[Z06] 02 Z06 valve spring broken. Another one bites the dust
04-14-2010, 03:42 AM
#1
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02 Z06 valve spring broken. Another one bites the dust
Well, I guess I just have bad luck. The vette started running really rough after a WOT run and the check engine light started flashing. Drove it barely making it home and thought it was the MAF because it gave me a P0101 code. After doing some research, some people were saying they have a broken valve spring and they had the same symptoms that I did.
After removing the valve cover, my heart dropped. Cylinder #8 intake valve spring is done for
. I just hope that nothing else happened that will cause me to spend more money 
. Guess I need to find someone near me with a valve spring tool or I'll be dishing out some $$$ for a crane tool.
Where can I get some "cheap" Comp 918's?
Also, has anyone here made up an extensive DIY for this? How can you visually tell if the valve hit the piston without removing the head?
Spencer
After removing the valve cover, my heart dropped. Cylinder #8 intake valve spring is done for
. I just hope that nothing else happened that will cause me to spend more money . Guess I need to find someone near me with a valve spring tool or I'll be dishing out some $$$ for a crane tool. Where can I get some "cheap" Comp 918's?
Also, has anyone here made up an extensive DIY for this? How can you visually tell if the valve hit the piston without removing the head?
Spencer
Last edited by c6z06forme10; 04-14-2010 at 03:54 AM.
04-14-2010, 04:35 AM
#2
Racer
Sorry to hear about your troubles. How many miles on the motor when the spring broke?
You could try to bore scope the cylinder through the spark plug hole, but due to the angles involved, you might not be able to see enough of the piston or cylinder walls near the top to ensure there is no damage.
You could try to bore scope the cylinder through the spark plug hole, but due to the angles involved, you might not be able to see enough of the piston or cylinder walls near the top to ensure there is no damage.
04-14-2010, 07:06 AM
#3
Well, I guess I just have bad luck. The vette started running really rough after a WOT run and the check engine light started flashing. Drove it barely making it home and thought it was the MAF because it gave me a P0101 code. After doing some research, some people were saying they have a broken valve spring and they had the same symptoms that I did.
After removing the valve cover, my heart dropped. Cylinder #8 intake valve spring is done for. I just hope that nothing else happened that will cause me to spend more money . Guess I need to find someone near me with a valve spring tool or I'll be dishing out some $$$ for a crane tool.
Where can I get some "cheap" Comp 918's?
Also, has anyone here made up an extensive DIY for this? How can you visually tell if the valve hit the piston without removing the head?
Spencer
After removing the valve cover, my heart dropped. Cylinder #8 intake valve spring is done for
. I just hope that nothing else happened that will cause me to spend more money . Guess I need to find someone near me with a valve spring tool or I'll be dishing out some $$$ for a crane tool. Where can I get some "cheap" Comp 918's?
Also, has anyone here made up an extensive DIY for this? How can you visually tell if the valve hit the piston without removing the head?
Spencer
I bore scoped the cylinder and all checked out. I consider myself lucky
04-14-2010, 11:42 AM
#4
Do a search, someone just recently posted their DIY valve spring replacement.
You are making me nervous, mine has been fine, so far....
Time to look at a swap I guess, Cam here I come
-Ed
You are making me nervous, mine has been fine, so far....
Time to look at a swap I guess, Cam here I come
-Ed
04-14-2010, 11:47 AM
#5
Racer
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WOW! this really does happen just randomly it seems. No signs, no certain mileage, high or low. Sorry about your loss. I hardly drive my car as it is, but reading all these horror stories makes me just want to go ahead and get my cam setup with double springs and be done with worrying about dropping a valve and losing the motor...
I know you just bought the car too, so sorry bud. Hopefully not too much is damaged.
I know you just bought the car too, so sorry bud. Hopefully not too much is damaged.
04-14-2010, 11:53 AM
#6
I recently did my springs because of a broken one. I'd imagine if you are able to use compressed air to hold the valve up while you change the spring then the valve is not broken and there are no holes in the pistons.
04-14-2010, 04:18 PM
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spring pics...
Well I'm posting some pics below for everyones enjoyment. I have about 34,000 miles on the car right now and it is cammed. I am not sure if a cam kit was installed with the cam because the person I bought the vette from also bought it that way and he didn't know anything. Are the stock LS6 springs supposed to be yellow? Mine isn't so I'm not sure if they are stock or aftermarket.
