Need help diagnosing a valvetrain noise??

[smokinss]

Well not too sure but I think ive got a bad lifter. If not then a rod knock or something. It does vary with rpm. See the video below. Dont mind the squeeking belt, lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-B4f3251PA

[My84Z]

if I had to guess I would say a rocker shit itself and which is common on these cars and has happen to me but not that bad. other then that it maybe in the lower end I would pull the valve covers and check the rockers for damage mine spilt the needle bearings into the pan that is how I found mine.

[Batman]

rocker, i wouldn't start it until you find out if the needle bearing is still there

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

I Concur.

[smokinss]

Well looks like thats what I will do. And how will I know if the needle bearing is there? I have never had the valve covers off myself. I think the last time they were off was when Don did the cam...

[My84Z]

look at them... they are easy and just touque down very simple unlike all the other gen motors. I believe they are 21ft lbs. I think they are like 15 bucks a piece at the dealer for a rocker. remember to look at both sides of them not just the side you can see easily.

[smokinss]

Update. I just pulled the valve cover off. The rockers seem to be fine and secured properly. I am thinking its a lifter thats collapsed.

The car starts fine and doesnt seem to have lossed any power or anything like that. I dont know though...

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

if it were me. id pull everyone off. each lifter and inspect them. your gunna have to if you do lifters either way. HOPE its not lifters!!!! take em. if there good there simple to reinstall. there just a bolt down. no adjustments just torque em right

[smokinss]

UPDATE!!! Started pulling off the intake and getting the heads ready to come off today. I pulled off the mid pipe and a decent amount of water/coolant came out. NOT GOOD!! Looks like I blew a head gasket. Tomarrow I am going to drain the oil and use a magnet to see if Ive got metal shavings in the oil. Its not looking to good though. Time for a new shortblock and a new set of heads. Looks like the car will be down most of the summer or till god knows when.

[c4boom]

that blows TALK TO NICK HE HAS A 6.0 i think

[My84Z]

I still say take the rockers off and check them out but if the headgaskets are gone and it's making those noises it might be new motor time.

[Batman]

that blows TALK TO NICK HE HAS A 6.0 i think

I have many things, but a 6.0 is not one of them

[c4boom]

epic fail thought you where all over the truck motors

[*LS1* Queen]

that sucks justin...mine never made that kind of noise when i blew a head gasket....good luck hope the motor is ok.

[smokinss]

Yeah I still gotta pull the rockers and the heads anyway. But the way I look at it now is this: The motor has 135k on it. I really dont want to put the money and time into it to put lifters and new rockers yada yada just to have it make the same noise when I get it back together. I really think its time to stop band aiding it and just put it away till it can be fixed right.

It just sucks that I dont have 4 or 5 grand to build a good motor. :(

Ill admit I am not to enthused right now

[84ta406]

That sucks man, Hopefully the motor is ok? Is there any way to crank the car over with the topend off and see if the lower end ticks?

[smokinss]

That sucks man, Hopefully the motor is ok? Is there any way to crank the car over with the topend off and see if the lower end ticks?


Kinda late for that anyways.

I got the head off today. Not really a expert on this. The pistons seem fine, ya know the usual carbon on top. the cylinder walls seem to be good, can even see the cross hatch pattern in them. The rockers are ok, pushrods seem fine too. When I pulled the head the gasket stayed on the block so I am not too sure where the gasket lifted. I havent pulled the lifters yet but I am thinking I am going to just wait and put a short block in it.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/camaro00/head.jpg

[My84Z]

did you ever take the other side off?

[My84Z]

oh ad when you say crossover tubes do u mean the metal tubes under the intake? if so those are suppose to have atifreeze in them.

[smokinss]

No Jon I was talking about having water in the exhaust. In the mid pipe and y pipe. I smelled it and it had a smell of coolant...

No I havent taken the other side off yet. Maybe next weekend.

[Batman]

epic fail thought you where all over the truck motors

don't make anywhere near the profit on a 6.0 as I do 4.8's and 5.3's.

4.8 & 5.3 - under $200.00
6.0 - $800 and up

If you want a 6.0 I am sure i can get you one, but they aren't cheap

[ls6monte]

That really sucks to hear Justin! Good luck with it.

[smokinss]

Thanks Nick for the offer. I am not in a position to put a motor in this thing right now. I was thinking of putting in a stock used motor for now, but I really dont want to have to pull the motor again once I get enough cash saved. I really think its time to just let it sit until I can afford a good built motor and just do it once....

[My84Z]

you could forge and replace the bearings on what you have just a thought since things look good so far...

