Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
But that's not the case here.GM is notorious for changing things in the middle of a model year...
You can replace the camshaft sensor and or the crankshaft sensor in the engine should still start. You do a relearn so the ECM has the exact positions for them. If the camshaft sensor doesn't drive with the crankshaft sensor, usually it will fail to start on the first turn of the key, but on the second attempt it will usually start right up.
Never heard of an issue with the VVT affecting oil pressure to the rods. The VVT is typically very reliable.
Nothing about it would make the engine lock up. Only getting the initial timing off would do that.