Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Collapsed Lifter?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-15-2007, 06:09 PM
  #1  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Halloran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Collapsed Lifter?

Well I've got a 99 WS6 and was driving on a long stretch of highway and shifted from 4th to 1st by accident instead of 4th to 3rd Needless to say RPM's went sky-high, low-traction light came on and then I noticed the infamous "tick" sound from the engine. I pulled over because I knew what had probably occurred and popped the hood. The car is idling real hard and I can hear the tick from the passenger side of the valve cover. I'm pretty sure it's a collapsed lifter. The car has 140k miles on it and it's probably time to replace the lifters anyhow but what else should I be looking for when I get down to the heads? I'm kind of a newbie when it comes to the internal engine part of the LS1. Any help or instructions to removing/installing lifters would be appreciated. Thanks for the input!
Old 02-15-2007, 06:38 PM
  #2  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
melchoir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Probably a bent pushrod, I wouldn't expect it to be a lifter.
Old 02-15-2007, 10:43 PM
  #3  
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Camaro Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Manchester, N.H
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

If you have the tools, it takes 20 minutes to pull your valve covers off. I'd do both and check every pushrod to be safe.
Old 02-16-2007, 09:04 AM
  #4  
TECH Addict
 
DaddySS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by Camaro Rick
If you have the tools, it takes 20 minutes to pull your valve covers off. I'd do both and check every pushrod to be safe.
Old 02-16-2007, 10:21 AM
  #5  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (21)
 
RZRSEDGE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Tellico Plains, TN
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah, I second the pushrod theory.
Old 02-16-2007, 10:23 AM
  #6  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (23)
 
brad8266's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Watertown, NY
Posts: 8,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Bent pushrod. The stock pushrods are very forgiving and will bend themselves intead of damagaing the rest of the valvetrain. If you need a set of stock pushrods i have a set I will sell ya, and I can 2 day mail or overnight them for ya too.

Just pull the valve covers off, lossen the rocker nuts, pull the rocker arms off, and then just lift each pushrod out. Then roll each one on a flat surface to see if they are bent.

Dont worry about the lifters, the stock ones are good rarely fail.
Old 02-16-2007, 10:39 AM
  #7  
TECH Resident
 
BOWTIE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: AUSTIN TX
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I agree, most likely the pushrods. I bent 2 previously that same way (well mine was a missed shift from 6th to 4th that ended up in 2nd). However, the last time at the track with drag radials and a 3-4 shift that ended up in 2nd most likely cost me a few valves. Oh well, good excuse for some ported heads.
Old 02-16-2007, 02:26 PM
  #8  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
eallanboggs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

The OEM pushrods take a bad rap because the are supposedly "thin walled" but, in this case a bent pushrod wouldn't be such a bad thing. Imagine what might have happened had he upgraded to Hi Tech pushrods? I'd hate to think what the next weakest link in the chain would be. What ever it is it certainly would be as easy to change as a pushrod and it would be a lot more expensive.
Old 02-16-2007, 03:00 PM
  #9  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Halloran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Pusrods Update.

What is the best way to check the pushrods? I have the valve covers all the way off and I had my girlfriend turn the car over and each lifter is functioning properly so it's not a collapsed lifter. Do I just unbolt the pusrods and pull them out or what are the proper steps? I don't want to mess anything up!

thanks again, Nick
Old 02-16-2007, 03:03 PM
  #10  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (3)
 
justin b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i would say pushrod ,a collasped lifter would bereal noisey,and would probably lead to a bent pushrod or it coming out of lifter
Old 02-16-2007, 03:15 PM
  #11  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (19)
 
Blk97WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern, VA
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Halloran
What is the best way to check the pushrods? I have the valve covers all the way off and I had my girlfriend turn the car over and each lifter is functioning properly so it's not a collapsed lifter. Do I just unbolt the pusrods and pull them out or what are the proper steps? I don't want to mess anything up!

thanks again, Nick

all you do is pull the rockers off, and the pushrods will slide right up. like mentioned before roll each one on a flat surface to make sure its not bent.
Old 02-16-2007, 03:44 PM
  #12  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (19)
 
1sick'98WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

make sure you use loc tite and torque rocker bolts to 22ftlbs too when you put em back on
Old 02-16-2007, 03:46 PM
  #13  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (34)
 
headed-ws6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DFW
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

If you can I would go to spdc and buy a set of hardend pushrods after while. With a M6 that is always one of the best things to do.
Old 02-16-2007, 03:53 PM
  #14  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Halloran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

What's the proper torque setting for the rockers once I pull them off. They are really torqued on there. I just busted my 3/8" to 1/4" socket adapter trying to take the first rocker off...

Never mind on torque setting...I need to learn to refresh pages...
Old 02-16-2007, 04:04 PM
  #15  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (19)
 
Blk97WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern, VA
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Halloran
What's the proper torque setting for the rockers once I pull them off. They are really torqued on there. I just busted my 3/8" to 1/4" socket adapter trying to take the first rocker off...

Never mind on torque setting...I need to learn to refresh pages...

Yeah make sure you use a quality socket on the rocker bolts, or you will end up either breaking another socket, or possibly stripping a rocker bolt.
Old 02-16-2007, 07:28 PM
  #16  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Halloran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Pushrods Update!

Well we pulled the pushrods and well...

http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ushrodsrp8.jpg

We're going to pull the heads and check the pistons etc and make sure no other damage was done internally. Only 8 more bolts and the exhaust to remove. Better be safe than sorry right?
Old 02-16-2007, 07:35 PM
  #17  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (23)
 
brad8266's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Watertown, NY
Posts: 8,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Halloran
Well we pulled the pushrods and well...

http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ushrodsrp8.jpg

We're going to pull the heads and check the pistons etc and make sure no other damage was done internally. Only 8 more bolts and the exhaust to remove. Better be safe than sorry right?
Holy **** batman!!! I never seen one bent so much.

I would just put some new pushrods in first and see how it sounds because thats probably all that bent. Pulling the heads is more work than it sounds like. You would have to get new head bolts and gaskets, as well as deal with coolant everywhere and the tedious job of properly cleaning the head and deck surfaces as well as the bolt holes.

Just try new rods first and if its still jacked up then pull the heads.
Old 02-16-2007, 08:58 PM
  #18  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (17)
 
bad6as's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

get some new heads while you have them off
Old 02-17-2007, 01:07 AM
  #19  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (19)
 
Blk97WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern, VA
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Damn that thing is bent to hell!!!



Originally Posted by brad8266
Holy **** batman!!! I never seen one bent so much.

I would just put some new pushrods in first and see how it sounds because thats probably all that bent. Pulling the heads is more work than it sounds like. You would have to get new head bolts and gaskets, as well as deal with coolant everywhere and the tedious job of properly cleaning the head and deck surfaces as well as the bolt holes.

Just try new rods first and if its still jacked up then pull the heads.
I agree, try the simple solution first.
Old 02-17-2007, 12:15 PM
  #20  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Halloran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Engine Rebuild?

Well, I'm going to take the heads off today and make sure there's no extra damage to the engine. While all this stuff is off, would it be a wise decision to just take off the timing chain and replace it with a roller chain? The engine has 140k miles on it and from what I know the chain has never been replaced. Also, do you think I should do a cam swap? I don't know if I can afford new heads right now so would my stock heads be sufficient? Inputs?

Thanks



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:43 PM.