Ls1 valve spring broken dropped valve
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 1
Ls1 valve spring broken dropped valve
Today one of my beehive springs from pac racing broke. It caused cylinder 2 to drop a valve. After pulling head I see that the rocker arm is broken, the exhaust valve bent, and top of piston is scratched fairly deep. Question being: can I replace all broken components and ignore the scratched piston? No damage to cylinder wall or head. Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
Today one of my beehive springs from pac racing broke. It caused cylinder 2 to drop a valve. After pulling head I see that the rocker arm is broken, the exhaust valve bent, and top of piston is scratched fairly deep. Question being: can I replace all broken components and ignore the scratched piston? No damage to cylinder wall or head. Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,815
Likes: 2,266
From: Brighton MI
Hate when that happens. 
I would replace the piston just to be sure there are no unseen fractures that come back to haunt you later. But, at a minimum, you need to be sure to eliminate any and all sharp edges on the top of the piston. They will act as hot spots and potentially cause detonation. Good luck with your repair!
I would replace the piston just to be sure there are no unseen fractures that come back to haunt you later. But, at a minimum, you need to be sure to eliminate any and all sharp edges on the top of the piston. They will act as hot spots and potentially cause detonation. Good luck with your repair!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 135
From: Maryland
A buddies old Ferrari broke / swallowed a hollow core / sodium valve. The piston top had some dings in it. We examined as close as possible for cracks and I ended up just smoothing out the sharp edges with a Dremel. That was about 10 years ago and its still running!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 429
Likes: 29
From: Brooklyn, MI
Valve guide
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
As Robert Perkins suggested, a machine shop is the best place to have it checked. If that's not possible the poor man's way is to pull the spring off a good valve and compare how it feels to the questionable guide with a new valve in it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
post pics of the piston. you may be able to sand it off if it's not bad. you can use a penetrant dye to detect cracks in the piston. Use the dye before sanding.
Again, depending on how bad the valve was bent, the guide might be ok. However, if it needs to be replaced, I'd go for a new head instead of pressing in replacement guides. The stock guides are made from powdered metal, and are far superior to any brass or bronze replacement guides a shop will press in. The powdered metal guides are not available as replacements.
Again, depending on how bad the valve was bent, the guide might be ok. However, if it needs to be replaced, I'd go for a new head instead of pressing in replacement guides. The stock guides are made from powdered metal, and are far superior to any brass or bronze replacement guides a shop will press in. The powdered metal guides are not available as replacements.
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