Time for a new top end..

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Dec 20, 2013 | 01:16 PM

DREAMZ28

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From: Hampton, VA

Time for a new top end..

For the past week shes been idling rough and surging a bit more while sitting still in drive and even in neutral some times. A couple nights ago, I was in a high rpm, high g force situation, and I'm thinking the top end got starved of oil. After I slowed down and started driving again, above 2k rpm I could hear a knocking. Got out and listened, its coming from the top end, it gets faster and louder with rpm. She still drove perfectly fine for the most part. Later in the night as I was trying to limp her home, she died on me coming to a stop for a red light. Started her up and took her to the on ramp to pull over and got towed home. The battery died after 45 minutes of waiting for the tow, once i get it charged im going to pull codes to see whats up. I figured as long as I didnt hurt the bottom end I might as well do a cam swap. What do y'all think might be the problem? Bent pushrod? Collapsed spring?

Dec 20, 2013 | 01:22 PM

HCI2000SS

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Well if it's definitely coming from the top and not the bottom that's usually a better scenario lol. Does it knock at idle as well?

Dec 20, 2013 | 01:44 PM

96capricemgr

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If it shut down I doubt the damage is limited to topend.

Dec 20, 2013 | 02:11 PM

DREAMZ28

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No knock at idle, at least not audible. What kind of bottom end damage do you think there might be?

Dec 20, 2013 | 02:58 PM

DREAMZ28

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And btw it's not a horribly loud, violent knock, but it is there.

Dec 20, 2013 | 03:02 PM

cobalt964

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pull the valve covers and inspect your rockers and valvetrain.

Dec 20, 2013 | 03:31 PM

Rise of the Phoenix

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One of your rockers may have backed off; possibly on the exhaust side.

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Dec 20, 2013 | 03:56 PM

Rise of the Phoenix

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You'll be able to tell if it's something to do with the top end after pulling the valve covers. Good luck.

Dec 20, 2013 | 03:57 PM

#10

Cra-Z Larry

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You might want to drain the oil into something clean and look for metal in the oil and on the drain plug.

Dec 20, 2013 | 07:08 PM

#11

DREAMZ28

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Yea it needed an oil change so that was going to happen. Is the plug magnetic?

Appreciate all the feedback guys.

Dec 20, 2013 | 07:16 PM

#12

DREAMZ28

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Also on another note, money is tight, I figure if anything needs to be swapped I might as well do a cam swap while I was in there, but it might be a little while before I get the necessary supporting mods (intake/exhaust) to go along with it. I'm still on stock manifolds, but I already have a torque converter. Would it be Alright to swap the cam on stock manifolds? I know it will probably be a dog but might as well do it now you know.

Dec 20, 2013 | 08:01 PM

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fubar569

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I picked up good used pacesetters for 200 shipped. the speed engineering headers have proven to be acceptable fit and the price is super reasonable (like under 360 for headers AND Y)...

don't think you can't...just look around...the deals are there...

Dec 21, 2013 | 03:48 AM

#14

DREAMZ28

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Yea I was already eying the speed engineering race headers, already have eBay xpipe, just need mufflers and miscellaneous parts.

Dec 21, 2013 | 04:27 AM

#15

SuperSport01

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If your like me you bounced the lifters off the cam lobes and cracked the lifter bores in the block.

Dec 21, 2013 | 05:13 AM

#16

2002kirk

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hopefully it has nothing with the bottom end. Also i agree it sounds like only top end issues to me. Best of luck, Keep us updated with pictures and perhaps we can assist you further.

Dec 21, 2013 | 10:19 AM

#17

DREAMZ28

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Pictures will be on the way shortly, appreciate it

Dec 21, 2013 | 12:22 PM

#18

DREAMZ28

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Ok almost done with the drivers side valve cover, but there's a pipe way on the back of it that comes out on top, a little over an inch in diameter. What is this pipe and can I just take it off?