Valve spring swap DONE!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: http://www.mphparts.com 800-364-1975
Valve spring swap DONE!
The replacement bolt for my rocker that I broke over the weekend arrived, so I finally finished the valve spring swap tonight. Once I got my "rhythm" down on techniques and how to position my hands to get the locks on the valve stems things really moved quickly.
I almost "brit a shick" when I tried cranking the car and nothing happened. Hmmm... Tried again a few more times and it finally cranked up. Whew! Guess it was just because all the fuel in the lines and fuel rail was gone. Then it started idling funny and the engine started smoking. Yikes! I shut the engine down. Then I remembered reading in one of jmX's how tos that this can happen from all the grease and finger prints and stuff that you spread over the engine. Cranked it back up and she idles like a kitten. I didn't have a chance to get her out on the road and check how it runs at higher RPMs because my BOV hasn't arrived back from Vortech (that's another story). It should be here tomorrow though so I can post back if the car runs differently now with the new springs.
In the mean time, here's a picture of my newly painted coil pack rails and valve covers:
I almost "brit a shick" when I tried cranking the car and nothing happened. Hmmm... Tried again a few more times and it finally cranked up. Whew! Guess it was just because all the fuel in the lines and fuel rail was gone. Then it started idling funny and the engine started smoking. Yikes! I shut the engine down. Then I remembered reading in one of jmX's how tos that this can happen from all the grease and finger prints and stuff that you spread over the engine. Cranked it back up and she idles like a kitten. I didn't have a chance to get her out on the road and check how it runs at higher RPMs because my BOV hasn't arrived back from Vortech (that's another story). It should be here tomorrow though so I can post back if the car runs differently now with the new springs.
In the mean time, here's a picture of my newly painted coil pack rails and valve covers:
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: http://www.mphparts.com 800-364-1975
Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (vettewreck)
when are you gonna cross over to Magnacharger World???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,200
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Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (diynoob)
... I can post back if the car runs differently now with the new springs.
In the mean time, here's a picture of my newly painted coil pack rails and valve covers:
In the mean time, here's a picture of my newly painted coil pack rails and valve covers:
:cheers:
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St. Jude Donor '04
Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (SideStep)
BEST SIGNATURE EVER!!!
:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
:cheers:
:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
:cheers:
And, DIYNOOB, those valve covers look great. Did you powder coat them or use paint? :cheers:
Thread Starter
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From: http://www.mphparts.com 800-364-1975
Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (vetterdstr)
what problems are you having with the engine or the ATI?
VR :cheers:
VR :cheers:
1) Loss of power at high RPMs (not sure how valve spring swap has affected this yet)
2) Not making very much power on headers/xpipe/exhaust/intake manifold/racetronix fuel pump (only 430rwhp w/ 6.5psi, expecting at least 480rwhp) -- this dyno occurred before I started losing power up top
3) Oil gets dirty fast and thick/black (could just be the Valvoline)
I should get my BOV back today so I can get the car on the road and see how it performs after the swap.
And I agree, your sig rocks :D
runamuk, thanks for the compliment. They are spray painted with engine enamel. It looks like I maybe should have used a strong bonding primer because the paint chips off quite easily. I might have to strip the covers down, resand, and then prime -- but I didn't see any engine primer at Pep Boys.
[Modified by diynoob, 10:05 AM 2/25/2004]
Team Owner
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From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
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Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (diynoob)
I hope the spring swap helps you out... as for the other problems I hope you get them fixed. Thanks on the kind words about the sig... :D
VR :cheers:
VR :cheers:
Thread Starter
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From: http://www.mphparts.com 800-364-1975
Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (drcoffee)
Have you done a compression check? Sure seems like piston rings and lots of blow by.
I hope not. :nonod:
I hope not. :nonod:
Team Owner
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Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (diynoob)
Just wondering here... why would you spend all that time changing the springs when you could have found out by doing a compression check if it was worth it or not??
VR :cheers:
VR :cheers:
Thread Starter
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From: http://www.mphparts.com 800-364-1975
Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (vetterdstr)
I felt like the valve springs had to be done anyway -- all of my issues other than the loss of power at 5K RPM started since I had the blower installed. My thought was that swapping the springs could only help and not hurt, especially since the 5K RPM issue had just surfaced.
Most importantly though, I wanted to paint the valve covers and learn a little more about my LS1. :D
:steering:
Most importantly though, I wanted to paint the valve covers and learn a little more about my LS1. :D
:steering:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
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Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (diynoob)
For a few bucks you can buy a compression gauge and test for yourself. It's nice to have new springs but if the engine needs a tear down why bother? I believe the air compressor air leak is because the fitting is not air tight. Mine did it as well. I would not use that as a sign.
Yep, that was QuickSilver's theory too. I haven't done a compression check yet because I wanted to get the car back together and actually get to drive her for a bit this weekend. Chances are I will take the car to my local Stealer to get the compression check done. When I was pushing air into the engine with my air compressor I could hear air leaking either out of the cylinder or out of the spark plug fitting, so either I have bad compression on all cylinders or the spark plug fitting I have doesn't fit 100% and would give a bad compression number anyway.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Simi Valley CA
Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (drcoffee)
What tool/method did you use to compress the springs? If your little air compressor fitting has an ORing around it, it shouldn't be leaking from the spark plug hole. It's better to buy a leak down test and do it at home, save yourself $200 and know its done right. :)
Team Owner
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From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: Valve spring swap DONE! (diynoob)
If springs were the problem I hope it is now fixed. If you have to replace your engine, you wasted the install time and money. But I understand why you did it. :yesnod:
VR :cheers:
VR :cheers: