Post DOD Delete low compression
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Teching In
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Post DOD Delete low compression Hey y'all
Got a 14 Caprice 6.0
Had plans of dod delete collected parts, engine dropped a intake valve on #7
valve marred piston but no other damage
Sent heads out
Installed
Ls3 cam , valley cover , plugged afm towers
New oil pump
Timing dampener
LS7 style lifter (enginetech brand)
Reused same pushrods
Car runs good but marks minor misfire on 1,4,6 and 7 at idle
Compression test shows 190 psi on normal cylinders and 150 psi on non dod
I went in circles checking preload about 1.25 turns
Ran shorter ones and still low compression (under 1 turn)
Measured less lift at DOD cylinders with dial indicator on valve spring retainer.
#1 was low but after a cycle of removing checking preload installing and removing the reinstalling ,compression rose to normal and seems to stay there.
I'm thinking I got a stuck pumped up lifter since the lifter feels rock solid and loosening the rocker until there is no preload raises compression.
I will remove the rockers and pushrods and crank engine to bleed down the lifter based of something I read.
Any help or suggestions appreciated.
Got a 14 Caprice 6.0
Had plans of dod delete collected parts, engine dropped a intake valve on #7
valve marred piston but no other damage
Sent heads out
Installed
Ls3 cam , valley cover , plugged afm towers
New oil pump
Timing dampener
LS7 style lifter (enginetech brand)
Reused same pushrods
Car runs good but marks minor misfire on 1,4,6 and 7 at idle
Compression test shows 190 psi on normal cylinders and 150 psi on non dod
I went in circles checking preload about 1.25 turns
Ran shorter ones and still low compression (under 1 turn)
Measured less lift at DOD cylinders with dial indicator on valve spring retainer.
#1 was low but after a cycle of removing checking preload installing and removing the reinstalling ,compression rose to normal and seems to stay there.
I'm thinking I got a stuck pumped up lifter since the lifter feels rock solid and loosening the rocker until there is no preload raises compression.
I will remove the rockers and pushrods and crank engine to bleed down the lifter based of something I read.
Any help or suggestions appreciated.
A DOD cam has different base circle/lobe numbers on 1-4-6-7…vs…2-4-6-8. DOD lifters are lobe specific in that regard. I realize that you posted that you installed an LS3 camshaft, but are you 100% sure that you didn’t install a DOD camshaft instead? Maybe check the part number of your camshaft to make sure. It sure sounds like you’ve got a DOD camshaft with standard lifters installed.
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A DOD cam has different base circle/lobe numbers on 1-4-6-7…vs…2-4-6-8. DOD lifters are lobe specific in that regard. I realize that you posted that you installed an LS3 camshaft, but are you 100% sure that you didn’t install a DOD camshaft instead? Maybe check the part number of your camshaft to make sure. It sure sounds like you’ve got a DOD camshaft with standard lifters installed.
Yes sir ordered a regular ls3 cam from Chevy
When messing with the pushrods last weekend #1 and #7 logged back in with great compression, I moved to 4 and 6 could get compression to go up unless I loosened rockers to the point where any more would have lash. Compression test showed about 30 psi more. Couldn't do anything to raise compression besides that. Tested 1 and 7 again after finishing and 1 stated 210 psi like 3 and 5 but 7 dropped to 150 psi. 
On The Tree
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From: Akron, OH
When I did the DOD delete on my L83 I measures the depth of the plunger in the lifter as well as overall height to confirm the same length pushrods would work. Were the heads milled or anything while the valve job was done?
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Heads were milled ,how much? Not sure.
I know they had to machine for the new valve seat.
Has .560 beehive springs and new seals also
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I Took out the pushrods and rockers cranked the engine for 15 seconds.
Loosely put the rockers and new 7.350 pushrods in and let sit a day.
Today I torqued it all down (on the base circle part of the lobe)
And checked compression
#1 - 240 psi
#7 - 270 psi
#4 - 240 psi
#6 - 240 psi
Wow I quickly assembled it and ran it
Sounded good, nice small baby lope at idle didn't sound like a leaking valve sputtering anymore.
