CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion - Ok to start with valve cover off?

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I just messed around with mine, noise went away when I pulled the AC belt. I think it's the tensioner because it was at the very edge of its movement range, but need to dig a little deeper.

Here's what mine sounds like for comparison

You mean like this? There wasn't much mess but we didn't rev it. Nothing shooting out, just some spilling over the lower wall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronc7 (Post 1593890301)

Thanks for the vid. Mine sounds alot different but still something for me to check and rule out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Stewart (Post 1593890466)

You mean like this? There wasn't much mess but we didn't rev it. Nothing shooting out, just some spilling over the lower wall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CddQGe71Jmg

Yep. Thats what I will do. Can someone tell me what to look for exactly with the rockers as far as identifying which lifter would be bad? Would the motion of the rocker be a little different than the others?

If you have a collapsed lifter, the affected rocker arm will move less than the others...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwill03z (Post 1593881418)

Going to pull my pass valve cover to attempt pinpointing where this "tapping" is coming from on a cold start. I assume it is not a problem to start the car with the valve cover removed, right? Also, using a stethoscope where is the best location to put the metal tip to try and locate which cylinder the sound is coming from?

This is what I do/did. I buy a pair of valve covers and dremel out the middle just enough so I can fit a socket on the bolts if I need to adjust the rockers (back in my pre LS1 days)
You can buy a pair of used valve covers for your C5 and then dremel out the middle just enough so the oil will hit the cover from the pushrods. Depending also on your oil pressure you may want to run the car to operating temp then put the modified valve cover on or the high pressure will certainly take out your eye. I bought a set of used covers for 40.00 and am getting ready to modify them in the next week or so.
My LT1 had a high pressure pump and at operating temp the oil was only spurting out of the pushrod at idle and my 327, 427, 454, and 350 was the same. Then again I waited for the engine to be warmed up. I didn't wait once and ended up with oil everywhere it was like a water display lol.

OR you can buy a cheap stethoscope and just place it over varying parts of the valve cover.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Curlee (Post 1593885873)

Better yet, I've run the engine in the car with the transmission/ differential and TT removed to make sure that I didn't have any vibrations after I installed a new clutch.

BC

ok, i've run plenty of various engines with no valve covers... but never that. thats a cool idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean.b (Post 1593895412)

ok, i've run plenty of various engines with no valve covers... but never that. thats a cool idea.

I did a major drivetrain upgrade and relaced the clutch. With ALL of the people having vibration issues, I had to know if I had any weird vibrations. I starter the engine at 9:45 PM. Open headers and YES the neighbors LOVED ME.

The camera and lighting are crappy but here is the vid. It was ear shattering LOUD :rock::D :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...DSCF0074-1.mp4

Bill