TSP LS6 CNC heads come apart - Rocker mount ripped out of head!!!
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TSP LS6 CNC heads come apart - Rocker mount ripped out of head!!!
Anyone ever had this happen?
Drove the car for the first time today in probably a week. Long story short, me and a friend were headed to lunch and about halfway there, car made a strange pop noise (almost like a very small backfire in the intake), started chattering pretty good from the passenger side valve cover and wouldn't run right. Idled up pretty bad and lacked power. Water temp was good. Oil pressure was fine.
Made it to where we were going (~ 1-2 miles from when it happened) and turned it off. Car would crank afterwards but idled high and eventually wouldn't hold an idle. Eventually had it towed home and began tearing it apart.
So, I pulled the passenger valve cover to find this:
These are the CNC LS6 heads from Texas Speed and Performance that I bought about 8 months ago brand new from TSP. Up until now, they have worked fine other than having to exchange one when I originally installed them (had a water jacket ported into). About three weeks ago, I installed the Harlands according to GM and Harland specs. Until today everything acted great and I had no problems. As you can see from the pics, the port work done on these heads results in the thickness around the rocker boss being extremely thin.
So anybody else had this problem? I haven't contacted TSP yet due to it being late when I got home, but plan to tomorrow. I'm hoping they'll work with me on getting this corrected.
So, let me know if this has happened to you. I'm hoping to have Jason from TSP chime in as well.
Looks like I'll be changing heads in the near future....
Drove the car for the first time today in probably a week. Long story short, me and a friend were headed to lunch and about halfway there, car made a strange pop noise (almost like a very small backfire in the intake), started chattering pretty good from the passenger side valve cover and wouldn't run right. Idled up pretty bad and lacked power. Water temp was good. Oil pressure was fine.
Made it to where we were going (~ 1-2 miles from when it happened) and turned it off. Car would crank afterwards but idled high and eventually wouldn't hold an idle. Eventually had it towed home and began tearing it apart.
So, I pulled the passenger valve cover to find this:
These are the CNC LS6 heads from Texas Speed and Performance that I bought about 8 months ago brand new from TSP. Up until now, they have worked fine other than having to exchange one when I originally installed them (had a water jacket ported into). About three weeks ago, I installed the Harlands according to GM and Harland specs. Until today everything acted great and I had no problems. As you can see from the pics, the port work done on these heads results in the thickness around the rocker boss being extremely thin.
So anybody else had this problem? I haven't contacted TSP yet due to it being late when I got home, but plan to tomorrow. I'm hoping they'll work with me on getting this corrected.
So, let me know if this has happened to you. I'm hoping to have Jason from TSP chime in as well.
Looks like I'll be changing heads in the near future....
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Originally Posted by TVWilkes
Jason is out of town until friday.I would call TSP in the morning,I would think they will be very helpfull in getting this resolved.
I've had good service from them in the past and I hope this will be the same.
Thanks!
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Man, that is WAY too thin around the rocker stud area. I'm curious whether ALL of these castings have this issue or if it's just a problem with how the head was set up on the CNC machine. I can't imagine it was a problem with core shift in the casting, because with the new permanent molds they use, core shift should be close to nonexistent. This really makes me question whether I want to use the TSP 5.3 heads, if there's a chance this could occur. I am sure they will be excellent with their customer service and replace the head for you, but it's not exactly a simple job to swap out a head and THAT is what makes me wary. Once I put heads on my car, I want them on there until I do a rebuild. Time to ponder my choices again...
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at least the rocker is still good. HAHAHA!! j/k that sucks man, hope things work out for you. If they do post it. I'm a big fan of good customer service, and i have been looking into that smae set of heads.
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l would have never guessed that they would be that thin. Wonder if they are all like that or it's just a random digitized program screwup on a certain batch.
Sorry to hear about your problems. I'm sure they will square you away, though. From everything I have read, they are a stand-up outfit.
Seeing that pic makes me wonder about something else, though. If all the rocker studs extend that far into the runner, I wonder what the effect is on airflow?
Sorry to hear about your problems. I'm sure they will square you away, though. From everything I have read, they are a stand-up outfit.
Seeing that pic makes me wonder about something else, though. If all the rocker studs extend that far into the runner, I wonder what the effect is on airflow?
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Originally Posted by TA455
Seeing that pic makes me wonder about something else, though. If all the rocker studs extend that far into the runner, I wonder what the effect is on airflow?
Good luck Marv! I hope TSP will take care of you.
Seeing that makes me feel not so crazy about reinforcing the area with JB weld
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Originally Posted by TA455
Seeing that pic makes me wonder about something else, though. If all the rocker studs extend that far into the runner, I wonder what the effect is on airflow?
Can you show us photos of the remaining ports with rocker stud sticking thru the roof?
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You aren't the first one this has happened to...
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/605738-broken-ms3-cam.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/605738-broken-ms3-cam.html
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And I was about to buy a pair of PRC LS6's from TSP......reconsidering after these threads. The head looks way, way too thin around the rocker boss area.
Didn't the GM CNC LS6 heads have similar problems that were fixed by welding around the rocker boss area?
Sorry to hear about the problem.
Didn't the GM CNC LS6 heads have similar problems that were fixed by welding around the rocker boss area?
Sorry to hear about the problem.
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Originally Posted by TA455
Seeing that pic makes me wonder about something else, though. If all the rocker studs extend that far into the runner, I wonder what the effect is on airflow?
I was thinking the same exact thing...after all that port-work, why would you then want a bolt sticking through?
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Originally Posted by Thimble
I would also check the other head, as I assume the heads interchange right or left and that same port is going to be a potential problem as well.
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whoa!!.. and the fact this is the 2nd one to let go since Nov. 06 (from the other thread).. I had my 241's sitting all nice and packaged in a box, ready for shipment to TSP for port work.. umm not any more.. not until this issue is corrected.. or their programing is corrected..
that sucks man.. but TSP is a good company, they should do you right..
that sucks man.. but TSP is a good company, they should do you right..
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I am seriously considering shaft mounted rockers for my LSx ported heads (when I do them). Seems like very good insurance for the $ regardless of whether this is an isolated instance with aluminum heads and/or TSP, especially the way the rocker stud bosses sit right above those LSx intake ports.
BTW: I am going to look at my friends 5.3l ported heads (non-sponsor ported) and look at the rocker stud bolts, to see if he has holes in the roof for the bolts to play pick a boo through the port roof.
BTW: I am going to look at my friends 5.3l ported heads (non-sponsor ported) and look at the rocker stud bolts, to see if he has holes in the roof for the bolts to play pick a boo through the port roof.