Found my miss

Thought this would be more obvious....doh

I did hear a little pinging type noise add to the exhaust note when it 1st happened...never thought I'd have this problem with low mileage on the motor.





SOooooo glad I went thru every efin good part on the motor making sure it was none of them...

Doh! Good thing you checked the rockers in the beginning...

SOB musta spun during my many checks.... cuz 1st thing I did was pull the driver valve cover
This is #7E spring (incorrectly reported as #8 to my consultants.. )
Couldnt pull the pass side without disconnecting the harness & wrapping it around the tranny dipstick
Tried to fix it with Plugs/ Wires/ Coil & ICM/ OPTI 1 / O2's /MAF/ OPTI 2
Had already put the headers back on the drivers side when I figured I'd better check compression
Passenger side was 220psi perfect 2,4,6 &8 so I regained confidence in the mechanical.
When none of that worked, I started over...2 sec after Ipulled the cover... ..

Will note BOTH my consultants immediately threw thier diagnos-es-cees in my face
Of course, they forgot the wrong parts...

Glad you found it! No cheap MSD opti for sale now?

no....I think I'll install it for the 3rd time & run it.

I SO wanted to call it an opti problem after all that...

Sucks, but sometimes it just goes that way. Especially if I have a hand in things.

Glad you got it though!

What springs were those? Golen? Maybe I see beehives in your future?

I also have a set of very low mileage LT4 springs if you are interested. Not sure if it's enough spring for your cam, but they are yours if you want them.

Appreciate the offer
I've looked all over to find documentation of the springs used
Everyone knows 918 beehives but I dont know whats in there at this point
I know I have 1.6 magnum pros & 7.1 pushrods but thats it right now
Will be all over it tomorrow
NO WAY I should have lost a spring. If it cant be explained I'll yank them ALL out & learn to set them up properly myself.
I just dont know the heads on TDC so you dont lose a valve method. I can get there with a little mental refresher
More to come
Thanks again

Saw something similar on an LS the other day, weird that that was what it was...glad you found it

Well the good news is now you know that everything else is good!

Seems everytime i have to change spring(s) on the car i have to weld up an air adapter to keep the valves up
Take an old plug, bash the porcelain out of it, weld an air chuck fitting to it,.

Puts some machinists blue to the ends of the valves,. run the motor up to peak rpm a couple of times ,.pull a rocker or two, and check the pattern,.maybe the studs are walking around under load,.?

nick

Thanks Nick, I was debating that...

So you bring it up to TDC and THEN use the air to keep it seated?

VERY happy this is # 8 7 because if it was 6 5 I'd be pulling the headers AGAIN

I am getting good at all these maintenance items anyway...

EDIT: keep efing up the cylinder # wtf

If you remove the rockers and apply air to the cylinder (I use the hose from my leak-down kit), it doesn't matter if the cyl. is on TDC.

If the spring is broken bad, you may have to hold the valve up until the air pressure is applied.

FWIW: Not a big fan of beehives. Seen quite a few break is LS engines. It was "the swap" for Buick V6's a while ago, now it seems everybody is going back.

That scares me.....if that valve ever dropped in, that'd be it....neighbors would be dialing 911

So...is there a reason you WOULDNT go to TDC?

Dont see myself changing what was on the cam card (nevermind all 16) UNLESS it were to ever happen again

Stay on speed dial for that day....

Appreciate the advise...I'm listening...just not acting on it....yet.

I think I used the TDC method when I did mine. I have terrible luck and it all worked out, you'll be fine. Compressed air is a sure bet that it'll be safe.

Mark Ross had the same issue, his spring broke, ended up bending a valve. As i understand it, he is the valve train expert now. lol. Might be worth talking to him

I've heard of people putting clothesline or string through the sparkplug hole also until it fills up the combustion chamber?

GasTT wrote:

......I have terrible luck and it all worked out.....

You mean come daybreak when you eventually found the flying parts?...

No Moa wrote:

Mark Ross ........ is the valve train expert now.

Who now?

Matt Trakker wrote:

I've heard of people putting clothesline or string through the sparkplug hole also until it fills up the combustion chamber?

Good idea....I'll use silly string cuz it'll be SO much easier to use..

Thanks guys, I think I've got it under control now...
(of course 1 of my highly compensated consultants recommended changing ALL my springs...in a...nonchalant kinda way... )
Waiting on parts.

I used the rope method. More then once.

and yea i'm still here .if only at lurker status.

^ that's who ^

even if the air got disconnected,.if there any valve seals left at all,. the valve won't drop all the way,.

even if it goes flush with the seal,. a magnet pulls it back up again,.

the rings will seal good enough that if you put 100lb of air to it,. the valves are pretty well held tight enough that u can't push them in with your hand,.

