Bent 2 Rods in my LT1 Stroker.. WHY
03-12-2011, 06:37 PM
#42
No issues with mine. They have to be installed just right. On my TFS heads I had to get special locks that raised them up just a little bit. That kept everything well within spec at full lift when we checked it with a solid lifter. The clearance was too close for comfort without the special locks. We also set my lash a very specific way. We tighten the rocker to zero lash, and then we just barely pre-load the plunger. It gets maybe 1/8th of a turn, nothing more than that. Show me any failure thread of ANY part, and I would be willing to bet that most of the parts were just bolted on without a care in the world. That could go for 918's. Comp has no idea what cylinder head their springs are going into. They give specific install heights but 99% of the LT1 guys just bolt them in without checking. Every cylinder head will have a different spring pocket depth. If you get a specific valve job you will raise or lower the valve height which can effect the coil bind. All this stuff needs to be checked. But it's easier to blame the company that made the part.
03-12-2011, 06:42 PM
#43
them switching manufacturers to cheap mexican **** so they gain more $$$ ,
And the fact that Comp acknowledged they screwed up and had bad batches
and sent new spring sets out to the MANY MANY people who had them fail
........Including me . It was not an installation problem but a greed issue
on Comps side that cost people motors
This happened twice ! 
Edit : Not trying to be a dick man sorry if I came off that way , Just a sensitive subject
Last edited by AZ2ENVY; 03-12-2011 at 06:52 PM.
03-12-2011, 06:54 PM
#44
I am going to say you have NO idea about the 2 bad batches from Comp ,
them switching manufacturers to cheap mexican **** so they gain more $$$ ,
And the fact that Comp acknowledged they screwed up and had bad batches
and sent new spring sets out to the MANY MANY people who had them fail
........Including me . It was not an installation problem but a greed issue
on Comps side that cost people motors This happened twice !
Edit : Not trying to be a dick man sorry if I came off that way , Just a sensitive subject
them switching manufacturers to cheap mexican **** so they gain more $$$ ,
And the fact that Comp acknowledged they screwed up and had bad batches
and sent new spring sets out to the MANY MANY people who had them fail
........Including me . It was not an installation problem but a greed issue
on Comps side that cost people motors
This happened twice ! Edit : Not trying to be a dick man sorry if I came off that way , Just a sensitive subject
03-12-2011, 06:57 PM
#45
Before this gets too out of hand.Lets let the op know why the pushrods were bent: Incorrect geometry,and not enough spring,which caused valve float.Get a pushrod length checker and new pushrods and springs+retainers and the proper install height on the springs+ setting the lash correctly and it might live.And dont feed hungry dogs raw meat with comments such as whoopty doo thingy your just asking for it.Hopefully you are not a troll
03-12-2011, 07:02 PM
#48
TECH Fanatic
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kingfisher Oklahoma
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Before this gets too out of hand.Lets let the op know why the pushrods were bent: Incorrect geometry,and not enough spring,which caused valve float.Get a pushrod length checker and new pushrods and springs+retainers and the proper install height on the springs+ setting the lash correctly and it might live.And dont feed hungry dogs raw meat with comments such as whoopty doo thingy your just asking for it.Hopefully you are not a troll
I know nothing but "old school" SBC builders and none of them would do what has been done here.
03-12-2011, 07:08 PM
#49
An old school sbc guy would see that an LT1 is equipped with a roller cam from the factory. He might assume that putting in a different roller cam would be no big deal if they checked the install height and the clearance looked fine. Only a knowledgeable LT1 guy would know how weak a factory spring is. I'm not saying all garages would do this, but I could see many of them doing this.
03-12-2011, 07:23 PM
#50
TECH Fanatic
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kingfisher Oklahoma
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An old school sbc guy would see that an LT1 is equipped with a roller cam from the factory. He might assume that putting in a different roller cam would be no big deal if they checked the install height and the clearance looked fine. Only a knowledgeable LT1 guy would know how weak a factory spring is. I'm not saying all garages would do this, but I could see many of them doing this.
