Broke a valve spring. Advice? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

4WDlifeform · 01-30-2023, 10:44 PM

Installed a cam about 4 years ago. I put about 20,000 or so since the cam. Was simply cruising along on the high way when she let go.. :-( Sounded nasty, shut it down quick. Ran maybe 4 or 5 seconds with some terrible sounds. I did try to start it just being curious, but it didn't want to fire, sounded bad, so only put a couple more cranks on it.

I pulled the covers, and saw as you see below. The cam is Comp Cams 231/239 @ .050", .617/.624 lift, 113deg. I pulled the rockers on the #1 cylinder and the valve slides nice and free. I pulled the plugs, and put air on it. Valve seems to seal up nice and holds air. The rod is straight, and rocker and bearings seem OK. Also, drained oil and no metals visible. Checked with a magnet, but I know that wont pick up aluminum. What else is there to check? Barrowed a bore scope from work, but it didn't fit in the spark plug hole. :-/

I suppose I've come this far, I might as well just pull the head and get a good look at the valve and piston. Thoughts?

https://imgur.com/bQ1mQIX

https://imgur.com/ACuh3Pf

Ashen 6.2 · 01-31-2023, 05:55 AM

Man that stinks for sure. I would pull both heads and get new valve springs.

acammer · 01-31-2023, 06:31 AM

I agree with Ashen 6.2, I think you should snatch the head off and have a good look at everything. You may have some clean up needed inside the combustion chamber.

Sometimes, you get away with one - I hope you did here.

1JEWLDSSRS · 01-31-2023, 09:35 AM

Agreed with the above. It's time to refresh the springs anyway. And you might want to do a trunnion upgrade as well. Not sure what you have, but I just replaced my Smith Brothers with the CHE ones. Good luck and hope all turns out well and clean.

oldman14ss · 02-20-2023, 03:21 PM

the valve was still captive correct? it didnt drop? the spring looks like a clean break no chips where the break is? if your valve didnt drop then your combustion chamber should be fine. did the push rod become loose on the break or was it still under tension? thats what i would look at. did the spring bind? if the keepers stayed intact then i would just change the spring and run with it. seems everyone is over thinking this.

bottletalk · 02-20-2023, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldman14ss

the valve was still captive correct? it didnt drop? the spring looks like a clean break no chips where the break is? if your valve didnt drop then your combustion chamber should be fine. did the push rod become loose on the break or was it still under tension? thats what i would look at. did the spring bind? if the keepers stayed intact then i would just change the spring and run with it. seems everyone is over thinking this.

that's my thinking, no point going through steps b,c & d if "a" stills good.

oldman14ss · 02-20-2023, 08:34 PM

check the push rod end of the rocker for unusual wear just in case it was loose after the spring break. was the rocker loose? if you haven't done the trunion upgrade i would do that bronze bushings instead of needle bearing is what i did.

01-31-2023, 05:55 AM	#2
Ashen 6.2 Drives: 2014 Camaro Z/SS Join Date: May 2014 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 2,162 View My Garage	Man that stinks for sure. I would pull both heads and get new valve springs. __________________ 2014 Camaro SS L99, Ashen Grey w/Black Leather - Build thread - http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=491561 GPI 416 w/GPI S/C Cam, GPI Ported Heads & Tuned by Ben, Holley Dominator ECU, Mag Heartbeat, ZL1 Fuel Pump/DSX Aux Pump, NW 103 TB, FIC 1650's, Alky Meth, Rossler T400 w/t-brake, Circle D Converter, Kooks Headers, Viking Coil Overs & all the BMR Goodies in the rear, Zl1 3.23 Diff, DSS Axles, Wiles Racing Driveshaft, Hendrix Offset Diff Bushings, AFE Solid Subframe Bushings, 875HP/843TQ 5FDP

01-31-2023, 06:31 AM	#3
acammer GPI Sales Consultant Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS SGM Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Weedsport, NY Posts: 2,989 View My Garage	I agree with Ashen 6.2, I think you should snatch the head off and have a good look at everything. You may have some clean up needed inside the combustion chamber. Sometimes, you get away with one - I hope you did here. __________________ GPI Max Package 2.0: Brodix BR7 heads/GPI porting, MAX3 cam, ST2116LSR, BSR Max Lift rockers, LS7 LSXR with 103mm TB, Vararam OTR, Mcleod RXT, G-Force/Strange 9" IRS setup with 4.63 gear. 551whp, 11.1@124mph. *Got a question about a GPI product? Feel free to shoot me a message!*

01-31-2023, 09:35 AM	#4
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 13,819	Agreed with the above. It's time to refresh the springs anyway. And you might want to do a trunnion upgrade as well. Not sure what you have, but I just replaced my Smith Brothers with the CHE ones. Good luck and hope all turns out well and clean. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

01-30-2023, 10:44 PM	#1
4WDlifeform Drives: 2014 Camaro 1SS RS Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 86	Broke a valve spring. Advice? Installed a cam about 4 years ago. I put about 20,000 or so since the cam. Was simply cruising along on the high way when she let go.. :-( Sounded nasty, shut it down quick. Ran maybe 4 or 5 seconds with some terrible sounds. I did try to start it just being curious, but it didn't want to fire, sounded bad, so only put a couple more cranks on it. I pulled the covers, and saw as you see below. The cam is Comp Cams 231/239 @ .050", .617/.624 lift, 113deg. I pulled the rockers on the #1 cylinder and the valve slides nice and free. I pulled the plugs, and put air on it. Valve seems to seal up nice and holds air. The rod is straight, and rocker and bearings seem OK. Also, drained oil and no metals visible. Checked with a magnet, but I know that wont pick up aluminum. What else is there to check? Barrowed a bore scope from work, but it didn't fit in the spark plug hole. :-/ I suppose I've come this far, I might as well just pull the head and get a good look at the valve and piston. Thoughts? https://imgur.com/bQ1mQIX https://imgur.com/ACuh3Pf __________________ 2014 SS RS Cammed, 4.10s, Tuned, Long Tubes, NPP, CAI

02-20-2023, 03:21 PM	#5
oldman14ss Drives: 2014 1ss camaro Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: missouri Posts: 706	the valve was still captive correct? it didnt drop? the spring looks like a clean break no chips where the break is? if your valve didnt drop then your combustion chamber should be fine. did the push rod become loose on the break or was it still under tension? thats what i would look at. did the spring bind? if the keepers stayed intact then i would just change the spring and run with it. seems everyone is over thinking this.

02-20-2023, 08:34 PM	#7
oldman14ss Drives: 2014 1ss camaro Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: missouri Posts: 706	check the push rod end of the rocker for unusual wear just in case it was loose after the spring break. was the rocker loose? if you haven't done the trunion upgrade i would do that bronze bushings instead of needle bearing is what i did.