I will be pulling the heads off this weekend due to a broken timing chain. I am going to inspect the damage (hopefully the valves didn't destroy the piston tops or vice-versa). When I put the heads back on will all the valves, rockers, and retainers stay in the position they came out in or do I have to go thru a special process to reinstall? Thanx.....


Brad

 

not sure if i understand your question fully, but if you dont find any valve damage then the valves and springs/retainers/lock can all stay on the heads. rockers will need to be adjusted.

 

Sorry, I mean when I bolt the heads back on will the rockers and valves just kinda find the position they were in before I took them off? Won't all the valve springs decompress and change their original position?

 

you have to adjust the rockers. however as long as you keep teh valve locks and retainers on the springs, those will be fine.

springs will stay in teh same position

 

I would like to know the story about your chain breaking if you don't mind. Didn't see any high hp stuff in your sig. I never heard of one breaking is why I am asking. How many miles, high reving miss shift?, ect.


Jeff D.

 

The first step in removing the heads is to remove the rockers and pushrods. Doing that will let all the valves close completely. They will stay that way because of the springs. When you reinstall the heads you'll need to install the pushrods and rockers and set the lash.

 

I 2nd poormans request, what happend??

 

Thanx for the great info on the heads reinstall guys. As for the timing chain breaking theres not much to tell. I did a quick 40-100 mph run about 4 miles away from my house on the way to work (never getting above 5600 rpms) and then slowed to pull into a driveway to turn around. When I got out of the driveway and back on the road going the other way I hit it again (getting slightly sideways in first and reving her to about 5500 rpms) then put it in second. At about 3000 rpms the car just shut off, I thought I might have popped the OPTI and even ordered a new one but no such luck......when reinstalling the OPTI I noticed a crack in the timing chain cover. Removed it and timing chain cereal fell out....


Brad

Sorry.....52K miles on her and no missed shifts

 

D'oh! That sucks!!! So you going with another stock type? Or a double roller and electric water pump...

yeah, loosen the rocker arms enough to turn them to the side, pull out the pushrods, pop the heads off.

There's a tube in the back of them though that needs to come off. I can check if I have a pic of it later...

 

I plan on going with a LT4 ED chain and gears.......with my application I am pretty sure I won't break that (hopefully)