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Old May 23, 2012 | 05:52 PM
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Default Big Trouble need advice

I have a 98 C5 and it has about 140,000 miles on it and on the last oil change I got two small bearings (cylindrical about 1/4 inch long) from the oil. I assume this is from some bearing like a roller lifter that's going to self-destruct. If I'm right (does the stock C5 have roller lifters? roller cams?), what are my options before it self destructs? Rebuild? Crate engine? No I won't sell it to some unsuspecting buyer.

PS, it looks good so it might be worth saving.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 06:25 PM
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I do not know where they are from but my guess would be the rockers. If this is the case I would remove the valve covers and see what was going on. Find out how many bearings are missing and if you got them all from the oil.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by LawrenceFromTorrance
I have a 98 C5 and it has about 140,000 miles on it and on the last oil change I got two small bearings (cylindrical about 1/4 inch long) from the oil. I assume this is from some bearing like a roller lifter that's going to self-destruct. If I'm right (does the stock C5 have roller lifters? roller cams?), what are my options before it self destructs? Rebuild? Crate engine? No I won't sell it to some unsuspecting buyer.

PS, it looks good so it might be worth saving.
Pull the valve covers and check the rocker arms.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Greg Gore
Pull the valve covers and check the rocker arms.

Quite common for the older style rockers to spew out the bearings.

They pretty much eliminated this problem with the newer rockers.
I'd say you would be safe to buy a complete used set from lets say an
01 on up to 04, for trouble free rockers.
Good luck
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Old May 23, 2012 | 06:51 PM
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If I drive it will it self-destruct?
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Old May 23, 2012 | 07:11 PM
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A wise man told me this; "Never bet more than you're willing to lose"....

So pull your darn Valve covers and take a looksie before you ruin the whole block!
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Old May 23, 2012 | 07:18 PM
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My son has the car about 300 miles from me.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by LawrenceFromTorrance
My son has the car about 300 miles from me.
I'd tell him to "park" it until you know for sure..
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Old May 23, 2012 | 09:12 PM
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Most definitely from the rockers. Replace them all and you'll be fine. I would also put one of those magnets on the oil filter and increase the oil/filter change frequency for the next little while.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 09:53 PM
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Thanks, we had a magnet that's how we found out. If the rockers are changed does the motor have to be removed?
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Old May 23, 2012 | 10:09 PM
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no, its a relatively straightforward procedure, should take like 2 hours max.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 10:12 PM
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That's good info, I guess I'll car carrier the vett to the mechanic.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 10:13 PM
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i think if you do what steveovette above says you should be ok, as long as you get all the bearing parts and pieces with the magnet.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 10:45 PM
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I would love to see some pics of what you pulled out, and then what you find under the valve covers.

Post us up some pics.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 11:32 PM
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The car has roller lifters too. If the bearings aren't from the rockers be prepared to do the lifters. If it's the lifters it'll wipe the cam or already has.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 11:57 PM
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Originally Posted by ALLEGRO
I would love to see some pics of what you pulled out, and then what you find under the valve covers.

Post us up some pics.
Hopefully this doesn't turn into a real nightmare for you.
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Old May 24, 2012 | 06:04 AM
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When you get the valve covers off you will see the rocker that broke and most likely find more needle bearings laying on the top of the head. I would count the needles found and make sure I got them all.
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