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Just banged redline

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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 07:33 PM
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Default Just banged redline

Hi guys,

I feel like an idiot. Took the vette our for a nice ride today and ended hitting redline I was taking the car up in the rpm's and missed the 3-4 shift ended up going into 2nd. Although I was only in it for a second it scared the hell out of me but I was probably doing 90 or so when it hit. I took it out for a ride afterwards and didn't notice anything strange, car still felt strong, no noises or strange smells.

I think I should check the pushrods but don't really know how. Are there any good write ups? I tried using the search button but it wasn't working for me and when I clicked on a thread it came up as invalid.

BTW, mods are Paxton SC, headers, exhaust, textrailia, etc...

Thanks for the help.
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Deception
Hi guys,

I feel like an idiot. Took the vette our for a nice ride today and ended hitting redline I was taking the car up in the rpm's and missed the 3-4 shift ended up going into 2nd. Although I was only in it for a second it scared the hell out of me but I was probably doing 90 or so when it hit. I took it out for a ride afterwards and didn't notice anything strange, car still felt strong, no noises or strange smells.

I think I should check the pushrods but don't really know how. Are there any good write ups? I tried using the search button but it wasn't working for me and when I clicked on a thread it came up as invalid.

BTW, mods are Paxton SC, headers, exhaust, textrailia, etc...

Thanks for the help.
Personally...if nothing seems wrong...just keep driving it.
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 08:24 PM
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Small blocks will handle overreving better than a lot of engines.

That being said, you're driving a car with a blower and 'etc.' and you don't know how to check to see if pushrods are straight?

Hammer makes a good point. Keep driving it.

Besides, if you had bent a pushrod you'd hear it as the lifters wouldn't pump up enough to compensate.

Jim
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 08:26 PM
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There isnt really an issue with hitting the redline... I have hit the redline in my car plenty of times....Its there for a reason, and thats to prevent damage to the engine...In my Z06 the fasted first 2nd shift time is achived by hitting the redline for just a milasecond then shifting. Its arguable the fastest shift as long as your not out of power waiting for the redline to come.. Try it at your own risk sometime...On the first "zeet" of the rev limiter quickly grab the next gear...You wont be dissapointed..Oh yeah and make sure your traction control is off..
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by 02silververt
Small blocks will handle overreving better than a lot of engines.

That being said, you're driving a car with a blower and 'etc.' and you don't know how to check to see if pushrods are straight?

Hammer makes a good point. Keep driving it.

Besides, if you had bent a pushrod you'd hear it as the lifters wouldn't pump up enough to compensate.

Jim
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 08:50 PM
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Actually, there can be a problem with hitting redline as you call it depending on how you do it. If you have a standard 3:42 diff you may not be to bad off but if you have anything higher then you could have really zinged the engine. With a 3:42 rear gear and standard C5 tranny 6200 rpm will get you about 80mph. When you shifted into second instead of 4th at 90 you instantly took the engine to 7000 rpms minus whatever tire and clutch slippage occurred. That is a dangerous area.

Bill
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 09:02 PM
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That being said, you're driving a car with a blower and 'etc.' and you don't know how to check to see if pushrods are straight?
I fully understand the concept behind engines and power adders but have never had to check a pushrod before. That being said, I know how to check them per se but I don't know how to get to them without damaging anything, I should have specified.

Actually, there can be a problem with hitting redline as you call it depending on how you do it. If you have a standard 3:42 diff you may not be to bad off but if you have anything higher then you could have really zinged the engine. With a 3:42 rear gear and standard C5 tranny 6200 rpm will get you about 80mph. When you shifted into second instead of 4th at 90 you instantly took the engine to 7000 rpms minus whatever tire and clutch slippage occurred. That is a dangerous area.
It has standard z06 gears as far as I know. The only other change in the drivetrain was the clutch.

Thanks for the advice everyone. As of right now I don't hear any strange noises and everything seems fine so I'll continue to drive it but keep an eye and ear on everything.

Last edited by Deception; Aug 10, 2008 at 08:59 AM.
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 09:34 PM
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You would know if you zinged the motor and kissed a piston with a valve. Thats the only way your gonna bend a pushrod.

If your driving around with zero issues, I'd say your just fine. If your REALY nervous, and feel like tearing apart your valvetrain, pull the valve covers, and remove the rockers. Then pull out the pushrods (their just loosley sitting there)
Roll them on a flat surface and see if their straight. If they are, slap them back in, re-install the rockers, and enjoy your car.

