FrankTank's car goes down, issue with AFR Heads
07-25-2006, 06:59 PM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
FrankTank's car goes down, issue with AFR Heads
About 2 weeks ago I started to hear a small ticking noise from the valve-train on the driver side. Now I know LS1's do typically have some valve-train noise, my car did even stock when it was cold. This noise though was a bit louder and did not disappear once the car was warm (see my profile for all mods but basically AFR 205 heads not milled, comp cam 113 LSA 228/232 .588 .590).
I have about 1,500 miles on my set up (car itself has 37k on it)
I called the shop(top notch shop and service and specializes in Vettes) who did the install, and he said come on by right away,,, upon pulling the valve covers etc... he checked all the rocker arms, maybe one came loose, nope, they were all perfect. Next we removed the Rocker Arms, and boom there it was. Apparently one of the Valves was not hardened(i bought them fully assembled) and the rocker arm(stock rockers) had beat down the top of the Valve at the tip where it comes up through the top of the spring and it was gone
.... hence the noise..luckily by looking at it, and listening to the car,(and today pulling the head) we could tell I did not drop the valve
thank god! Had I not brought it in, I am sure I would be looking for a new motor
Anywho- the shop sent pictures to AFR of everything and got on the phone with them right away and we are sending the Head back tomorrow and have Return Authorization, they will either replace it all together, or re-work it. Now I just have to play the waiting game for my head to come back.
I'll post pics when I get them and update this thread.
I miss my car already and it's only been 3 days
but I'll probably go by the shop Saturday and wash it 
I have about 1,500 miles on my set up (car itself has 37k on it)
I called the shop(top notch shop and service and specializes in Vettes) who did the install, and he said come on by right away,,, upon pulling the valve covers etc... he checked all the rocker arms, maybe one came loose, nope, they were all perfect. Next we removed the Rocker Arms, and boom there it was. Apparently one of the Valves was not hardened(i bought them fully assembled) and the rocker arm(stock rockers) had beat down the top of the Valve at the tip where it comes up through the top of the spring and it was gone
.... hence the noise..luckily by looking at it, and listening to the car,(and today pulling the head) we could tell I did not drop the valve thank god! Had I not brought it in, I am sure I would be looking for a new motor Anywho- the shop sent pictures to AFR of everything and got on the phone with them right away and we are sending the Head back tomorrow and have Return Authorization, they will either replace it all together, or re-work it. Now I just have to play the waiting game
for my head to come back. I'll post pics when I get them and update this thread.
I miss my car already and it's only been 3 days
but I'll probably go by the shop Saturday and wash it
Last edited by FrankTank; 07-25-2006 at 07:05 PM.
........ but not really
07-25-2006, 07:46 PM
#4
Supporting Tuner
Lucky, lucky, lucky 
Good thing your shop caught it in time 
Good thing your shop caught it in time
07-25-2006, 08:06 PM
#5
Race Director
Thread Starter
yea, lucky is right...when I started hearing the noise at first I thought it was just normal, or a rocker arm was loose...but instinct told me to check it out anyway. Glad I did.
07-25-2006, 09:14 PM
#7
Race Director
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by keith954
good thing u had it checked frank, smart move 
07-25-2006, 09:25 PM
#9
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Thank Heaven you caught wind of the culprit right away. And, I hope all goes well with you and AFR. Good luck! And, do let us know how it all turns out for you.
07-25-2006, 09:41 PM
#10
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good deal Frankie boy , the power that be were watching over you ! everything will work out good ..... you'll miss crystal lake but Lemonts corvette night is coming up aug 9th , then Elmhursts second corvette night aug 16th then Downers Grove sept 1st
..... you'll miss crystal lake but Lemonts corvette night is coming up aug 9th , then Elmhursts second corvette night aug 16th then Downers Grove sept 1st
07-25-2006, 10:18 PM
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Glad you caught it when you did. Putting in a new motor would have definitely sucked. Hope AFR comes through for you and you get the car back together quickly.
07-25-2006, 11:37 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
Thanks guys So far AFR seems to be coporating pretty well..which I had hoped especially since the heads only have 1,500 miles on them, and I have never tracked the car or even really driven it hard yet. The shop I went to spoke to a few other very well known engine builders just to confirm, and everyone came to the same conclusion,, bad valve that was not hardended when the head was put together. I still think AFR makes a great head and have faith they will come through.
So far AFR seems to be coporating pretty well..which I had hoped especially since the heads only have 1,500 miles on them, and I have never tracked the car or even really driven it hard yet. The shop I went to spoke to a few other very well known engine builders just to confirm, and everyone came to the same conclusion,, bad valve that was not hardended when the head was put together. I still think AFR makes a great head and have faith they will come through.