[Slowhawk]

Well,the 150 shot finally caught up....LOL Damn nitrous guy's...

[smokinss]

Well,the 150 shot finally caught up....LOL Damn nitrous guy's...

LOL!!! Thanks Don.

Yeah that crossed my mind too. Just freshining what Ive got now and forging the bottom end.

[My84Z]

comeon now Don he has how may miles on that thing with juice a fi motor would be doing the same thing with that mileage abuse hp etc etc :p

[smokinss]

Well I got the passenger side lifters out tonight and they checked out fine. Going to pull the other head off tomarrow since I have the day off. Also I was told I should cut open the oil filter just to make sure there isnt any metal in there. How do I go about cutting it open? Do I need a special tool?

[My84Z]

dremels work well

[c4boom]

I use a exhaust pipe cutter

[Batman]

I use a exhaust pipe cutter

X2

[84ta406]

I use whatevers handy but usually a pipe cutter.

[smokinss]

So heres the deal. My good friend down here has a complete low mileage 6.0 LQ9 motor with the 317s and 10.75 compression ratio he will let it go for 1500 or so. I am thinking I might do that and put a different cam in it with new springs,pushrods, and arp headbolts and new gaskets. Ill def. have to put a set of injectors and a pump in it, but thats not a big deal. Ill keep the ls6 intake and my headers etc. Then once Ive got more money I can build up that 6.0 instead of a 5.7.

I know it does weigh more being a iron block but for the price and the room to grow with it I think its a good deal.

[Batman]

with nitrous the iron block is a good idea.

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

GOOD DEALLLL id jump all over it!!!! now do you or dont you need LT1 front springs with the added weight?

[smokinss]

Not too sure on that one Mike. Eaither way Ive already got the Eibach springs from slp with revalved Bilstiens all the way around. So I dont plan on changing them unless I really need too.

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

just get a tubular K-Member to balance the weight savings.

[ls6monte]

Sounds good Justin!

[Formula413]

That sounds pretty reasonable, looks like a good route to take.

[Batman]

yu don't need to change springs

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

yopu dont think the added weight will drop the nose a bit? fuck don added a K-Member and had the lower the nose of his car afterwards.

[smokinss]

No money for a k-member now. Plus the motor is coming out of the top so I really dont have the room in my garage to drop the cradle. I am sure if I really needed to I would but an extra 450 or more isnt going to be in the budget.

[Slowhawk]

The front will drop a good 1/2-1" .

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

KNEW it!!! ok just making sure

[c4boom]

if it iron with 317' on it wouldnt that make it a lq4

[smokinss]

No its a LQ9 cause its got the higher compression pistons in it...

[smokinss]

Still not too sure what I want to do. I would really like to just forge the bottom end Ive got now, that way I will have a stout bottom end and pistons and rings for the juice. I know the 6.0 is a good deal and I can build on it later but I really dont want to do shit twice. I am guessing with some ARP rod and head bolts the 6.0 would be pretty stout but its still a stock setup. EHH this shit is driving me nuts. LOL

[84ta406]

Have you figured out what failed yet?

[smokinss]

No not yet. Motor is still in the car. Probably not going to finish pulling it until Ive got the cash set to fix it.

[84ta406]

Trade ya my 6.0 for it! lol

[Slowhawk]

Add to the cost -tuning. When your done someone down there will have to tune it.

[smokinss]

Add to the cost -tuning. When your done someone down there will have to tune it.


Exactly my thought.

[My84Z]

Justin you're gonna have to sell yourself! we can ship ron down there and you can pimp him out!

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

^^ KICK ASS IDEA!!!! hahaha


i say forge what you have keep it a 5.7 and drive it, do a heads swap later.

[smokinss]

Yeah, Ron the Floridian. LOL!!!

I already told my wife I am going to have to start whoring myself out. Hahaha

[ls6monte]

I don't know how to answer that one! How the hell did I get involved in this mess anyways??????????? :sFun_rofl:

[smokinss]

Well a little update guys. Got the trans out and the rest of the front acessories off. Engine is ready to come on out now.

Just waiting for my taxes to come in and maybe Ill be able to come up with something for a motor....

[Slowhawk]

The cheapest/smartest is to pull your motor.Send the shortblock out for forged rods/pistons. I'd send it to Virginia Speed since I don't trust most shops.

[Batman]

Swapping K-members won' elp you with the weight difference, the iron block is about 140# heavier then the aluminum block and K-member only saves you like 25#. I would rebuild the 5.7, hell you can get my exact engine for $3800 if memory serves (that is a fully assembled shortblock wih forged pistons and rods, custom cam, timing chain, oil pump etc etc. I have no complaints at all.