Not sure if I'm out of the woods
Drove down the street pulled over did a crankshaft variation learn and let it idle a few seconds then shut off.
Upon start up there was chittering coming from the lifters rollers it sounded like. Car was shaking a but raised idle didn't help and shut off. Started up it chittered a second then stopped. Took it to work for a bath , let it idle sounded beautiful. Drove it some sounds good. Im stoked now.
I believe the lifter bleeding down did the trick because I've tried the adjustable pushrods with no success.
Loosely put the rockers and new 7.350 pushrods in and let sit a day.
Today I torqued it all down (on the base circle part of the lobe)
And checked compression
#1 - 240 psi
#7 - 270 psi
#4 - 240 psi
#6 - 240 psi
Wow I quickly assembled it and ran it
Sounded good, nice small baby lope at idle didn't sound like a leaking valve sputtering anymore.
Not sure if I'm out of the woods
Drove down the street pulled over did a crankshaft variation learn and let it idle a few seconds then shut off.
Upon start up there was chittering coming from the lifters rollers it sounded like. Car was shaking a but raised idle didn't help and shut off. Started up it chittered a second then stopped. Took it to work for a bath , let it idle sounded beautiful. Drove it some sounds good. Im stoked now.
I believe the lifter bleeding down did the trick because I've tried the adjustable pushrods with no success.
Last edited by BJammin92; Nov 1, 2025 at 03:27 PM.
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Guess I celebrated too early , car started to misfire on the former DOD cylinders again. Sometimes won't do it some times will. Ill come to a stop , it might surge the idle and the misfire will start. I noticed out of the cylinders 1 , 4 , 6 and 7 that 6 is hardly registering misfires now. Any thoughts?
Before would mark almost 1000 misfires on a short drive now it trips about 300 counts . Cylinder 6 registers about 30 counts now so the lifter trick did something.
What y'all think run the trick again , I bought some marvel mystery oil to try out.
Before would mark almost 1000 misfires on a short drive now it trips about 300 counts . Cylinder 6 registers about 30 counts now so the lifter trick did something.
What y'all think run the trick again , I bought some marvel mystery oil to try out.
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Measured my pushrods with cylinder at TDC and installed rocker then adjusted pushrod until slack was gone but no preload as the pushrod can still be spun
Lowest was 7.1970 and highest was 7.2335
#1
Int 7.2219
Exh 7.2230
#2
Int 7.2165
Exh 7.2235
#3
Int 7 2205
Exh 7.2225
#4
Int 7.1970
Exh 7.2005
#5
Int 7.2335
Exh 7.2160
#6
Int 7.2195
Exh 7.2020
#7
Int 7.2320
Exh 7.2275
#8
Int 7.2280
Exh 7.2110
Took rockers pushrods and plugs out and cranked 15 seconds again. Maybe that unlocks another lifter. Will compression test again after reinstalling valvetrain.
Lowest was 7.1970 and highest was 7.2335
#1
Int 7.2219
Exh 7.2230
#2
Int 7.2165
Exh 7.2235
#3
Int 7 2205
Exh 7.2225
#4
Int 7.1970
Exh 7.2005
#5
Int 7.2335
Exh 7.2160
#6
Int 7.2195
Exh 7.2020
#7
Int 7.2320
Exh 7.2275
#8
Int 7.2280
Exh 7.2110
Took rockers pushrods and plugs out and cranked 15 seconds again. Maybe that unlocks another lifter. Will compression test again after reinstalling valvetrain.
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Heads were resurfaced by machine shop when valves were done
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Shooting for a .040-.060 preload
Got some 7.275 ones on the way
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Dod turned off before engine dropped valve
Regular ls3 valley cover installed , oil towers plugged off
LS7 style lifters (all 16)
Removed the oil pressure relief valve in the pan and installed a plug
I'm thinking it's either a pushrod issue or a oil pressure issue , since I removed the oil pressure relief and shimmed the oil pump spring but that should be linear (affect all cylinders)
You mentioned a valve seat was replaced. Dumb question, did you check the valve heights? It's easy, just lay a straightedge across the top of the valves with the rockers off and start looking for daylight. If anything is way off, get a feeler gauge and measure the variance. They all should be within . 010-.015 max. Also, how is your oil pressure?
