Generation III Internal Engine - whats this stuff on my rockers and valve springs?

History.Bought a hard used 1999 TA.Was told some headwork was done.I pulled the motor and I am slowly dissecting and examining.Didn't see water in the oil or oil in the water.Also ran very well.I didn't hear any knocks or ticks (it did have open headers) so I pull the valve covers and I noticed this crap on the just a few of the rockers and springs,no where else.Could some water be in the oil?It wipes right off and doesn't look froathy.So sould I just pull the heads and go for head gaskets anyway?I'm going to put Katech rod bolts in.Is there a way to check the bearings without messing things too much or do I have to use plastigage.I just want to check condition of the bearings and if bad I'll go all the way but if there ok could I just put the caps back on?Trying to upload pics getting error message

Without seeing the pictures yet, my guess is it may be the stuff that forms from condensation in motors that make a number of cold starts followed by trips too short to burn off the water vapor. There are a lot threads about this stuff (white/yellowish) appearing inside the oil fill cap.

yes thats it.I will pull the pan first just for s**ts and giggles

If it is a yellowish/ light brownish hell like stuff, it is probably just like said above, oil/ condesation .....kind of looks like baby puke lol

Are you pulling the pan to look at bearings or see what's in there?

I want to see whats up in there.I also want to install a set of rod bolts (katech)

The bottom of the pan has a slight amount of black sludge.wipes right up but looks like the crap you would find in a tranny pan,I'll just clean it all up and inspect deeper.It is a well used motor.Surprized its not worse,I want to also do a leak down test on it.

Post some pics. I changed out my stock il pan baffle and it had a bunch of sludge on it that wipes right off. I checked some rod bearing and they looked fine, just at the water spots, and some what looked like groves but super smooth. Ive seen that on every stock LS1 with miles Ive looked at.

Post some pics. I changed out my stock il pan baffle and it had a bunch of sludge on it that wipes right off. I checked some rod bearing and they looked fine, just at the water spots, and some what looked like groves but super smooth. Ive seen that on every stock LS1 with miles Ive looked at.

Keeps telling me upload file failed.I think the image is too large

Motor does have some miles

Keeps telling me upload file failed.I think the image is too large

Just re-size the photo to below the upload limit shown when you try to upload.

You would have to do a lot of repeated short trips to build up this crud ... usually, one or two long trips will clear this stuff up, unless your PCV system isn't working correctly.

Thanks to you all

save pic to computer, right click open with Microsoft paint, hit control + w for stretch and scew.. it'll show 100% for horizontal and 100% for vertical.. try making 75x75% and keep doing til it accepts the size... don't have to cut it 25% per time... can go bigger/smaller per 1% or into decimal %ages