Worn Valve guides or bad seals?

[Pewter02Camaro]

Re: Worn Valve guides or bad seals?

figure you guys will get a nice laugh from this, went by the machine shop today to talk to the guy that did the work told him about how my compression test came back all green and he proceeded to tell me that it pretty much means nothing and that he is still convinced that my rings are bad. I cant belive this S$%T. :eek: He wont even consider other possibilities like bad guides or seals just because he just got done doing them. I just can't belive he woukld say something like that, it just makes me want to scream. I am so close to just flippin out on this guy it's not funny. :mad::mad::mad: Anyway i have to start tearing it down again to check evrything outwho knows maybe it is just because i used the lower intake gaskets without the anti-crush rings who knows.

[ssms5411]

Re: Worn Valve guides or bad seals?

Wouldn't he know if you did a compression test and it came back good the head gaskets and rings would be good. I would drop it off and tell him he needs to fix the engine he worked on or give you your money back or your going to fill a complaint with the better buisness buearo and take him to small claims court, if it is under $5000. Depends on the state some are $3000. What a d!ck.

[Mad Max]

Re: Worn Valve guides or bad seals?

Suggestion.... If you have access to an air compressor with at least 250 lbs/sq in, get the adapter for the spark plug hole. Pump up the cylinder that you suspect is the problem. Pull your valve cover and you need the valve spring compressor tool. It looks like a 'J' with a slot in it so you can compress the spring and take of the retainer - it bolts to the rocker arm bolt. Which engine do you have? I guess it depends on what you have for rockers for this to work. Once you have the retainer off (make sure that you drop the keepers down one of the oil returns :eek:) Check the valve seal and valve guide wear. Some guys knurl the guides (NFG), the best way to do the job is to bore the guides (I'm pretty sure they are cast as part of the head) and press in silicone bronze inserts.
Sounds like you are dealing with a **** for a machinist. If the guy is still not going to stand behind his work, pull the heads and heave em through his front window. :rant:Take the jerk to court. First make sure that you have another machinist check them out and tell you exactly what's wrong. I bet 500 big ones that the heads are your problem - any takers?

[Pewter02Camaro]

Re: Worn Valve guides or bad seals?

Ok so i started to tear down the motor again, SIGH, and got the upper plenum off and low and behold i had a oil in all my intake runners. It had colletcted in little spots where the lower intake manifold gaskets sit. At this point i proceeded to open up the pcv and found that it was coated in oil. This is what i think is happening so far. Ok i don't think i am pulling oil past my rings. I think that i am getting enough blow by to pressurize my crankcase and it is forcing oil into my upper plenum. The pcv itself seemed to want to stick in the closed position, i think this help to lead to the crankcase becoming pressurized. i figure it is easier pressurize and get blow by on the compression stroke then pull oil past the rings on the intake stoke. The reason for that being that you have an open intake valve on the intake stroke and your cylinders are sealed on the compression stroke. Also when i did mycompression test the two cylinders with a bit of oil on the plugs had a compression of 175psi, and if i remember correctly all the cylinders where from 175 to 190. those two were my lowest. So at this point i am gonna take a break from typing, and put up a picture for you guys to ponder.

[Pewter02Camaro]

Re: Worn Valve guides or bad seals?







The Gasket is actually soaked with oil not coolant belive it or not. So thats what i woul like you all to ponder.

[Pewter02Camaro]

Re: Worn Valve guides or bad seals?

Nobody else have this problem before? I can't seem to figure out how i could force that much oil into my intake through my pcv system. Right now i am open to any other ideas as to how this could happen.

[Mad Max]

Re: Worn Valve guides or bad seals?

With 175 - 190 PSI compression, I find it hard to beleive that you have that much blow by. If you take the oil fill cap off with the engine running, you will see how much blow by you have. I guess it's a little late for that... Anyway, there is a vent in one of the valve covers for air to enter the engine while the PCV pulls out cranckase vapors. Unless that is plugged you shouldn't be building any serious pressure unless you have a BIG turbo or supercharger. I don't remember how the head gaskets are on the 3.8, but I remember doing a Peugeot head and the gasket could go on backwards, and you know I put it on backwards. It caused it to overheat. Is there a possibility that the head gasket (s) are blocking an oil return passage from one of the heads? I know it's really unlikely, but this is a weird problem and I'm heaving out guesses. There are no oil passages in the plenum. Does your PCV valve rattle when you shake it? Maybe it's stuck?
Those back plenum bolts must be fun to take out. :cry:
Does your lower manifold have a crack in it (maybe)???

[Pewter02Camaro]

Re: Worn Valve guides or bad seals?

well i know it has been some tiime since i posted on this problem so i figured i would let all of you know whats goin on. Tore tha motor back apart to reexamine the cylinder walls closer, for more than a couple second like when i originally did the head swap. So i deffinittly have cylider walls made out of polised chrome. :cry: So at this point the motor is all set to come out the top just waitin on my buddys hoist. But anyway the final verdict was that i had washed out the rings and consequenly completely galzed over all the cylinder walls.

So here the plan for the rebiuld,

9.5: diamond forged pistons and wrist pins
Total Seal moly rings
L32 Forged powdered metal connecting rods
Stock crank polished
Clevite main, rod, and cam bearings
Balance shaft delete
Double roller timing chain
Comp OE-R lifters
Yella Terra rockers and pushrod package

Also pondering Stepping up to the GT2 cam as long as its all out
I figure i will stick with stock compression so i can boost a bit or continue to spary the car in case i run out of money for the turbo kit i have been putting toghether.

If anybody has any suggestions for me feel free to offer them.
Thanks guys.

Jeff