LS8 is my weekend killer. Part it?

Hector

Active LVC Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Messages
100
Reaction score
3
Location
St. Louis
Hello all !

Long story short. I changed the secondary tensioner but not the chain and well the chain busted on halloween night so now I think scratch that I BELIEVE I bent my exhaust valves on #4. Replacing head and hope piston isn't gone to hell too. Wish me luck !

I've replaced heads on probe 4cyl, eclipse gst, mazdas. I never had the luck of having to replace a head on my 4.6 GT or any v8. This is a tight spot. If all else fails a motor or parting it out. This is probably how I will be feeling pretty soon...


SANY6082_Dated.jpg


SANY6081_Dated.jpg


SANY6080_Dated.jpg


SANY6079_Dated.jpg
 
GLS make that a HUGE NOTE hehehe this really sucks !! Sti, yea funny part I've only had the car for less than a month.
 
If I part this I'm running away from the LS lol, my sister has a 04 LS8 and I've been driving it for the past few days I love them when they run.
 
not saying anything about this is funny, but i was dying from that video
 
"THAT NIGGA CUTTING ME OFF!!!!!" I haven't laughed at a youtube video that hard in a while!
 
Sorry about the loss that sucks only owning it a month.

Video is classic funny :q:q:q:q!
 
Well I found out today I can't just remove one cylinder head without tearing out the entire front end of this bastard. :mad:

I guess I wanted to believe I could so bad I actually convinced myself I could. :D

Looks like I will be doing this project after all and hope it works afterwards. :(

Updated Pictures of my HELL :mad: don't mind the dates I forgot to set it prior to snapping.

SANY6085_Dated.jpg


SANY6084_Dated.jpg


SANY6083_Dated.jpg
 
I would not have the patience for all of that carnage.




Best of luck though.
 
By the time your done it would be same price for a new used engine. All the timing chain parts, HG , head bolts, Ziglo head, valves and valve job,coolant , oil and filter and other stuff that adds to job. I like that you don't mind getting dirty thou.
 
I would not have the patience for all of that carnage.
Best of luck though.

Thanks ! I will need this !


By the time your done it would be same price for a new used engine. All the timing chain parts, HG , head bolts, Ziglo head, valves and valve job,coolant , oil and filter and other stuff that adds to job. I like that you don't mind getting dirty thou.

I agree, I purchased this car for $1500 and I just don't see the reason to dump $3300 into it for a reman engine I've found locally. I can purchase a running car for that or less. I figured I would do this the cheapest route possible and see what my outcome is, could be bad or good. Labor to do this is a pain !! this must be the worse car I've ever had to work on besides my sister's 2004 ls8 heheh:shifty:
 
Well this is becoming such a fun challenge I'm snapping pictures left and right so when it all blows in my face I can look at them and laugh at myself for attempting to do this. :D

here its laughing at me
SANY6087_Dated.jpg


where I stand
SANY6090_Dated.jpg


where I ended the night
SANY6094_Dated.jpg


Wonder if anyone else who has done this, do you know must I remove the pulley's for p/s & hydralic pump? or can I just remove both pumps?

I removed the fan and all so far un-damaged but I will be doing the electric fan, allow a bit more room if all goes well.
 
The pumps can come off with the pulleys attached. IIRC, the bracket for the hydraulic fan pump and alternator ties into the head, so that'll have to come off.
I'd strongly recommend taking off the passenger wheel and skirting.
Might be tough to do the intake cam w/o taking off the front timing cover.
 
Yea looks like it will be a pain, possbile but just a pain. Thanks for the info !
 
Also, beware of frozen bolts on the pumps. Took me better part of an afternoon to get one off. Hint: cut off the head with an air hammer. We tried to grind it down for a long time, did no good. They might actually be grade 8 hardware.
I did all the timing chains (and a bunch of other stuff) just over a year ago, so if other hints pop back into my head, I'll let you know.
 
Also, beware of frozen bolts on the pumps. Took me better part of an afternoon to get one off. Hint: cut off the head with an air hammer. We tried to grind it down for a long time, did no good. They might actually be grade 8 hardware.
I did all the timing chains (and a bunch of other stuff) just over a year ago, so if other hints pop back into my head, I'll let you know.

