Is my engine shot?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 408
Likes: 5
From: New York
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 408
Likes: 5
From: New York
Will do. Gonna be out of town for work tomorrow then an out of town wedding over the weekend so I prob won't get the heads to a shop until Monday. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 408
Likes: 5
From: New York
Dropped the heads off at a really reputable machine shop. While I was there he noticed one of the valve caps was busted and was causing oil to leak into exhaust. So that's one issue. And something about the valve seating on one of them. Hopefully this helps.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
A valve seal? Some smoke would come out of the tail pipe. They probably put thin fluid through the ports to check for leaks (through the valves).
It sounds like it was time for head work anyway. The bottom end looks good so It should run like new when done.
It sounds like it was time for head work anyway. The bottom end looks good so It should run like new when done.
Last edited by Rob 02; Jun 16, 2017 at 06:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 408
Likes: 5
From: New York
Yeah i I don't know if it was a seal. It was some little cap that he saw after he pulled the springs off. But yeah def needed work. He said I should have them back early next week. Gotta get ordering studs and gaskets
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
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From: Atlantic Beach FL.
The seals are cheap (like $25 a set). They sit under the springs and seal off the valve stem. It is an Item you normally replace during a head rebuild.
I dropped min off on a Friday too and was wrenching by Tuesday night.
I dropped min off on a Friday too and was wrenching by Tuesday night.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 408
Likes: 5
From: New York
So so you think by getting them resurfaced and a valve job and polish will make a decent difference?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
Leaky valves are not good for performance. The trunnions, LS9 gaskets and studs make for a strong top end (piece of mind). That thicker gasket might reduce predetonation / knock. The trunnions will be less noisy reducing the possibility of a false knock picked up by the sensors. When the sensors sense a knock the PCM will pull timing and reduce Hp to try to save the engine. It's good to keep this from happening.
Are you getting lifters? Some people will say the stock lifters are fine, some will say go with LS7 ones, and others will say they are both crap and recommend aftermarket. I guess it depends on how aggressive your cam, how stiff your springs are and how high you rev the engine.
Are you getting lifters? Some people will say the stock lifters are fine, some will say go with LS7 ones, and others will say they are both crap and recommend aftermarket. I guess it depends on how aggressive your cam, how stiff your springs are and how high you rev the engine.
Last edited by Rob 02; Jun 16, 2017 at 08:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 408
Likes: 5
From: New York
I gotta prove everything this weekend and prioritize what I can get. Is changing those reunions difficult?
Leaky valves are not good for performance. The trunnions, LS9 gaskets and studs make for a strong top end (piece of mind). That thicker gasket might reduce predetonation / knock. The trunnions will be less noisy reducing the possibility of a false knock picked up by the sensors. When the sensors sense a knock the PCM will pull timing and reduce Hp to try to save the engine. It's good to keep this from happening.
Are you getting lifters? Some people will say the stock lifters are fine, some will say go with LS7 ones, and others will say they are both crap and recommend aftermarket. I guess it depends on how aggressive your cam, how stiff your springs are and how high you rev the engine.
Are you getting lifters? Some people will say the stock lifters are fine, some will say go with LS7 ones, and others will say they are both crap and recommend aftermarket. I guess it depends on how aggressive your cam, how stiff your springs are and how high you rev the engine.
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milling the heads will affect the compression ratio and using a thicker headgasket would reduce compression so if you do both they may offset each other and you could end up with the same ratio that you started off with before you took the heads off... I think it would be a good idea to have your tuner look it over after you get it back together just to make sure everything is safe... boosted cars are no joke and can tear stuff up quick if anything is not right so anytime I make a change that affects airflow I have my tuner go over it just to be on the safe side
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 408
Likes: 5
From: New York
Yup that makes sense. Thanks