapper noise" only noticed while changing oil IS COMPLETELY NORMAL IF NOT QUIET.

you should be able to hear slightly elevated tapper noise if oil is a little hight (during oil change if you filled too high) INSIDE THE CAR - to put things into perspective