String method works but its a pain,. bdc,. poke in plenty of string,. roll it over towards tdc till its squeezed tight, switch out the springs,. roll it back a little to get the string out,..hillbilly method,.

Nick

I'm just glad I'm not the only one who's heard of the string technique...

M.ROSS wrote:

....and yea i'm still here .if only at lurker status.

Figured you were...just had to draw you out to make sure..
Luckily for you I dont need an expert....now that I've been trained online (see above posts) to R&R without pulling the head, I'm good to go.

Update:
Seems I supplied these heads to Chad assembled...had them disassembled, freshened up....& all parts checked to spec.
Damn....I hate doing so many things I forget details.... (NOTE: not old...just forgetful.. )
Just wanted to mention that if anyone was thinking Golen had anything to do with this problem.
Actually, because I didnt remember they were my parts & called him, he went ahead & took care of everything for me.
Gotta say I really appreciate THAT.

Decided 1 spring & seal to fix it...1 spring & seal for the glovebox to ward of evil spirits.
I'll know this weekend if I dodged a bullet.

Tomorrow....just to be car productive...spark plug bashing & welding
Gotta fill up that "special tool" drawer

Matt Trakker wrote:

I'm just glad I'm not the only one who's heard of the string technique...

Ya...you & the stripper at the wiggle & shake..... You tie knots in it right?

New addition to the "special tools" drawer



Will have the springs & seals tomorrow.
Sat AM this motor better be fixt
Soooo hoping the valve is fine.
Otherwise, I'll have to go into storage & find another hi performance vehicle cuz it's time

sdstick wrote:

.
Otherwise, I'll have to go into storage & find another hi performance vehicle cuz it's time

Do tell?

Well then, I hope it doesn't work.

Not really, I hope it's an easy fix! Kickass special tool, too! :B

No Moa wrote:

sdstick wrote:

.
Otherwise, I'll have to go into storage & find another hi performance vehicle cuz it's time

Do tell?

...... ......

toomanytoyz wrote:

Well then, I hope it doesn't work. .....

You been talking to Matt?...

as soon as you put air to the cyl,. you'll know if the valves good,.if it is,. you'll hear air leaking some down below.,, but if the valves bent,.you'll hear a leak loud and clear,.
good luck,..

Nick

Appreciate the help Nick...always helps to get the fine points BEFORE they happen.

It'll be a done deal by Sat AM...assuming the compressor will fit #7E properly

I'll trial run it tomorrow AM before work & make the LS tech version if need be

I'm making a bigger deal out of this then I normally would....only because I'm waiting... ..for parts..

sdstick wrote:

Appreciate the help Nick...always helps to get the fine points BEFORE they happen.

It'll be a done deal by Sat AM...assuming the compressor will fit #7E properly

i wondered about that with your headers,.
may have to weld 3/8ths nipple onto the plug,.and then screw a short chunk of air line to it,.
with the air fitting at the end,. mightnot be enough room for the chuck,.?

just like i used to do putting plugs into the bbc 69 camaro, used a length of rubber hose over the plug to turn it in,.2 fingers to guide the plug into the hole and turn the hose with the other hand,.
(especially when the bitch was still hot,....man i,m glad technology has come along so the damn ignitions are 100X better,.bloody dinosaur big blocks,.

Nick

I think Al uses the same as Nick. Think it's part of his compression test kit?

Yes, after I made that up, I realized it wouldnt work everywhere.
I DID check to see that I had a straight shot at the plug
I DIDNT check the dia out 3" or so tho....damn....couldve done that this AM too
Compressor fits so thats good news.

If I have problems, I'll just pop the header off again...drivers side isnt that bad.

Some of you guys that have seen things go in phases might appreciate this propoganda bulletin that came with the springs this AM

Not sure how long this will stay up...never quite figured out policy on this

Just take a screenshot if your interested



PM or email me if you want a pdf sent

Well....Nick was right. Not enough room to use my new tool.
If I hadnrt had a short nipple on my compressor hose it wouldve JUST squeeked in & been functional
As it turned out, I started thinking about Crovo mentioning the compression tester kit...so....
I took the gauge off my compression tester & home depot a couple of brass fittings...presto
Instant Valve holder upper...


Replaced the spring &....ya...no more miss
I was a dope missing that spring on day 1...cant explain my lack of attention to detail (stupidity)
BUT....silver lining....I've double checked EVERY part thats related to fuel & spark...
Other silver lining...I didnt spend any $ throwing parts at it either...they were all in stock as on board repait parts..

Thanks for the help on this guys....kept me sane when logic left me hanging

Putting the good wheeels & tires on tomorrow & ....smoken em up in a celebratory run

Woot!

Good news