What all else could be wrong?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2007
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What all else could be wrong? While driving to work today, my car was making a fast paced ticking noise that got progressive with rpm. So I pulled over, and stopped for about 5 minutes.
Fired the car up, no real issues, started driving again, this time the car started to buck and shake and increased violently with rpm, and whitish/bluish smoke poured out of my one tail pipe.
Decided to head home instead of continue onward to work. Got home, started car up again, rpms flared up to 4500 or so, then settled down to an idle of about 1800. Heard loud ticking noises from valve train. Also loud squeeling from about 3000 rpm+ when it was flaring, I'd assume it would do it while driving too.
Took the valve cover off, and found this under the driver cover. My question is, what else could be wrong? Or could I may've gotten lucky and just need to replace the heads?
Vehicle specs:
2006 Pontiac GTO
Stock 243 heads, PRC Double (.660" lift springs) Hardened 7.400 Pushrods. 233/237 .602/.605 112+4 Cam
Long tube catless headers 1 3/4" Primaries
ASP Underdrive pulley.
Car is tuned to a consistant 12.9:1 A/F, with about 24* of WOT timing.
Fired the car up, no real issues, started driving again, this time the car started to buck and shake and increased violently with rpm, and whitish/bluish smoke poured out of my one tail pipe.
Decided to head home instead of continue onward to work. Got home, started car up again, rpms flared up to 4500 or so, then settled down to an idle of about 1800. Heard loud ticking noises from valve train. Also loud squeeling from about 3000 rpm+ when it was flaring, I'd assume it would do it while driving too.
Took the valve cover off, and found this under the driver cover. My question is, what else could be wrong? Or could I may've gotten lucky and just need to replace the heads?
Vehicle specs:
2006 Pontiac GTO
Stock 243 heads, PRC Double (.660" lift springs) Hardened 7.400 Pushrods. 233/237 .602/.605 112+4 Cam
Long tube catless headers 1 3/4" Primaries
ASP Underdrive pulley.
Car is tuned to a consistant 12.9:1 A/F, with about 24* of WOT timing.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Rockfield Kentucky
Somebody posted a picture of a set of LS7 heads that did the same thing.
IMO it appears that the additional spring pressure and harmonics relating to the valvetrain caused the area above the port to fail.
Robin
IMO it appears that the additional spring pressure and harmonics relating to the valvetrain caused the area above the port to fail.
Robin
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8
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I don't have answers to most of those questions, unless I'm not understanding you properly. The only answer I know for sure is, the rev limiter was only increased slightly to about 6700.
. Tried to do some searching and did not find any numbers.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Rockfield Kentucky
First your intake port is open to pulling crankcase air into the engine. The only control is the seal of the engine and any PCV system. DON'T run the engine.
No a lifter really isn't the problem.
Given the type of valve springs available for that diameter I am suprised that it would hurt an unported head.
My thoughts are
Coil Bind
Over Rev Condition resulting in hammering the valvetrain.
I am sure others will jump in here.
Try and get the specs on the springs.
Robin
No a lifter really isn't the problem.
Given the type of valve springs available for that diameter I am suprised that it would hurt an unported head.
My thoughts are
Coil Bind
Over Rev Condition resulting in hammering the valvetrain.
I am sure others will jump in here.
Try and get the specs on the springs.
Robin
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
First your intake port is open to pulling crankcase air into the engine. The only control is the seal of the engine and any PCV system. DON'T run the engine.
No a lifter really isn't the problem.
Given the type of valve springs available for that diameter I am suprised that it would hurt an unported head.
My thoughts are
Coil Bind
Over Rev Condition resulting in hammering the valvetrain.
I am sure others will jump in here.
Try and get the specs on the springs.
Robin
No a lifter really isn't the problem.
Given the type of valve springs available for that diameter I am suprised that it would hurt an unported head.
My thoughts are
Coil Bind
Over Rev Condition resulting in hammering the valvetrain.
I am sure others will jump in here.
Try and get the specs on the springs.
Robin
well, I definitely won't say I'm an angel behind the wheel
but who is with a cammed LSx 
. Although I can safely say that at the time of failure the car was in 6th gear lulling around at about 55 mph. Engine was only run to limp it home, before I knew what the issue was.
I'm not to sure where the specs on the springs can be found, but theyre the .660" lift springs TSP sells. But are they really the culprit?
What is this screaching sound I heard above 3000 rpm, when the car was starting up? Cam bearing? What was making the extremely fast tapping noise dependant on rpm?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,170
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From: Rockfield Kentucky
The air entering the port from the crankcase could make some weird noises. I would pull the plugs and spin the engine over with the plugs out. Be sure to disconnect the coils or the computer.
See if you hear any noise at that point.
How were the springs set up? Did someome check the intalled height when they were intalled ?
Robin
See if you hear any noise at that point.
How were the springs set up? Did someome check the intalled height when they were intalled ?
Robin
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
The air entering the port from the crankcase could make some weird noises. I would pull the plugs and spin the engine over with the plugs out. Be sure to disconnect the coils or the computer.
See if you hear any noise at that point.
How were the springs set up? Did someome check the intalled height when they were intalled ?
Robin
See if you hear any noise at that point.
How were the springs set up? Did someome check the intalled height when they were intalled ?
Robin
Install was done at 10,000 miles, car now has 17,000. Am I running the risk of further damage? Just as a precaution I am replacing this head, and it's valve train, as well as the lifters on this side. Someone else mentioned the cam could possibly be damaged too, as well as bearings.
[QUOTE=DrFeelgood;10037281]well, I definitely won't say I'm an angel behind the wheel but who is with a cammed LSx .QUOTE]
AMEN BROTHER!
Wish I knew more to help you like everyone else...
I am having a tick that is continouse with the engine at idle, and speeds up with rpms.
Maby I need to check if my heads are coming apart like legos!
but who is with a cammed LSx .QUOTE]AMEN BROTHER!
Wish I knew more to help you like everyone else...
I am having a tick that is continouse with the engine at idle, and speeds up with rpms.
Maby I need to check if my heads are coming apart like legos!