The valve hasn't dropped so I'm crossing my fingers and waiting on a friend to see if they can get a bore scope to examine the piston. I'm also trying to find a modified valve spring compressor at the moment.
Thanks for all the responses so far..
Spencer
The valve hasn't dropped so I'm crossing my fingers and waiting on a friend to see if they can get a bore scope to examine the piston. I'm also trying to find a modified valve spring compressor at the moment.
Thanks for all the responses so far..
Spencer
04-14-2010, 04:28 PM
#9
That looks familiar. Yeah, those look aftermarket. Also, by the looks of how the retainer is still holding onto the valve I am going to bet everything else is still good.
04-14-2010, 04:30 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
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Honestly, I think youll be fine. If the valve didnt drop, you probably dodged a bullet. Ebay has spring compressors and air hoses to hold the valves up while you change them.
04-14-2010, 04:30 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
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those are non stock springs and retainers...did you say it has the stock cam? those are double springs and it appears the inner spring stayed together limping you home without damage...if it was a stock cam its weird a aftermarket dual spring broke on such weak lobes and lift of the stock ls6 cam...do a leakdown and compression test...if all comes back good...replace and go on with life...good luck
04-14-2010, 04:32 PM
#13
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you can buy spring compressors for like 30 shipped on ls1tech the easy lever style...I made one and it worked great on my brothers car...i used the crane tool that does 2 at a time on my car
edit to the previous post...i remember you posted about your car making low power cammed with not a clue on the cam...too bad you couldnt find out what cam is in it...does it have a lot of lope? could be a sleeper cam with short durations aggressive lobes with lots of lift and you have insuffienct springs...put some PRC EHT .675s in it and go on with life! where did it peak at and do you have dyno graph to show how stable it looks at high rpm?
edit to the previous post...i remember you posted about your car making low power cammed with not a clue on the cam...too bad you couldnt find out what cam is in it...does it have a lot of lope? could be a sleeper cam with short durations aggressive lobes with lots of lift and you have insuffienct springs...put some PRC EHT .675s in it and go on with life! where did it peak at and do you have dyno graph to show how stable it looks at high rpm?
Last edited by USAFZ06; 04-14-2010 at 04:35 PM.
04-14-2010, 04:37 PM
#14
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those are non stock springs and retainers...did you say it has the stock cam? those are double springs and it appears the inner spring stayed together limping you home without damage...if it was a stock cam its weird a aftermarket dual spring broke on such weak lobes and lift of the stock ls6 cam...do a leakdown and compression test...if all comes back good...replace and go on with life...good luck
On another note, thanks for everyones help..
04-14-2010, 04:41 PM
#15
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you can buy spring compressors for like 30 shipped on ls1tech the easy lever style...I made one and it worked great on my brothers car...i used the crane tool that does 2 at a time on my car
edit to the previous post...i remember you posted about your car making low power cammed with not a clue on the cam...too bad you couldnt find out what cam is in it...does it have a lot of lope? could be a sleeper cam with short durations aggressive lobes with lots of lift and you have insuffienct springs...put some PRC EHT .675s in it and go on with life! where did it peak at and do you have dyno graph to show how stable it looks at high rpm?
edit to the previous post...i remember you posted about your car making low power cammed with not a clue on the cam...too bad you couldnt find out what cam is in it...does it have a lot of lope? could be a sleeper cam with short durations aggressive lobes with lots of lift and you have insuffienct springs...put some PRC EHT .675s in it and go on with life! where did it peak at and do you have dyno graph to show how stable it looks at high rpm?
04-14-2010, 04:59 PM
#16
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Pull the plugs and disconnect the coils and turn the engine over a few times. The fuel will come out that way if it isnt already evaporated. Put in some new valve seals while its apart and change the oil right away. Its probably contaminated with gasoline.
04-14-2010, 05:06 PM
#17
I am assuming it is the intake valve since the smell of unburnt fuel was extreme while the car was running. If it is full of fuel, what am i supposed to do to fix that once the springs are replaced? I HOPE I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE TO REMOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD! AHHHH...
04-14-2010, 05:17 PM
#19
Race Director
....wondering if those springs could be from a batch of defective Comp brand springs that the LS1tech community was discussing about 3-4 years ago? If you do find out the particulars on your cam kit setup, please post this info. Sorry for your bad luck, but really, I think it could have been alot worse. Double springs, baby!