take a look at the site where the pushrod meets the rocker @ cylinder 7 and look if there is any change in shape compared to the other rockers .. can u tell me ?
what 1999_SS_M6 is saying is making sense to me ..
if i were u i wouldnt hesitate for a second to take the heads off , U HAD SOME PUSHRODS BENT .. i found it necessary to check the lifters and the lifters retainers ,

 

do u mean the intake manifolds or the exhaust manifolds ?

 

Were these stock PRs that bent or hardened ones? Were you still running stock springs?

 

The exhaust manifolds. Where the car is right now I can't get under it to get the bolts on the y pipe flange off...

No, there isn't any difference visually at all in the pushrods/rockers/springs on that cylinder versus the rest. I looked awfully closely...looked at the spring, seat (what you can see), retainer, etc.

Mark

 

you can move the manifold out of the way without removing it completely.

 

Is this just for the drivers side or the passenger side? Do I have to take both off to get at the bottom bolts on the head?

Sorry for all the questions...never pulled a head myself so I'm trying to figure out exactly all the steps I need to do before I end up in a situation where I can't move the car and I need a hoist or something silly.

Mark

 

Man, listen, you bend rods>>> You take off heads period.

 

go to www.ls1howto.com there is a write up on replacing heads.

It will take a large prybar though.

 

I saw that - been reading it over and over

Large prybar is fine if I don't have to pull those damn y pipe bolts...

Mark

 

i dont know if u r using stock manifolds or aftermarket ones , u can easily pull the stock ones , the aftermarket ones ( am using hooker ) r bigger and needs some time to pull them , either u have stock ones or the aftermarket ones i dont think u can just pry them .. u have to pull them off .

check this link http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=2

 

They are stock manifolds but in all the header installs I have helped on we have broke the bolts where the manifolds go to the y pipe. I'm trying to avoid that by not taking those bolts out...

What I need to know is this: Can I get at the bottom bolts on the head (the ones right under the exhaust ports) without pulling the manifold out? i.e. can I get it pushed down far enough to get a socket on those bolts?)

Thanks,

Mark

 

I left the headers on for the last set of heads I installed for a buddy. But 1.) I did unbolt both sides and 2.) they were headers, not manifolds.
Just try it and see what happens.

 

Intake and exhaust manifolds (headers too) need to come off...have you started yet??..ya might as weel get started and quit denying the obvious..good luck..

You don't have take the headers off the car but they will need to be unbolted form the head unless you are helping Fohn Force...

 

Looks like I will be trying it tonight...wish me luck

At least it is the driver's side...

Mark

 

go and try it ! and check if u can reach the bolt by pushing down the manifolds maximally .. if u can reach it and unbolt it then it is fine ..

when i do mine i just take everthing off to have enough space and to work smooth ..

goodluck

 

I'll be helping yah Markus!

We'll get it sorted out tonight and have that head off before I pack it in for the night. Want me to grab a valve spring compressor on the way home? Gary can lend me his and then we can take the valves and springs out if we get that far...

Oh yeah.. I'll bring some to make us feel better.

 

If you break off theose studs that hold your y pipe on it is not a big deal..they can be replaced without much hassle..good luck

 

Update:

Pulled the one head off today....definitely a bent valve stem.

Oddly another valve had a bent stem too and it tested fine under a compression test...

So...both heads are coming off just to check.

So everyone knows, you can NOT pull the head with the exhaust manifolds still here (we got the one off but we won't be able to get the head back on...).

Mark

 

glad to hear you got the problem figured out.

 

Well, a good time for H/C swap funds $$ allowing.