Help me diagnose this damage...pics.
Help me diagnose this damage...pics. I was planning on doing a valve spring swap on my C5, when I got the covers off the heads I saw this. (See pics) 
It looks like the rocker arms gouged every one of my intake retainers. What could have caused this? The heads are ARE stage II's that I bought a couple years ago. The work was done by a shop before I started doing my own installs. Another problem I'm having is that the retainer locks aren't stock...how many different types of valves/locks are there...how should I go about finding out what kind they are?
PS It's probably important to note that after my heads/cam install the valves hit all my pistons due to degreeing the cam improperly. The heads were supposedly sent to a machine shop to have all the damaged parts fixed or replaced. Is it possible that the damage to the retainers was done on startup the first time and the shop never replaced them? I need to get this figured out.......
It looks like the rocker arms gouged every one of my intake retainers. What could have caused this? The heads are ARE stage II's that I bought a couple years ago. The work was done by a shop before I started doing my own installs. Another problem I'm having is that the retainer locks aren't stock...how many different types of valves/locks are there...how should I go about finding out what kind they are?
PS It's probably important to note that after my heads/cam install the valves hit all my pistons due to degreeing the cam improperly. The heads were supposedly sent to a machine shop to have all the damaged parts fixed or replaced. Is it possible that the damage to the retainers was done on startup the first time and the shop never replaced them? I need to get this figured out.......
Thanks Predator...what do I need to measure to make sure this doesn't happen again. I know the heads are milled, the pushrods are 7.350's...I don't remember exact specs of the cam though...something like 226/226 .580/.580 on a 114lsa. That's as much as I remember because the install was done years ago. I know the valve stems are a larger diameter than stock because the PRC gold Ti retainers wouldn't even fit over the end of the stem.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
Well there are a few choices:
Without removing heads:
1- Rotate the motor by hand with rocker on and see point of contact. Grind one, reinstall, see if it clears.
When it does, then do it to all the rockers.
2- Find a spring that requires a smaller diameter retainer, but still fits the valves.
3- Find aftermarket rockers that will clear
With head removal:
1- Replace valves with ones that accept retainers that will clear rockers.
That also mean guide and valve job + springs.(basicaly rebuild)
2- Buy other heads assembled.
Without removing heads:
1- Rotate the motor by hand with rocker on and see point of contact. Grind one, reinstall, see if it clears.
When it does, then do it to all the rockers.
2- Find a spring that requires a smaller diameter retainer, but still fits the valves.
3- Find aftermarket rockers that will clear
With head removal:
1- Replace valves with ones that accept retainers that will clear rockers.
That also mean guide and valve job + springs.(basicaly rebuild)
2- Buy other heads assembled.
Originally Posted by PREDATOR-Z
Well there are a few choices:
Without removing heads:
1- Rotate the motor by hand with rocker on and see point of contact. Grind one, reinstall, see if it clears.
When it does, then do it to all the rockers.
2- Find a spring that requires a smaller diameter retainer, but still fits the valves.
3- Find aftermarket rockers that will clear
With head removal:
1- Replace valves with ones that accept retainers that will clear rockers.
That also mean guide and valve job + springs.(basicaly rebuild)
2- Buy other heads assembled.
Without removing heads:
1- Rotate the motor by hand with rocker on and see point of contact. Grind one, reinstall, see if it clears.
When it does, then do it to all the rockers.
2- Find a spring that requires a smaller diameter retainer, but still fits the valves.
3- Find aftermarket rockers that will clear
With head removal:
1- Replace valves with ones that accept retainers that will clear rockers.
That also mean guide and valve job + springs.(basicaly rebuild)
2- Buy other heads assembled.
So basically the shop is to blame? 
