MS4 install problems!!!
11-26-2006, 12:57 PM
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MS4 install problems!!! Has anybody broke the rocker arms on an ms4 install? I just installed the cam package last night on my car ('02 SS bolt ons) and it ran fine for a couple of minutes then started rattling like hell. I pulled the valve covers and the needle bearings fell out of four of the rocker arms (3 drivers side, 1 pass side) I know that GM has a service bulletin for this problem but I didn't know if it was something I did wrong that caused the problem or if it was just coincidence. The only thing that is different about the cam package is that TSP ran out of pushrods so I used my TR 7.4's until TSP's get here. Is that the right length PR for the MS4...they never told me different so I figured I'd ask. Thanks for any help/advice!!!
11-26-2006, 08:46 PM
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I pulled the 224/228 cam out and installed the ms4. Removed the oil pump to replace the stock chain with the ls2 (have good oil pressure still). Used pen magnets to retain the lifters, installed the TR 7.4 pushrods and the "Gold" valvesprings w/Titanium retainers that came with the cam kit from TSP. Torqued the rocker arms down and turned the motor over by hand 720 degrees to make sure I didn't have any piston-to-valve issues and then hit the key. The car will run smooth as silk at idle for about five minutes then you will hear a high pitched (very light) snap then you will hear a rattle...which is the rocker arm without needle bearings in it. It does it on Intake number one cylinder first then it will start working on the rest of the intakes. Being stock headed I wouldn't think that I would have any problems with this install. I've installed about 10 cams before this and never had any problems.
11-26-2006, 09:41 PM
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Well the stockers off of my car only have 22k miles on them and I thought that maybe, like you said, were on their way out anyways. So I got another set of them from a buddy and put them on there and it ran smooth as silk (probably quieter than stock believe it or not) for about 5 minutes then started rattling again, pulled the valve cover and sure enough, cylinder 1 intake broke again. I haven't had time to check the passenger side yet but it only sounded like the drivers' side. Do you think that the stock design rocker is too weak for the cam? If so, why hasn't anybody else had problems with it and TSP never said that they wouldn't work. I just don't know what to try next and I'm in a little of a bind because the car is my dd. With the springs being rated at .660 I wouldn't think that I would be getting into coil bind and I would think that I would hear it but it is quiet on startup for about 5 minutes. With the stock heads I would think that the 7.4 PR would be fine, The lifter is moving in the bore and the valve spring and retainer do not have any unknown markings on them. I'm really scratching my head on this one.
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11-26-2006, 09:51 PM
#10
The PRC golds were rated to .650 lift. Their platinum springs were rated to .660 lift. All that in a perfect world with perfect installed height. Did you measure the installed height of the springs? Sounds like as things are expanding with heat, you are going into coil bind. Get a feeler gauge and measure the clearance between the coils at max lift.
11-26-2006, 10:01 PM
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What should the clearance be? The car is still down at the shop, so I won't be able to check until tomorrow evening after we close down. The springs came with TSP's cam kit and on their site it says .660 lift. If the springs won't work with that cam they couldn't sell that with their kit (just my thinking on it anyways) but if you know what I should have as far as clearance that would be something just to double check. And no, I didn't check the installed height, I figured it would just be an install and go same as the other cam kits that I've installed.
11-26-2006, 10:13 PM
#14
Most of the car magazines will say .060 when they talk about coil bind. People here will say .050. If checking completely cold, you might add a little to that to be on the safe side. I guess another possibility is the retainer hitting the VG seal, but you don't hear about that happening on LSx heads. You did remove your stock seals and use the spring seats and seals in the VS kit, right?
11-26-2006, 10:29 PM
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One of the guys at the shop might have one. Scratch that on the spring seats and seals, I've still got the spring seats and seals here in the bag....Too many cam swaps running through my head 
Are the seats gonna be .050-.060 shorter than the stockers to give me my needed installed height?!?!?!
Are the seats gonna be .050-.060 shorter than the stockers to give me my needed installed height?!?!?! 