Try to make this kinda short.....

Cam install was 1,500 miles previous to this. Replaced pushrods, valvesprings, cam, plugs, wires, thermostat. Ran great.

I drove my Trans Am out to Iowa to visit family and race it closer to sea level. Trip out went fine, 27 MPG and no problems. When we got in, I cleaned up the air filter, and let it sit.
Next morning, I drove one mile to my aunt's place, when I pulled into the driveway, the car was making a weird sound. Felt like it was running on seven cylinders and it sounded like there was a marble under the valvecover. Well, there goes racing.
We reset the computer, and start her. Now I have a loud fast ticking.

Put her in the garage, take off the valvecover, and check it out a bit. Didn't get a chance to check the pushrods on the affected cylinder yet, that will be Friday when I finally go back out to try to get her running.
Everything appears fine under the valvecover. But get this, couldn't get the noise to repeat without spark. I was thinking valve. I had a friend recommend checking the plugs........

 

Could it be a bad injector on that cylinder?

Maybe the injector went bad and caused that cylinder to run lean. Marble sound might have been detonation causing the spark plug to close up. The plug doesn't look like the cylinder was running lean though.

When you shut off the spark there wouldn't be any detonation either.

Just throwing out a suggestion, might be WAY off.

 

That was one of the first thoughts I had. Injector. At the time the marble sound started, it still wasn't throwing any codes though. If there was a malfunction with an injector, wouldn't the computer throw a code?

 

Only 2 ways that happend... something hit it or it melted. Could be something in the cylinder or a bad injector or bad material.

 

Hmmmm.....good question.

The only thing I can think of if an injector is the problem is that it wasn't causing that bank to show lean enough to set a code. The LTFT's have to be out a good amount to set a code. I don't think there is any feedback on individual injectors to set a code.

 

Hoping for that. Replacing the plugs when I am out there over Thanksgiving. I just hope it didn't do any serious damage.

I have had some pretty major plans for the car, but was hoping to wait a little before starting on them.

 

To determine if it was injector, just swap 2 injectors around. Ideally then if it is repeated on the "other Cylinder then you have determined it is the injector.
From the blackness on the plug, looks like it wasn't getting any spark. If it repeats with the same cylinder (that has another injector) I would suspect coil.
Double check coil pack connections.

 

 

If you all think that's funny me and a friend were racing and he's got a 99Z28, well to get to the point he blew a spark plug right out of the head. We kept hearing a really loud ticking sound, didn't know what in the hell was going on, then we saw an electric current arching off the fender. Now that's pretty messed up.

 

Damn, this thread found it's way on down the ladder pretty quick.

I am going out to try to get the car running over this weekend. Should I just change out the plugs and see what happens? Or should I move that cylinders injector as well?? Thinking at this point, I will check the pushrods on that cylinder, and change the plugs. After that, try to start her up.
Any other semi easy recommendations??

 

With no gap on the plug, it was probably arcing off the piston.