mrvedit

I think I know what this little part is which was attached to the LS3 oil drain plug magnet, but want to confirm with you guys.
Thanks.

Jake Wade

Appears to be a needle roller from a rocker arm.

Cajun ELESS-ONE

I'd say needle bearing from rocker arm as well

mrvedit

Yes, that is what I thought. A year ago I rebuilt the stock rocker arms with the "Trunion" upgrade. Please confirm this has to be from the stock rocker arms and not from the Trunion upgrade as those needle bearings appear to be have more length compared to their diameter. If true, this is from a stock rocker that was rebuilt just in time. If false, I may need to replace all the rockers or at least check them all for a missing needle bearing.
Thanks.

G Atsma

Find a stocker to compare to just for peace of mind. If not the same, check the rockers.....

mrvedit

Yeah, I will have to dig up a stock one. I probably have a set of trunion upgraded ones because I upgraded the LS3 in my '81 Camaro to shaft rockers.
Thanks.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

the only part that has needle bearings like that would be the.....trunions....new ones or old....IDK

mrvedit

I confirmed that the one in the picture exactly matches those from the stock rockers. Measured diameter to .00005".

Are you saying it could still be from the COMP trunion upgrade? That both the stock and upgraded use exactly the same needle bearings? I don't see how a needle could escape from the upgraded trunions.
Thanks.

Jake Wade

I think he is saying he doesn't know if it came from the stockers or the upgraded ones. Since what you found measures exactly as the stock ones, I would say your new ones are good to go.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

it may be a old left over from the stockers....cant remember how big the comp ones are

mrvedit

Comp sells their trunion bearings separately for $1.90; I will buy a couple, rip them apart and compare the needle bearings.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

i trashed my comp ones when i went to bushings....wish i had saved some now

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

I can’t really see how a single needle could get out of the stock rocker. I’d expect to see a bunch of them and you would have noted a failed unit when you rebuilt them.

I can see one escaping from the trunion kit when you did the install. It would have to have stuck in a place you couldn’t see it then ended up in the pan. I think I have a couple spare bearings. I can check.

Hi Ted!

Ron

Update. Stock needle measures .0655 dia by .245” long
Could not find my spare trunion kit bearing.

Bspeck82

You should pull the rockers and check. No way around it. Doesnt take very long.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

my comps were trashed from the problems that they have......are you going to upgrade to bushings or other needle bearing style rockers?

dreadpirateroberts

iTrader: (1)

all that needs to happen is the stamped steel sides of the roller bearing cages to slide out of position enough, i think. everyone goes on and on about how stock trunnions are fine, but then occasionally this stuff happens. all of us that have ever taken the stock rockers apart can kind of see how easy it is to do with enough force.

all the same, the worst that's ever happened is someone finds them sitting in the bottom coroner the head or in the oil pan. not sure a loose rocker roller bearing ever caused any catastrophic damage.

Enigma540

Definitely rocker needle. New or old, I couldn't say. All I can say is............I want whatever you're using to measure down to .00005 accurately! 😁

mrvedit

Sorry for the delay in following up. I disassembled a COMP trunion upgraded rocker and removed a needle bearing. It is shorter than the one I found in the engine which confirms I found a left-over from the stock rockers.
No I don't plan any further rocker upgrades. On my LS3 engine in my '81 Camaro I upgraded to Crower shaft rockers, but combined with the special extra tall valve covers needed, that upgrade cost nearly the value of the LS2 engine in my C6.
I honestly don't expect the C6 engine to last much longer as it already has 90,000 miles and I routinely pull 1.6 Gs in turns on the track as I run racing slicks. Most miles are to the track, on the track and back from the track.



And here is the AccuRemote micrometer I used:

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for the update. That’s a reeeeaaaally nice mic you have there. I’m not a fan of digital instruments for hand measuring, but that ones really nice.

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

I missed by .0003 and .0002 respectively?

I suck!

😊