C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

#7 piston/rod swap from the bottom

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 6, 2012 | 09:04 PM
  #1  
dart.deanda's Avatar
dart.deanda
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 257
Likes: 12
From: las vegas nevada
Default #7 piston/rod swap from the bottom

Is it possible for me to swap out my #7 piston and rod from the bottom of the car without removing the engine? I broke a valve spring on #7 intake, and I have read up on removing the entire oil pan, both upper and lower. From there, can I take the cap off #7 rod, and then use a block of wood or something to push the #7 piston and rod out the top? The piston did not shatter, its circumference is intact with the valve stuck in the center. I think the sleeve is OK because the piston is still intact and it happened at idle. When I tried to restart it, that's when the valve broke and got stuck in the piston. Thanks for any advice.
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2012 | 09:44 PM
  #2  
ttz's Avatar
ttz
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 492
Likes: 1
Default

It seems like it would work, but I'm listening...
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2012 | 10:14 PM
  #3  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Your not removing the piston from the bottom!! Trust me. Even if you could, how would you get it back in??

Got to pull the pan AND the heads to remove a piston. The pan to remove the connecting rod bolts and the head to push out the piston.

EDIT: WOOPS,,, I thought you wanted to remove the piston OUT of the bottom.

As lionelhuts stated correctly,, its easily accomplished.

BC

Last edited by Bill Curlee; Sep 6, 2012 at 11:57 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2012 | 11:04 PM
  #4  
lionelhutz's Avatar
lionelhutz
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Default

Yes, you could do what you asked, remove the pan and head, remove the rod cap and then push the piston out the top.
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2012 | 11:20 PM
  #5  
OkieBikerDude's Avatar
OkieBikerDude
Pro
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 671
Likes: 10
From: Tulsa OK
Default

Originally Posted by lionelhutz
Yes, you could do what you asked, remove the pan and head, remove the rod cap and then push the piston out the top.
As you will most likely be replacing at lease the one where the valve broke, it might be a good time to upgrade both heads. Also, if you plan on reusing the rod, be sure to check the big end for twist by bolting the cap to the rod and torquing the bolts. When a piston impales itself on a valve, there is serious force involved that can twist the rod across the big end. This is very hard to see but will result in a sound much like a twisted rod insert when the twisted rod slaps into the adjoining rod. Ask me how I know.

Okie
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2023 | 09:08 PM
  #6  
ncali's Avatar
ncali
Pro
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 674
Likes: 102
Default

Valve seats are one piece. It isn't possible for the seat to just drop into the combustion chamber, it would get caught on the valve first.
Oh, it be possible. The dodge hemi engines are very well known for dropping the valve seats on to the pistons and destroying the engine
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2023 | 12:31 PM
  #7  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Valve Seats are very hard and brittle. Once they dislodge, they can easily split into pieces and damage the cylinder. Just like a piston ring. Its very easy to pull it to open it too far and snap it.

BC
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2023 | 05:29 PM
  #8  
grinder11's Avatar
grinder11
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
Default

Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
Valve Seats are very hard and brittle. Once they dislodge, they can easily split into pieces and damage the cylinder. Just like a piston ring. Its very easy to pull it to open it too far and snap it.

BC
^^^^^^^^^THIS TOTALLY.^^^^^^^ When that "wedding ring" of a valve seat is around the valve stem, most likely the next time the valve tries to close, and the piston comes by for an up close and personal visit, the seat will soon get a divorce, and it wont be pretty.

Last edited by grinder11; Jul 8, 2023 at 07:14 PM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 8, 2023 | 07:07 PM
  #9  
Dads2kconvertible's Avatar
Dads2kconvertible
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,213
Default

Originally Posted by grinder11
I find it interesting that 2 different members have had a valve seat problem within a few days decade+ of each other. I didnt think loosened valve seats in LS engines was a common thing.......
Fixed that for you @grinder11 This thread is over a decade old.
Maybe dates don't show prominently on mobile devices? Seems to happen frequently on this forum.
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2023 | 07:14 PM
  #10  
grinder11's Avatar
grinder11
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
Default

Originally Posted by Dads2kconvertible
Fixed that for you @grinder11 This thread is over a decade old.
Maybe dates don't show prominently on mobile devices? Seems to happen frequently on this forum.
Thanks My error. I was just following the stampede over the cliff!!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To #7 piston/rod swap from the bottom





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:00 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE