I know that my car was beat pretty good before I got it, even though it seems in good mechanicle shape; so, I was wondering, if the previous owners beat it but good, what are the chances I have bent rods?? seems to run okay other than a little slower than I like and the gas mileage is the worst you will find on these cars. It does run a little rough, kinda like I have a cam in there but nothing too serious. No weird noises other than some ticking that comes and goes either.

Any thoughts to my continuous pondering question without tearing her apart??

I am not in a hurry to worry about it but thought changing them might be a cool summer time project. You know, hang out with some friends and drink a few beers, get a little oily too.

Oh, and I do have a nice little 2k vibration. It comes in at 1900 and starts to leave around 2300, so, I guess it not "perfect".

 

Invest in a 1" travel indicator and a magnetic base. You can compare lift from valve to valve right at the retainer if you just want a quick check. A bent pushrod becomes quite obvious with that check.

-Mindgame

 

True, I could do that, BUT, if I am going in, I will replace them no matter what. I dont want to go through the trouble of pulling the covers off and just checking them, even if its close to free doing it that way. Besides, I would just throw in a cheap set of rods when I am there.

I was just wondering what the general consensus was, and I DO appreciate your input too.

 

Just wondering: How do you know when your Push rods are bent?

 

When u run ****ty times like me

I plan on taking my valvetrain apaprt in the near future. My car seems to have no upper RPM power, and I mean NONE.

Bent pushrods are usually the result of over-revving. check for damaged lifters at the same time.

 

See, thats what is making me think a little. My car has the same exact powerband as an LS1. I dont start to get going till the 2k range, then it has a teeny extra burst of speed and takes off.

The second thing is my mild vibration around 2k, and a strange light trottle pulsing, when cruising, too.

 

Pretty simple, pull the valve covers and look at the pushrods. of course you may not see slightly bent ones but you can tell for sure if most are bent.

 

is your car an automatic with 2.73s b/c my car is the same way. from a dead stop it takes a minute to get going like you said but up top shes a **** (just like an LS1), this could be normal...or maybe we both have bent rods !

 

I dont want to open her up just yet , I am only looking for opinions now. I have to get through this time consumming broken clutch fork deal first .


"is your car an automatic with 2.73s"
No, six speed 3:42`s, and thats NOT a posotive statement!! you have some rough geers to deal with. Your combo actually sounds normal, unless you have a stall converter in there. Because of your gears, it would (even for a LT1) take a little time to get wound up. Now I do not have experience with 2.73 A4`s but check around. I would not be too suprised if that a normal anomily for your car/setup.

 

dude, valve covers are 4 bolts. just pull em off.

 

Yes dad, lol

Well, I havnt looked just yet, but, what else you got to take off in order for them to clear the engine/bay and come out? Thats what I am scared of. No big deal but I stll have to take the tranny out, reinstall all my brake booster stuff............man, this is getting to be some work!!

I guess she could use a 50k R&R/check though.

 

lol, not to flame but, have you even taken a quick peek at your valve covers? Drivers side pops right off with 4 bolts, passenger side, take the alternator off, 4 bolts and the cover is off. the alternator is not hard to get off, i can have it off in a minute.

Sounds to me like you dont want to look for the problem, you want other people to tell you what it is We can only help to a certain extent, then you have to dig in there!

 

Well, when I got my car, it was smashed. Everything from the waterpump foward was replaced BY ME, including the radiater support, everything and anything back, A/C & recharge, frontwindshield, new rug, airbags, rear bearings and seals etc. I dont want to do no more work than I have to. Last thing I did was the plugs and that was not too bad. Now I have to take out the tranny to replace a $40 part, not to mention I am probably gonna want to change a few other clutch parts.

Do I HAVE to tinker with the valve covers to get my answer???? I dont want to get stuck with another ratts nest of an adventure. Sure would like to hear first hand reports.

 

I`m scared and tired

 

Oy!

That sounds kinky!