98BirdLS1

I changed my oil today, and when I pulled the oil plug this little pin pictured below was attached to the magnetic part along with some metal shavings.

What the hell is it? I have no SES light, oil pressure is great, temps are great, car runs great. Recently my valvetrain noise got a bit louder but I thought it was just because I had my headers flanged and they were leaking.

My car has a hotcam/LS6 springs, stock pushrods, stock rockers and full bolt-ons.

Please, any help you can give me would be great.

Luke

kenSS

iTrader: (1)

97-99 ls1 were known for this. the pin came from one of your rocker arms. I would upgrade to the newer rockers, GM supposly got rid of this problem.

Brandon Boomhauer

iTrader: (10)

just find a newer set of stock rockers and you'll be good to go!

98BirdLS1

Thanks man. I called my tuner and asked him, he diagnosed the problem just about as fast as you did. Harland sharps are on the way.

Does anyone know if I have to grind my valve covers for the Harlands to fit on a 98 car?

turbotacoma

iTrader: (1)

Yes you will and you may need to grind the heads too!!! I recommend going with a 1/4 or 1/2" spacer instead of grinding the valve covers. I this first hand.

kenSS

iTrader: (1)

this might save you some money, but from what i was told by mikey from rapid motorsports, he said the stock rockers actually make more power than the adjustable roller rockers. plus the stock ones are quieter.

98BirdLS1

Stockers are a bit more expensive that the Harlands, I wanted to get a reworked stock set from Nasty Performance, but I couldn't get a hold of anyone there, and I was concerned about the turn around time.

I will look into the spacers, who makes spacers for Perimeter bolt valve covers??

Luke

triumphman

if the pin mikes .250 it came from your cam[alignment dowel] chances are the sprocket is loose and a disaster is looming.pull it apart immed.

BOONE

iTrader: (4)

I agree that its not from the rockers its too big.

PREDATOR-Z

Compared to the pencil, that does look big for a rocker bearing.

Tony Mamo @ AFR

iTrader: (13)

Might be the pin in one of the axle wheels of a roller lifter....

Check for excessive play in one or more of your rocker arms. You did mention increased valvetrain noise.

Tony M.

Krab

iTrader: (28)

It's just an extra part when they assembled the engine from the factory. You know, like when you have to assemble a desk or something, you always have left over parts.

Seriously though, it does look too big to be a roller bearing from one of your rocker arms. Why don't you take them off and inspect them to be sure? That will rule one thing out.

98BirdLS1

How big should a bearing from the rockers be? I thought it was rather thick to be a bearing in something as small as a rocker.

If it as the alignment dowel, what would cause that to break off? And what would be my measure to fix it? I would hate to thing I wasted 400 dollars on HS rockers to fix something that wasn't broken.

Luke

calongo_SS

iTrader: (7)

I agree as well, I don't think it's a rocker arm needle bearing. What it is, I don't really know. Tony M. may be on the right track. I'd check out the valvetrain, since you're getting more noise from there.

Elite_Hot_Rod

A rocker arm needle bearing is smaller in diameter than the lead on a #2 pencil.

98BirdLS1

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That is most certainly not what I found on my oil plug. Mine was about that length, maybe a little bit longer. But alot thicker in diameter, close to the thickness of a pushrod.

How the alignment dowwel dowel come off? And does this mean I have to get a new cam? Help, Help, Help. I need this car for school tomorrow.

p.s. Good to know my 400 dollars was wasted.

Luke

Tony Mamo @ AFR

iTrader: (13)

An alignment dowel is unlikely and would not cause additional valve train noise. CHECK your valvetrain for signs of lifter related issues....its the next logical route to take in the process of elimination.

72ChevelleConv.LS1

iTrader: (5)

Don't drive the car tomorrow. find out what is wrong then fix it. this will coust you far less. remove the wiers, coil packs and valve covers. look hard at the rockers, shake them move them and see if one feels weird. if you dont mind making a mess, (oil shooting out),start the car for a few sec.s and see if things look odd on one rocker. this will give you somthing to do tonight just to get a head start. Don't drive it till you find out what is wrong.

98BirdLS1

Bump.

Got the rockers out. Couldn't tell anything was wrong with any of them. Pushrods are all straight. Nothing suspicious with the valvetrain. All the valves are at the same height.

If the timing sprocket is loose, how would that happen? The three bolts that are in the cam are coming lose? I've been going through searches and searches and I can't find a thing.

p.s. The Harland sharps are going to need alot of clearancing on my heads. I'm gonna be up all night. PLEASE HELP.

Luke

Elite_Hot_Rod

I gotta think it's a lifter wheel pin.