03-12-2011, 07:46 PM
#53
Stock springs and pushrods are not the way to go with a cam that large.
I'm not a fan of the beehives, but I have had good luck with KMotion 800 and Patriot Gold Extreme springs in my 383.
I had Comp 977s, but I broke 3 of them within a year on a little 224/230 cam.
Also, invest in a set of hardened pushrods (I like Comp Hi Tech)
Be sure to measure first so you get the right set.
Use one of the methods explained on Shbox's page
http://shbox.com/1/4th_gen_tech2.html#adjust_valves
Overtightening rockers is a great way to bend pushrods.
I'm not a fan of the beehives, but I have had good luck with KMotion 800 and Patriot Gold Extreme springs in my 383.
I had Comp 977s, but I broke 3 of them within a year on a little 224/230 cam.
Also, invest in a set of hardened pushrods (I like Comp Hi Tech)
Be sure to measure first so you get the right set.
Use one of the methods explained on Shbox's page
http://shbox.com/1/4th_gen_tech2.html#adjust_valves
Overtightening rockers is a great way to bend pushrods.
03-12-2011, 07:57 PM
#55
Staging Lane
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cordova, IL.
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not to be too obvious, but any place that knows old school sbc stuff can find ther way around a LT1. They have the same basic rotating parts and valve train.
Now if the heads were ported I'm sure the shop knows about valve springs and installed heights. I can only imagine these heads were hogged out with a die grinder and no experience also.
At this point it would be best to find someone with some experience and get first hand help. If the pushrods are bent it is most likely from contact with the pistons.
Now if the heads were ported I'm sure the shop knows about valve springs and installed heights. I can only imagine these heads were hogged out with a die grinder and no experience also.
At this point it would be best to find someone with some experience and get first hand help. If the pushrods are bent it is most likely from contact with the pistons.
03-12-2011, 08:14 PM
#56
buy my pac springs... they're grrrrreat!
i wouldn't run a kmotion spring in anything. ever. The only stuff i'll buy is PAC and PSI. Even the "nextek" stuff is just a name, they source those springs from several manufacturers that AREN'T based here.
i wouldn't run a kmotion spring in anything. ever. The only stuff i'll buy is PAC and PSI. Even the "nextek" stuff is just a name, they source those springs from several manufacturers that AREN'T based here.
03-12-2011, 08:19 PM
#57
Not to be too obvious, but any place that knows old school sbc stuff can find ther way around a LT1. They have the same basic rotating parts and valve train.
Now if the heads were ported I'm sure the shop knows about valve springs and installed heights. I can only imagine these heads were hogged out with a die grinder and no experience also.
At this point it would be best to find someone with some experience and get first hand help. If the pushrods are bent it is most likely from contact with the pistons.
Now if the heads were ported I'm sure the shop knows about valve springs and installed heights. I can only imagine these heads were hogged out with a die grinder and no experience also.
At this point it would be best to find someone with some experience and get first hand help. If the pushrods are bent it is most likely from contact with the pistons.
03-12-2011, 08:23 PM
#58
TECH Fanatic
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kingfisher Oklahoma
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He had a shop do it. lol keep reading around here about what happens when a shop that deals in Gen 1's and has never done a gen 2 before. Hell mine is on the engine stand right now for that very reason. Best bet is to not take the chances and just find someone who works on Gen 2 stuff.
03-12-2011, 08:47 PM
#59
Staging Lane
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cordova, IL.
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He had a shop do it. lol keep reading around here about what happens when a shop that deals in Gen 1's and has never done a gen 2 before. Hell mine is on the engine stand right now for that very reason. Best bet is to not take the chances and just find someone who works on Gen 2 stuff.
I guess my old school approach should have not netted me the results I have achieved.
03-12-2011, 09:43 PM
#60
I say find someone thats not retarded to work on your engine I dont care what Gen it is. The clientel of a shop show what they know, if they are a turnarounf shop and work stickly on rebuilding pedestrian vehicles walk away, if they build hundreds of circle track and i mean serious circle track motors or have their own freaking teams then they know what they are doing, it has nothing to do with Gen 1 or 2 bullcrap.