John B

iTrader: (10)

Out of no where while my car was idling all of a sudden I heard a tapping sound from the valvetrain. I thought, hmmmm, damn noisy LS1's! I could tell that this was more than just valve clatter. It sounded like a solid lifter motor with one valve set to about 0.050". I drove the car home and noticed no change in the noise. The car seemed to run fine, nothing really noticeable.

I pulled the passenger side valve cover off and to my horror found the #8 intake rocker arm slightly loose. Upon closer observation I noticed pieces of the rocker needle bearing assembly and retainer in the oil next to the #8 exhaust valve spring

Here's the evidence (or as much of it as I could locate with a magnet below:

Any suggestions short of yanking the motor and doing an unplanned rebuild at 20K miles

Vents

iTrader: (9)

John,

i'd definately never seen that before.. interesting.. anyway, i'd suggest attempting to account for as many pieces as you can and if all of the parts of the rocker cannot be accounted for, pulling the oil pan seems like it'd be the next logical conclusion. aside from that, if you still cant find all of the pieces, out with the motor. too bad your not covered under warranty

DaleMX

iTrader: (4)

Think I'll go for the YT's after seeing that. Guess you'll have to come up with a count for the bearings and pull the pan.

66ImpalaLT1

I'd put yella terra's on, they use normal C clips.

This is a common failure, I wouldnt pull the motor, just get out what you can and replace the rocker.

Eric

Damian

iTrader: (89)

Agreed. Very common, Heads/cam LS1's eat rockers like we eat burgers. Try to account for all the needle bearings, throw another rocker on there, and you'll be fine.

Josh

Mike K.

I was just browsing all the Yella Terra threads and wondering if I should get a set and then I see this.
Sorry about your luck but it seems that worse case scenario is to pull the oil pan to get all the bearings and then replace that rocker with a stocker or maybe get a set of yella terra's.

jmX

I've seen that happen to 3 or 4 cars just in my city alone, so its not rare, but its not common either. Its been discussed a bunch on the board over the past few years.

Anyway, pick up the bits, most of the needles will be in your oil pan which is baffled so its fine. Replace the rocker arm and fire the car back up, 99% chance you are going to be just fine.

There's also a very very slim chance you'll have another rocker fail....its just one of those one in 10,000 things that happens. Sucks huh. At least a rocker is cheap.

horist

Rocker arm failure... doesn't happen often but not something new....

replace w/Yella Terra RAs and you'll be fine

Cal

iTrader: (1)

There was a post I while back how a guy took out the large oil sensor plug from the oil pad and used a magnet through the hole to get something. You might that; also do a oil change and see what you get. I think the oil plug has a magnet on it also so that will help.

mgreen

save your money and don't buy the Yella terras.

replace it w/ a stock piece and you'll be fine.

I had it happen @ ~60k miles. . . I now have 94k miles and no probs. Just make sure you change the oil and see if there's any attached to the magnet on the drain plug.

It may have been overtorqued *SLIGHTLY*.

Chris99WS6PWTMET

I could not DISAGREE more. How much do you already have wrapped up in that nice motor swap? I'm gonna guess over $6K. What is another $500 for a quality product like the YT's? It's money well spent. Mine were easy to install and I no longer worry turning it up close to the 6800 rev limit.

Bowtieman4life

iTrader: (1)

6,800 RPM. Obviously you don't have a stock short block.

Chris99WS6PWTMET

As stock as the day is long. Only internal mod was the TR224/114 cam, 918 springs, CC push rods, and ported oil pump.

alexWS6

John B- is that a stock rocker arm in the pic?

Terry Burger

iTrader: (4)

Yeah no one goes over 6800rpm on the stock shortblock....

Brains

iTrader: (7)

Oh I went past 7000 on a stock shortblock, for a little while It's a nice easy way to randomly turn .010 off your rod journals...

02 'Hawk

That's the setup I ordered yesterday. Seems like a lot of revs for a 224. Isn't peak about 6200?

John B

iTrader: (10)

I wish! The total swap and engine mods are over $16K!!!
Yes, it the stock rocker.

Thanks for the feedback all, the pan will come off tomorrow for further inspection and I will be looking at aftermarket rockers for sure.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here in Chicago a few folks have had this happen.

I just went to Yella Terras but I am also going to turn the new setup to over 7200.