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

maybe Don did the whole front suspension over? his car was like 2 inches up over stock hieght.

And Justin!! I DROVE IT OUT OF THE Garage today for the First time in a Month!!! Hope you'll feel the same way i do wen you get yours back together and running Good again. i know you'll figure something out!!

[My84Z]

put a forged 346 with a real cam in that thing then later some nice heads.

[smokinss]

yeah I got a quote from a good ls1 machine shop down here called Total Engine Concepts. Anyway to drop off my shortblock to them and have them go threw it and forged it, I am looking around 2500-2700 give or take. Not too bad at all. Then Ill probably do a different cam and Ive already got a set of nice ls6 heads lined up. With all the little B.S stuff I can be into the whole thing for around 3500 or so. Not too bad, just need the cash. OR I wasnt going to say anything but a friend of mine has someone selling a low mileage (5k) forged 370ci iron short block from texas speed for 1500 because he totaled out his camaro. I really need that. LOL

[nem SS]

buy a used ls1 shortblock for 500 bux...cheap and the one you blew up last 135k...the iron block isn't worth the extra 25 hp over the weight imo. yes it's an iron block but the stock 6.0 pistons/rods aren't much stronger then the ls1 and those parts didn't fail you on your ls1... i didn't get a chance to read your whole thread but it sounds like you spun a rod bearing... i would shop around for a 00 and up ls1 stock shortblock with decent mileage on it... buy katech/arp rod bolts and head studs. put the extra cash into a nice heads/cam package with your spray...low 11's high tens with a stout set up. just my opinion

[c4boom]

I say for you get the iron block its only 1500 sounds like money is tight so that would be the cheapest way out of it and you could hit it with a 175 shot to make up for the weight

[smokinss]

Well the 370ci texas speed short block is sold. NOT TO ME though:(

Another deal gone by the waist side. I was in my garage last night looking at all of the shit on the floor for my car. I think I am offically depressed now about this whole situation. It took awhile to set in but this really does suck now. Maybe Ill just buy a junkyard motor with low mileage and go from there.

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

yeah man i know were your at!! built the 396 only to have it lose oil pressure and whipe out all the bearings. you'll get it back together. and wen you do you'll be happier then if it just ran and didnt break. i think you should take a step back and REALLYYY think about what you wanna do with the car. if its just a fun toy why go BIG. but if you plan to go racing and shit then you mine as well save up and get your short block forged/stock crank. slap it back in bigger cam and some decent heads. and drive it. if it were me id have it at the machine shop getting worked on now. this way your just saving up to get it back no more guessing.

[Slowhawk]

No excuse to be depressed.You fully knew the Nitrous will kill the motor but continued to spray.Thats life,deal with it...LOL

Now,I already suggested Virginia Speed but we know you won't listen.LOL

Another option is we are pulling Brent's motor in a few weeks and that is for sale.It's a stock shortblock with TSP 5.3 heads and 228 Cam.Haven't got a set price yet but it will probly be $2k-$2.4 dpending on what goes with it -ie injectors,intake ect.

[Batman]

I know budget is big deal, but for $3500 you are within roughly a grand of a forged 402, food for thought

[smokinss]

Well the problem is right now Ive got no frigging money to do anything with. I dont think I am pissed about the car being down. I am pissed that it happend after I just spent good money on the tranny etc, etc and Ive been passing up good deals because of lack of funds. Hey its life and shit happens, cant blame anyone but myself.

Don, trust me buddie before you mentioned it to me I took a quick look into one of Virginia speeds short blocks. They are outta my leauge. And I am sure by the time I pay for shipping on my motor and to have them go through it, its still going to be a decent amount of money. But Iam pretty sure with them you def. get what you pay for. I just cant afford to pay for it. I will keep in mind about Brents motor. That wouldnt be a bad idea at this point.

As far as a new forged 402 goes yeah for 4k and then I need a set of 1500 heads to go with it because a set of stock 853s would be a waste of time. Def, not a option.

[*LS1* Queen]

well good luck with everything justin..i know it sucks when ur car is down and have all that money into it...i think most of us have been thru it at one point...but things could always be worse ur car could have gotten totalled and never be driven again for ex.. Just be patient and thats when u get lucky with finding deals and such!

[smokinss]

Thanks Maddie. Iam sure Ill be able to figure something out sooner or later. LOL

[Formula413]

I've found it to be very true that good things come to those who wait, so if you can stand to be without it for a while you might luck into a good deal. Sounds like you don't really have a choice right now.