Very bent pushrod 99 LS1
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7
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From: Apple Valley California
Very bent pushrod 99 LS1 So I took a chance on a slightly wrecked 99 TA, just the bumper cover was damaged, everything else behind it including the foam is ok. However, it did not run, bad fuel pump. Got a fuel pump, cleared the bad gas out, and tuned it up. It immediately ticks like mad at start up, definite top end noise. Compression is 170-180 across each cylinder and good oil pressure, so I determined the noise was coming from the middle of the driver's side. So I pulled the valve cover, and then the rockers, and the exhaust pushrod on the number 3 cylinder is bent bad. So bad it was hard getting out of the head. All of the other pushrods are good, and the springs and all rockers look fine. I ordered a set of pushrods and I am hoping for the best, I just don't want to have to pull the heads. What has been your guys experience with this?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Apple Valley California
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NAAAA he Photo Shopped it! OR it's just a camera trick.
Seriously, I can't see anything in an engine that'll bend up a pushrod like that. I'd definitely pull and replace the lifter and examine the cam lobe all the way around.
Remember: Head bolts are one time use only.
Seriously, I can't see anything in an engine that'll bend up a pushrod like that. I'd definitely pull and replace the lifter and examine the cam lobe all the way around.
Remember: Head bolts are one time use only.
Don't think they are still up from 5 years ago or so, but I posted pics here on LS1Tech of some PR's I pulled out of my '99. Two of them were broken in half, had to use a pen magnet to wiggle the bottom halves out of the head 
. Two of them looked similar to the one on the left in your pic as well.
I know mine ran just fine after putting new PR's in, hope the same is true for you!
. Two of them looked similar to the one on the left in your pic as well. I know mine ran just fine after putting new PR's in, hope the same is true for you!
When I tore my 00 down that had 101k on it, I had a bent push rod myself. Not ticking or anything. Run just fine. I probably bent it when I was spanking that A$$ of my cousins srt4. I was very surprised it did not spit it. Most of the lifters were stuck and would not budge. Just as if it had solid lifters. Two of the pistons had kiss marks on them. Had stock cam and lifters too. If you want to be sure take the other rocker off and pressure check the cylinder. You will have to have a good compression tester to do this. Pressure testing will tell you if you have a hole in the piston or a bent valve. Usually with a pushrod bent that bad there will be a bent valve. But who knows, you might get lucky. Oh yea, you will also need a air compressor also. Good luck with it.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 305
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From: Blue Springs, Missouri
My last ls1 I had bent a pushrod like that and cracked it, it happened from missing a gear, well I replaced all the pushrods then the ticking stopped, but a couple days after it cam back bc the lifter tray cracked from the bent pushrod and the lifter turned in its hole and ground it self and the cam down
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7
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From: Apple Valley California
Kind of scary because the car is auto...Most of the stories I read about this are manual cars so ? I think the person I got the car from was abusive to it. I guess we'll see if I need to eventually pull the heads. I drove it and it drives and runs fine so far.
HUH?!?^
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The forces that are inside an engine are tremendous and when things are out of whack, serious damage can result.
Any decent engine machinist/builder will tell you to at least pull the head and check the piston height to determine if it's rod is bent and also to pull the cam and examine the lobe. The lifter should be considered junk. Some serious binding or interference occurred to cause a pushrod to bend like that.
If, after showing your builder this pushrod, he says just replace it and move on, you need a new guy.
================================================== ===
The forces that are inside an engine are tremendous and when things are out of whack, serious damage can result.
Any decent engine machinist/builder will tell you to at least pull the head and check the piston height to determine if it's rod is bent and also to pull the cam and examine the lobe. The lifter should be considered junk. Some serious binding or interference occurred to cause a pushrod to bend like that.
If, after showing your builder this pushrod, he says just replace it and move on, you need a new guy.