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You mentioned a valve seat was replaced. Dumb question, did you check the valve heights? It's easy, just lay a straightedge across the top of the valves with the rockers off and start looking for daylight. If anything is way off, get a feeler gauge and measure the variance. They all should be within . 010-.015 max. Also, how is your oil pressure?
I'm on the rebound and think I'll be able to do it tomorrow
Oil pressure is strong and high on start up 70+psi
Hot idle around 30 psi
Again issue is lower compression on former DOD cylinders
Removing rockers cranking then reassembly gave me #6 back how or why not sure? 🤷🏽♂️
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Success? Scared to call it.
Installed 7.275 pushrods and buttoned it all down
Compression tested cylinder 1 first off top psi was up 150 to 180 psi
Next one was cyl 3 @210 psi ,oh boy I thought. Tested cyl 7 and was 210 psi ok ok good good now to cyl 6, known good cylinder , and was 210 psi. Followed by #4 with 190 psi and the last back to cyl 1 at 190 psi now. Said f it run it. Installed ignition and plugged it all in. Started right up felt smoother , then when idled down it still felt smooth. Fueled up , did a crankshaft variation learn in the gas station (yeah I'm that guy 😆 sorry lady next to me)
God felt so good smooth through the rev range.
Started getting dumb with the pedal and it stalled to hiccup , saw some minor but present misfires go off with in and out idle stumble. I drove down the block felt ok and pulled over.
Here is where it got funky.
Stopped to let idle. Minor miss going on , brake torqued to get rev up but had trac on, turned it off and tried it bucked and surge like a limp mode rev limit with some misses going on the counter. (Cylinder 4 , 6 and 7 but not 1 anymore , wtf?)
Gave a little more sauce it woke up broke tire loose and almost swung my wheel into the curb. Motor smoothened out and misfires seemed to stop.
With the on ramp down the street when idled at the light no misfires , light went green pedal went down , car took off hard. Had to flex a little on the freeway then cruised thru the city back to log data
Some minor misfire here and there but the more I drove the less it happened. Getting home idled for a few minutes with the counts less than 20 on history counts.
Feels like a beast again, any thoughts? 🤔
Installed 7.275 pushrods and buttoned it all down
Compression tested cylinder 1 first off top psi was up 150 to 180 psi
Next one was cyl 3 @210 psi ,oh boy I thought. Tested cyl 7 and was 210 psi ok ok good good now to cyl 6, known good cylinder , and was 210 psi. Followed by #4 with 190 psi and the last back to cyl 1 at 190 psi now. Said f it run it. Installed ignition and plugged it all in. Started right up felt smoother , then when idled down it still felt smooth. Fueled up , did a crankshaft variation learn in the gas station (yeah I'm that guy 😆 sorry lady next to me)
God felt so good smooth through the rev range.
Started getting dumb with the pedal and it stalled to hiccup , saw some minor but present misfires go off with in and out idle stumble. I drove down the block felt ok and pulled over.
Here is where it got funky.
Stopped to let idle. Minor miss going on , brake torqued to get rev up but had trac on, turned it off and tried it bucked and surge like a limp mode rev limit with some misses going on the counter. (Cylinder 4 , 6 and 7 but not 1 anymore , wtf?)
Gave a little more sauce it woke up broke tire loose and almost swung my wheel into the curb. Motor smoothened out and misfires seemed to stop.
With the on ramp down the street when idled at the light no misfires , light went green pedal went down , car took off hard. Had to flex a little on the freeway then cruised thru the city back to log data
Some minor misfire here and there but the more I drove the less it happened. Getting home idled for a few minutes with the counts less than 20 on history counts.
Feels like a beast again, any thoughts? 🤔
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Drove it to work showed similar counts after a cold start , re did crankshaft variation learn again and cleared codes almost no misfire counts.
Went to lunch same thing some misfire at first that faded off. Back from lunch punched it to get the light when I let off and stopped there was a surge and stumble misfire counts for the previous 1 4 and 7 but significantly less and now at idle will take a min to register about 10 counts for 4 and 7