Finally my problem is solved....

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Well since I installed my cam in December of 2003, there has been this noise, You can hear it in this clip. It was kind of a clacking, grinding noise.

Well, thought it was the timing chain and tensioner so I replaced it, thinking that the car had 70K on it, so it was time, but the noise persisted. Thought it might be a lifter, put in the comp cams lifter, still had the noise. Checked the timing chain and tensioner again and noticed it was all eaten away again. Instead of replacing it, I decided to figure out why, with lowly ls1 springs the timing chain dampener was failing like it would with ls6 or other high load springs. Turns out, it was the install height. Discussion in this post.

Well I got some ls1 retainers almost the same day I figured that out, but I have been too busy with school to replace them. Well, first day of spring break I put them in, and low and behold the noise has stopped!

Finally after 3 years, the engine is quiet like stock! I feel so much better about my car now.
If you have ls1, or ls6 valvesprings and don't have ls1 style retainers, DON'T WAIT! Do it now!

[grayman]

dude, you car sounds pretty awesome.
yea, i can hear the chain saw when you rev it. scarry.

i still think a sticky post about the install height of aftermarket springs with L36 vs LS1 retainers would be a very good thing.
hint, hint...
:rolleyes:

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by grayman:
i still think a sticky post about the install height of aftermarket springs with L36 vs LS1 retainers would be a very good thing.
hint, hint...
:rolleyes:

It's in our main sticky. ;)

Think I'll order the new retainers today....maybe get a chance to install them next week during spring break.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Its not a hard swap to make.

Just remove the coils and bracket, pull the valve cover on the driver's side.
Just remove some of the vacuum stuff on the passenger side, and you can squeeze the valve cover off without removing the brackets.

I will put a new chain and tensioner on it next weekend.

Matt is right, I put this it in the heads/cam sticky. I will put a picture of my toasted tensioner when I swap it out. Prepare for a horrible sight when you see that picture.

[98Camaro3.8]

New retainers are on the way. Planning on installing them next week during my spring break.

What kind of valve spring compressor did you use? The one that screws on? Think the kind you pull down on doesn't work too well. I bought my heads assembled so I didn't have to mess with it....guess it came back to haunt me. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Yeah I used the screw type, because its the only thing that fits under the cowl.
I forgot to mention that I pulled the headers off to make it easier to get air in the cylinders also.

[TucsonBird]

Congrats on fixing the problem. I'm guessing that was you on Sonoran posting about retainers back in November then. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Yes it was. Got them free though!

[Kal-El]

good job

[grayman]

Originally posted by 98Camaro3.8:
New retainers are on the way. Planning on installing them next week during my spring break.

What kind of valve spring compressor did you use? The one that screws on? Think the kind you pull down on doesn't work too well. I bought my heads assembled so I didn't have to mess with it....guess it came back to haunt me. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

yea, a clamp type. look for one where the handle removes so that you can fit a socket on the end. using a socket wrench REALY helps.
also a telescoping magnet for the keepers.
maybe some anti seize compond for the threads on the air hold fitting and the spark plugs...becuase you are swithching them back and forth.
paper towels stuffed in the oil passages of the heads...don't drop a keeper....
towels between the head and the fender...easier than crawling under cr and fishing around in the K member for a dropped valve lock....DOH!

don't forget which cylinder the air hold fitting is in....

it is supposed to be straight forward but i have had many bumbling hours both times i changed springs. if you are at all slow like me then give yourself plenty of time.

you ordered heads? they came with l36 retainers rather than ls1 retainers? so shops don't know either?

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by grayman:
you ordered heads? they came with l36 retainers rather than ls1 retainers? so shops don't know either?

I got them almost 2 years ago, and they came with stock L36 retainers. If this does fix my noise, I'll email him to make sure he knows.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Matt, just pop a valve cover off and check, you can easily see the difference without taking them off.

[98Camaro3.8]

I asked him when I bought them, and he said they use stock retainers, plus others have said the same thing in the past. I'm fairly certain that's true.

Here's an old pic from when I broke a rocker arm bolt:
http://www.leadingedgesim.com/mkapro...ockerBolt3.jpg
Looks like the stock ones to me.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Originally posted by 98Camaro3.8:
I asked him when I bought them, and he said they use stock retainers, plus others have said the same thing in the past. I'm fairly certain that's true.

Here's an old pic from when I broke a rocker arm bolt:
http://www.leadingedgesim.com/mkapro...ockerBolt3.jpg
Looks like the stock ones to me.

Looks stock to me too.

[Mu]

Finally after 3 years, the engine is quiet like stock! I feel so much better about my car now.
If you have ls1, or ls6 valvesprings and don't have ls1 style retainers, DON'T WAIT! Do it now! [/QB]

Your engine is quiet now? I've had 105# springs and ls1 retainers since my cam install and my valvetrain has been very noisy since. I wish I had a quiet engine. :(