But it sounds to me that you need to buy a lottery ticket, cause you most likely had the best luck you'll have in a long time..

You could also do a quick compression test to make sure you dont have a bent valve. But again, on a boosted motor, you would KNOW if there was a problem.

If the motors is running, idling, and boosting just fine, I wouldnt waste my time..
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 09:39 PM
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Oh, I missed the fact that he is modded with supercharger ETC....
I am all stock
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 09:44 PM
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Actually, AmericanHP, it's VERY possible to bend a pushrod without valve contact.

In many engines, smallblocks included, the pushrod CAN be the weak link in the overrev situation. They can and DO bend in advance of contact between valves and piston crowns.

Jim
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 10:16 PM
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If you don't know what you're doing you're more likely to cause a problem than find one.

The engine will tell you if you broke it

Not trying to make light of this or be a d*ck, there just isn't really anything to do at this point that makes sense.

FYI, there's a world of difference between hitting the redline when accelerating (bouncing off the rev limiter) and forcing a low gear which FORCES the engine to turn regardless of ignition.
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by billla
If you don't know what you're doing you're more likely to cause a problem than find one.

The engine will tell you if you broke it

Not trying to make light of this or be a d*ck, there just isn't really anything to do at this point that makes sense.

FYI, there's a world of difference between hitting the redline when accelerating (bouncing off the rev limiter) and forcing a low gear which FORCES the engine to turn regardless of ignition.
Very True.......And i feel like a dum dum for not reading the whole post and just skimming it. Then popoing off like I knew what i was talking about

Last edited by PerrinPhantomZ06; Aug 9, 2008 at 10:52 PM.
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted by PerrinPhantomZ06
Very True.....
Hey - don't be so hard on yourself...not like we haven't all done it!
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 11:34 PM
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 11:34 PM
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Hit rev limiter; do it in the wife's CTS-V all the time; that's why there is one (rev limiter).
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 11:40 PM
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Missed a shift... me never....
hit the rev limiter... me never....
drove over the posterd limit never...
But my wife... well that is another story....
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Old Aug 9, 2008 | 11:48 PM
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Default ok so Iam curious

I have read about this happening more then a few times...the dreaded ooops I missed a shift scenario.

My question is simple: how come upon revving the engine that GM incorporated a rev limiter but only works on the UP side and not the DOWN side? Doesn't sound like it would be a difficult thing to put some kind of solenoid on the tranny that would kill line pressure and force the car to neutral and also at the same time kill the fuel pressure so that the engine would cut out. This way you would not cause any damage on a missed shift? Just curious.
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 12:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
Actually, there can be a problem with hitting redline as you call it depending on how you do it. When you shifted into second instead of 4th at 90 you instantly took the engine to 7000 rpms minus whatever tire and clutch slippage occurred. That is a dangerous area.

Bill
Though I doubt you have anything to worry about, the worse case of damage that might not show up right away is a stretched timing chain that breaks somewhere in the future. Under WOT there are fuss periods where the crankshaft to camshaft go out of phase to each other. The loads can get very high on the cam drive chain during an over rpm rev. If you were to check anything, the chain would be my first look-see item.

Eric D
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 01:07 AM
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I've done the exact same thing and it cost me 1800 dollars to repair. I could have had a nice set of headers bought and installed for that price.

I had bent a pushrod and a valve or two. If you broke a valve you'd have a noticable change in the way the car runs and idles. Also, the car would be throwing codes left and right.

You're fine, if you want to go out and buy those 'performance' chromoly push-rods go right ahead. They're really easy to change. They literally pull right out after you take off the top.

But you're fine if the car is running smoothly. I think the only thing damaged here is your ego. (As mine was)
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Old Aug 10, 2008 | 08:03 AM
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I've done the exact same thing and it cost me 1800 dollars to repair. I could have had a nice set of headers bought and installed for that price.

I had bent a pushrod and a valve or two. If you broke a valve you'd have a noticable change in the way the car runs and idles. Also, the car would be throwing codes left and right.

You're fine, if you want to go out and buy those 'performance' chromoly push-rods go right ahead. They're really easy to change. They literally pull right out after you take off the top.

But you're fine if the car is running smoothly. I think the only thing damaged here is your ego. (As mine was)
The ego is definitely in pain. I think I'll just drive it for a little while now listening for ticking or anything abnormal. I just read the write up on removing the rockers and it seems ridiculously easy, but I think I'll save that for another day.
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