Spun #1 rod bearing?
10-12-2012, 08:07 PM
#1
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ArKansas
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spun #1 rod bearing? I recently just put together an Ls1 with TSP stage 2.5 ported heads with an eps cam. The bottom end is fully balanced and I had clevite H series bearings.
Well it managed to spin a #1 rod bearing. I also have a melling hv oil pump.
Today I started to tear the motor down. Pulled the heads off and they looked great. Pulled out the lifter trays and come to see the #1 piston exhaust lifter roller is destroyed. These are brand new LS7 lifters I just purchased form Texas Speed. The lifter bore is in tolerance and is not damaged at all. Same with the lifter tray. We just cant understand how this lifter could be destroyed. Engine always had plenty of oil pressure. Motor almost had 1k miles on it.
There was no piston to head contact either.
A few people are leaning towards a defective lifter. I've ran into lifters that have been machined wrong. Needless to say my cam is trashed as well.
We are thinking the lifter somehow went bad, sent metal into the bottom end and ate up the #1 rod bearing. It doesnt make too much sense to spin a bearing that is the most oiled part of the entire motor.
I am going to contact Texas Speed about this and maybe they can shine some light on my problem.
Well it managed to spin a #1 rod bearing. I also have a melling hv oil pump.
Today I started to tear the motor down. Pulled the heads off and they looked great. Pulled out the lifter trays and come to see the #1 piston exhaust lifter roller is destroyed. These are brand new LS7 lifters I just purchased form Texas Speed. The lifter bore is in tolerance and is not damaged at all. Same with the lifter tray. We just cant understand how this lifter could be destroyed. Engine always had plenty of oil pressure. Motor almost had 1k miles on it.
There was no piston to head contact either.
A few people are leaning towards a defective lifter. I've ran into lifters that have been machined wrong. Needless to say my cam is trashed as well.
We are thinking the lifter somehow went bad, sent metal into the bottom end and ate up the #1 rod bearing. It doesnt make too much sense to spin a bearing that is the most oiled part of the entire motor.
I am going to contact Texas Speed about this and maybe they can shine some light on my problem.
10-12-2012, 08:18 PM
#3
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ArKansas
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Me too. I'm not calling out Texas Speed saying their parts are junk either. I loved how hard the car ran and I know I will continue to buy stuff from them.
It just baffles me. I could understand if the lifter bore was making the lifter stick but it wasnt. Ill post up some pics later of the damage.
It just baffles me. I could understand if the lifter bore was making the lifter stick but it wasnt. Ill post up some pics later of the damage.
10-12-2012, 09:13 PM
#5
Yea this baffles me as well cause I'm the one that built the engine and it was assembled with correct specs. It ran hard during tuning and to see this Lifter Roller trashed doesn't make any sense at all. Heads are good, Valve Springs are good.
Only thing that comes to mind is a Spring floated and beat the Lifter, but the Exhaust Valves are lighter so that is highly unlikely IMO.
Hopefully some of the more experienced guys here can shed some light on this cause I'm just as curious.
Only thing that comes to mind is a Spring floated and beat the Lifter, but the Exhaust Valves are lighter so that is highly unlikely IMO.
Hopefully some of the more experienced guys here can shed some light on this cause I'm just as curious.
Trending Topics
10-13-2012, 09:37 AM
#8
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: phx the cactus patch
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
13 Posts
Lifter/ camshaft relationship/ geometry is something that is very precise so it can easily be off enough to cause You're problem and not be detected with the human eye or touch . This is 1 area of an engine rebuild that "We don't really get to "check" against real factory specs . It would be nice if the equipment to check these specs were affordable for You n I ,,,,,,,,,but ????
10-13-2012, 10:23 AM
#9
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ArKansas
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The lifter shown in the pic was the only one with damage to the sides.
10-17-2012, 07:27 PM
#12
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ArKansas
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Got in contact with John at Tx Speed. Great guy. He is getting in contact with GM about the part and seeing what they can do. Hopefully he will give me some good news.
10-17-2012, 08:46 PM
#13
Yeah...All the other lifters look trashed too...I would NOT blame TSP...Its not like they make the LS7 lifters...Maybe not enough spring pressure and the lifters were bouncing on the cam?
10-18-2012, 07:43 AM
#18
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1st thing is the idea that the lifter came apart and somehow damaged the bearing. Can't happen....nothing could get past the oil filter to damage the bearing. Why don't you post up all the details of this build, was the block used or dipped and properly cleaned? Those lifters look like they were run dry or in dirt. Was the cam properly prelubed before assembly? Was the oil gallery opened up and cleaned?
