Help Lost a Valve Keeper doing valve springs
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
Help Lost a Valve Keeper doing valve springs I was finishing up on number 7 cylinder and heard it hit like the headers and drop, I cant find it. Could of it still went in the motor? Any help would be great.
Pushrods are in the holes, so I doubt it went in there if it did.
I gues I could manually spin the motor like 50 times and change the oil??
Pushrods are in the holes, so I doubt it went in there if it did.
I gues I could manually spin the motor like 50 times and change the oil??
Last edited by corvet786c; Jan 4, 2022 at 04:01 PM.
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I've done same thing before, don't jump to worst conclusion just yet. Thoroughly check open spots on engine, if good back down. Go get your baddest *** light you got and scour the floor/ top ove exposed sub rails/ engine mount area and tween starter to block. If nothing **** up then simply go get a few locks from closest source and proceed accordingly, it happens bro. And it's a huge mind ****. Check the important places and move on.... If it hit the header it most likely didn't go in the motor .
Last edited by Kjduvall; Jan 4, 2022 at 04:40 PM.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
Thanks for the responses, Wondering if it did some how get in the motor where would it be, I see an opening thru the head bolts but isnt that where the coolant goes. How does the oil get the the springs?
Just trying to figure out. Should I drain the motor oil first? Spin the crank First? Thanks Chris
Just trying to figure out. Should I drain the motor oil first? Spin the crank First? Thanks Chris
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The only way the keeper can get inside the engine is through the oil drain back holes.
The drain holes are just above the center head bolts... the center three have large drain backs and the two head bolts on each end have a smaller drain that's angled back toward the center.
The drain holes are just above the center head bolts... the center three have large drain backs and the two head bolts on each end have a smaller drain that's angled back toward the center.
Unless it could get into the intake tract it shouldn't be a problem. The keeper is to big to do any damage and will likely end up in the oil pan. Those little SOB's are notorious for disappearing and yes I have found them in the oil pan along with other odds and ends.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
Like I said my intake was on and the pushrods are in their place. If you pull the cylinder head I dont see any drain back except the coolant passages. My only concern was the last bolt on the driver side closest to driver, cylinder 7. I just cant find it.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
So Assuming that the valve keeper fell in the oil drain back hole, not sure that it did, would it just fall in the oil pan?
Thanks, But the heads are on the car, I just find it hard for it to make its way thru there, having to pass alot of obstacles first, hitting those gallies with the steel valve keeper, would it sound like hitting the header being more tube like sound hollow?
Thanks, But the heads are on the car, I just find it hard for it to make its way thru there, having to pass alot of obstacles first, hitting those gallies with the steel valve keeper, would it sound like hitting the header being more tube like sound hollow?
Last edited by corvet786c; Jan 6, 2022 at 02:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
Well I already started it and so far so good. No problems brought it up to temp with new springs. Cant believe how smooth it sounds. I did not change the oil yet. Still dont know where that Lock Keeper is. Will keep updated tomorrow. Hopefully the magnetic plug got it IF it was in the engine.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
Started again for second time No Problems. Breaking in the new springs, I will be doing an oil change after the 3rd heat cycle. And rechecking the rockers. bolt TQ.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
Final report, I guess that valve keeper did not make it way into the motor, but still cant find it. Heat cycles are done on the springs and took the vette out dont a few 4000 rpms hits, so far so good. Thank God.
Unless you took the engine apart it's way to early to say it's not inside. It could have found a place to sit for awhile before it makes it's way to the pan. Hell it may never show up. I've found all kinds of stuff in oil pans over the years, Some you can't even explain how they got there...Like a 1/2" wrench lol
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
I did take a powerful magnet and went back and forth under the pan, IF it was there. maybe its not. Those keepers are metal so they are attracted to magnetism alot. Heck I may even break apart a 12inch speaker magnet and go over it again someday.
I just find the odds are very low it went into the drain back on the head. I was using a pen magnet and it bounced, I did not see where it went, but could hear it hit like the header tube sound then a solid sound at the end. You know how your mind thinks all kinds of bad things that could happen?
Anyway car runs alot better with new springs and seals.
I just find the odds are very low it went into the drain back on the head. I was using a pen magnet and it bounced, I did not see where it went, but could hear it hit like the header tube sound then a solid sound at the end. You know how your mind thinks all kinds of bad things that could happen?
Anyway car runs alot better with new springs and seals.
Last edited by corvet786c; Jan 7, 2022 at 06:31 PM.
Don't trust Google. Springs should not require any break in. I make OEM car parts for a living.
edit-- In other news, I lost a titanium valve lock about 20 years ago in my neighbor's garage. Still don't know where it went. Magnet was obviously of no use.
edit-- In other news, I lost a titanium valve lock about 20 years ago in my neighbor's garage. Still don't know where it went. Magnet was obviously of no use.
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From: South Carolina
Hearing the keeper pinging off a few things I doubt it found it's way into the drain backs. It probably never hit the floor either and is stuck somewhere on/in the chassis or between the header primaries.
The drains dump the oil on the lifters. Between each lifter there is a triangular hole where the oil drains back to the pan, in the process giving a cam lobe on the opposite bank an nice oil bath.
Attachment 712399
The drains dump the oil on the lifters. Between each lifter there is a triangular hole where the oil drains back to the pan, in the process giving a cam lobe on the opposite bank an nice oil bath.
Attachment 712399
Last edited by RedXray; Jan 8, 2022 at 02:54 AM. Reason: spellin
Thread Starter
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From: Port St. Lucie, Fl
I appreciate everyone's input on helping me try to figure this out, you can imagine where my mind was when first starting the motor 2 days ago. But so far so good. I cant afford a new motor anyway dont want to go their.
I want to thank everyone's knowledge on this subject. I will continue to try and find it, but it not on the garage floor, not around my lift, but I also agree what REDXRAY said is most likely in the bay somewhere maybe in the back of the engine somewhere, the magnet could not reach back there.
At this point I am not going to worry about it anymore, but just drive the car. The springs are much better and quiet, doesnt sound like a sewing machine anymore, I also put in new valve seals, no more blu smoke under decel.
All this was about a carbon knock issue I was having initially after getting tuned and showing on my scans. Thanks again for your input.
I want to thank everyone's knowledge on this subject. I will continue to try and find it, but it not on the garage floor, not around my lift, but I also agree what REDXRAY said is most likely in the bay somewhere maybe in the back of the engine somewhere, the magnet could not reach back there.
At this point I am not going to worry about it anymore, but just drive the car. The springs are much better and quiet, doesnt sound like a sewing machine anymore, I also put in new valve seals, no more blu smoke under decel.
All this was about a carbon knock issue I was having initially after getting tuned and showing on my scans. Thanks again for your input.
