Public Service Announcement w/ Pics - Lash Caps are Important
01-28-2012, 12:37 PM
#1
Public Service Announcement w/ Pics - Lash Caps are Important Had a few minutes poking around the forum and thought this might make for some entertaining weekend reading.
The shop who performed the work on this car will remain nameless as it was one of their wrenches who actually tore down and reassembled the top-end. They had bought LS7 head work, a camshaft, and a Manley Nextek dual spring setup. The car was assembled, ran great, and had over 600 miles on it and many pulls to 7-7500rpm before I got a call about a new noise that had developed...
Tech: "A couple of the rockers are rubbing on the retainer, but they aren't broken..."
Ai: "If the rocker is touching the retainer, then where is the lash cap?"
Tech: "What cap?"
Ai: "The steel cap that protects the end of the Ti intake valve from the steel rocker..."
The poor guy had seen the ziploc bag of lash caps I'd sent back with the heads, set them on his bench, and hadn't realized what they were or what they did. Fortunately the damage was limited to two intake valves, two springs/retainers/locks, and two rockers. The other 6 intakes survived w/o noticeable damage. However, between the heat generated & the OEM rocker wearing away the nicest hardened locks I have come across, the damage was quite impressive.
Damage Pics:
I can only assume that the tech went out and purchased a lottery ticket after I sent him photos of the valve tip etc.
Never a dull moment.
-Phil
The shop who performed the work on this car will remain nameless as it was one of their wrenches who actually tore down and reassembled the top-end. They had bought LS7 head work, a camshaft, and a Manley Nextek dual spring setup. The car was assembled, ran great, and had over 600 miles on it and many pulls to 7-7500rpm before I got a call about a new noise that had developed...
Tech: "A couple of the rockers are rubbing on the retainer, but they aren't broken..."
Ai: "If the rocker is touching the retainer, then where is the lash cap?"
Tech: "What cap?"
Ai: "The steel cap that protects the end of the Ti intake valve from the steel rocker..."
The poor guy had seen the ziploc bag of lash caps I'd sent back with the heads, set them on his bench, and hadn't realized what they were or what they did. Fortunately the damage was limited to two intake valves, two springs/retainers/locks, and two rockers. The other 6 intakes survived w/o noticeable damage. However, between the heat generated & the OEM rocker wearing away the nicest hardened locks I have come across, the damage was quite impressive.
Damage Pics:
I can only assume that the tech went out and purchased a lottery ticket after I sent him photos of the valve tip etc.
Never a dull moment.
-Phil
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01-29-2012, 06:27 PM
#12
Shouldn't be necessary with Stainless...Ti though, and maybe inco depending on spring pressure...needs it...a LOT of aftermarket valves of more exotic materials (usually inco) aren't a 100% inco valve either...just the head is, with the stem/tip welded to it being a different material, I think usually stainless, which will be ok.
Last edited by Mike454SS; 01-29-2012 at 06:37 PM.
01-31-2012, 08:22 AM
#13
I have no doubt. You try to goof proof everything you can think of, focusing on obscure details a guy might no get know... and then they turn around and flub the details you thought were obvious.
01-31-2012, 08:32 AM
#14
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Shouldn't be necessary with Stainless...Ti though, and maybe inco depending on spring pressure...needs it...a LOT of aftermarket valves of more exotic materials (usually inco) aren't a 100% inco valve either...just the head is, with the stem/tip welded to it being a different material, I think usually stainless, which will be ok.
Thanks for the info!
02-16-2012, 09:53 AM
#19
I had to run them on my LT1 with Ferrea stainless valves, pulled the valve covers after 1500 miles to check the valves and WTF is this???????
Called Ferrea and they said no way this is happening with this setup, sent the guy pics.
Been fine ever since, had to buy pushrods though, that sucked.
Called Ferrea and they said no way this is happening with this setup, sent the guy pics.
Been fine ever since, had to buy pushrods though, that sucked.
