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bad valve or rocker? pic inside

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Old 06-15-2010, 09:10 PM
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Default bad valve or rocker? pic inside

what the heck happend? there was a slight ticking in the mornings and when i would drive it and accelerate. then a few days ago i was driving about 30 mph and kur plunk plunk plunk , so i shut it off and towed it home , took the valve covers off and this is what i saw
Old 06-15-2010, 09:41 PM
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It looks like you'll need at least one rocker arm and also have to pull the head to have a valve replaced. They both appear to have a problem. You might as well pull both heads, while you're that far in and have a machine shop check out both of them.
Old 06-16-2010, 04:49 AM
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What heads? I would suspect either installation issues or a valve not hardened correctly. If that is the case, the others may not be far behind.
Old 06-16-2010, 05:01 AM
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Wow that doesnt look good. Looks like the retainer has gouges in it as well. Possibly incorect pushrod length?
Old 06-16-2010, 05:45 AM
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What cam do you have (lobes) and lift I know sometimes with high lift cams can tear up tips without roller rockers if your geometry is not almost perfect. And with really high lift stuff with stock rockers sometimes the only way to fix the geometry is to put a longer valve or if you could lower the rocker trunion. This wil help keep the rocker from sweeping back inward alot, on a lot of higher lift stuff at full lift the rocker isn't even moving straight down on the tip like it should but had started moving back toward the intake side before full lift. This puts extreme stress on the valve tip especially without a roller tip.

And from the pic looks like you have a rocker-retainer clearance issue even on the retainer behind the one that dropped the valve their are slight indentions in that retainer as well.

Last edited by matt d.; 06-16-2010 at 06:03 AM.
Old 06-16-2010, 09:43 AM
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Dropped a valve.... that engine is probably toast.
Old 06-16-2010, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by matt d.
What cam do you have (lobes) and lift I know sometimes with high lift cams can tear up tips without roller rockers if your geometry is not almost perfect. And with really high lift stuff with stock rockers sometimes the only way to fix the geometry is to put a longer valve or if you could lower the rocker trunion. This wil help keep the rocker from sweeping back inward alot, on a lot of higher lift stuff at full lift the rocker isn't even moving straight down on the tip like it should but had started moving back toward the intake side before full lift. This puts extreme stress on the valve tip especially without a roller tip.

And from the pic looks like you have a rocker-retainer clearance issue even on the retainer behind the one that dropped the valve their are slight indentions in that retainer as well.
This was my first thought, plus the valve next to it looks unusually sunken below the keeper like they're +.050's.

What is your setup (cam, pushrods, springs, keepers, etc.)?
Old 06-16-2010, 06:28 PM
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its a mild comp cam,not sure on the #s on it.they r patriot springs and retainers.5.3 iron block with stock heads,ls6 intake, injectors,stock exhaust(4now),ported oil pump,....when i pull the head will i know if the engine is toast??
Old 06-16-2010, 11:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Big Black SS
its a mild comp cam,not sure on the #s on it.they r patriot springs and retainers.5.3 iron block with stock heads,ls6 intake, injectors,stock exhaust(4now),ported oil pump,....when i pull the head will i know if the engine is toast??
I can't tell in the pic because the spring is in the way. Can you see the valve stem inside the spring?
Old 06-16-2010, 11:59 PM
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ouch!! by not knowing your cam size (lift), p-rod length is hard to say what caused it. looks like the valve dropped into the cylinder... hopefully just the piston damaged and not the cyl. wall or head chamber area. please keeps us post. I'm sure this will help people out on here... how many miles do you have with cam, spring setup?
Old 06-17-2010, 12:19 AM
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i have 1500 miles with the cam and spring set up, i bought the 5.3 block used , the guy said it was running fine , so i dont know if he was telling the truth.......i wont be able to pull the head foe a few weeks because im moving from tucson to phoenix and the camaro is staying in tucson till i can have it towed to phoenix , but will keep u guys posted
Old 11-02-2010, 06:21 PM
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im finally having the SS towed down to me and i can start taking it apart . have a question, i plan on replacing the push rods but is there certain ones i need ? the prob. is i dont know the cam #s ,it is a mild comp cam, and plan on using COMP CAMS 13702-KIT GM LS1 RETRO-FIT TRUNION ROCKER KIT and keeping the stock rockers.....

Last edited by Big Black SS; 11-02-2010 at 06:26 PM.
Old 11-02-2010, 06:41 PM
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Gonna need to measure for pushrods....
Old 11-02-2010, 08:16 PM
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measure how and what tool am i going to need ?

Last edited by Big Black SS; 11-02-2010 at 08:21 PM.
Old 11-03-2010, 02:17 AM
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I can see both keepers, can't tell if the valve is still there, take the rocker off and take aanother pic. With stock heads and a mild comp cam, that is very unusual. What are the marks on top of the retainer for that valve, looks like the rocker has been hitting it?
Old 11-03-2010, 12:12 PM
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Mostly all retainers have gouges on them ,,as soon as the car gets here all start working on it and post more pics
Old 11-03-2010, 12:15 PM
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Oh and springs and retainers are new (1,500 miles on them). They are patriot springs and retainers....what does that mean if the rockers have been hitting the retainers ? bad pushrods ?

Last edited by Big Black SS; 11-03-2010 at 05:39 PM.
Old 11-03-2010, 08:46 PM
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Pushrods won't cause this, check the geometry first.
Old 11-03-2010, 09:38 PM
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Can you b more specific
Old 11-04-2010, 04:21 AM
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Before disassembly, check the wipe pattern on the valve stem with the rockers as they are currently installed. If you take it all apart you may not be able to figure out the cause.


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