The bolt right behind the pressure line which goes on the fan pump was a #@(@!()! :mad: I stripped it !! :( but then I got smart and took the pulley off and then attacked it but too late it was shredded, but I wasn't planning on putting it back either way.

The P/S pump I NEED so I took the pulley off and then the bolt :)

But I know your feeling it was a bia bia
 
Update ! Its all OFF !! :) oh yes its in the AM not PM hehe

Piston has no window!! :)
SANY6109_Dated.jpg


Mr Head (worse head ever)
SANY6107_Dated.jpg


I hate these valves #&#@*(@ !!!
SANY6108_Dated.jpg
 
What does the piston look like? Any grooves or gouges in it?

Were the valves broken or you broke them removing them? What does the valve seat look like?

Any metal shavings or pieces on the piston or head?
 
Piston has a few light inprints?

I tapped the valves with a mallet and the heads came off either they were broken prior and jammed into the head or I broke them off.

No shavings at all, took the vavle rod out without a problem slide right out.

I'm hoping its all good, I will put in 2 new valves and re-install the head put timing chain back on and do compression test see what occurs. I'm trying the cheap way if it doesn't work out then time to buy another car and spend the $1000 in new everything or decides on a reman motor. Not sure yet.
 
Piston has a few light inprints?

I tapped the valves with a mallet and the heads came off either they were broken prior and jammed into the head or I broke them off.

No shavings at all, took the vavle rod out without a problem slide right out.

I'm hoping its all good, I will put in 2 new valves and re-install the head put timing chain back on and do compression test see what occurs. I'm trying the cheap way if it doesn't work out then time to buy another car and spend the $1000 in new everything or decides on a reman motor. Not sure yet.

Not sure how light a light imprint is, but you need to make sure there are no sharp corners or edges or ridges on that imprint. That can cause a hot spot and preignition. Ideally, you would want to lightly sand or grind that spot down so it blends back into the piston and looks more like a dip them like a valve stamped it's imprint into it. Think rolling hills, not mountain cliffs.

You need to thoroughly clean the heads and check the aluminum around the valve guide in the exhaust port area to make sure a bent valve stem didn't try to close and crack the guide or warp it. Cracks are hard to see but look very very carefully. In an exhaust chamber with high heat something like a crack can just be a problem waiting to happen. You can check the guide for out-of-round by inserting the old broken valve about 1/2" into the guide and gently wiggling side to side and seeing if you get less play by sliding it another 1/2" up. If it all feels pretty much the same, you are probably good to go.

One trick I learned a while ago is to save your money on those wooden suction cup valve lapping tools, and just get a good low-speed drill. Lightly oil the valve stem, then put your lapping compound on the seat, slide the valve up, and GENTLY (as in with just your hands) tighten the drill chuck down over the end of the valve. Now spin the valve slowly and just lightly pull it back so it contacts the seat for a second or two then push it away. Repeat that push-pull action half a dozen times (about 20-seconds), then loosen the chuck, pull the valve out, clean the valve and seat, and see if you got a good shiny even wear ring around the valve and seat. If not, re-oil the valve, apply more lapping compound, and repeat until you wear the seat and valve together. SO much faster and easier then that damn lapping tool. Also, pick up a permanent marker or some steel-dye if you want to make it easier to see when you have a good wear pattern all the way around. Basically clean the head, and then color the valve and seat. That way when you pull it out to look, you can easily see the new wear pattern.

Here's a video of a guy doing the lapping like I am talking: Valve Lapping with Air Assist - YouTube


I used to take a piece of thick plastic and cut it to fit over the exhaust port, drill a hole in it and screw in a hose nipple, and then hook it up to about 10-psi of air. You then use soapy water and fill the chamber with it and look for bubbles. Easy way to leak-check the valve and seat. You can then tap the back of the valve with a rubber mallet to make sure it will stay seated right when it opens/closes.
 
Kumba,

Thanks for the help ! I appreciate it I will definitely do this. I'm hoping for a good recovery of my LS I haven't even put 1000 miles on it yet hehe. My luck I will fix it and it will run great! and then I'' get rear ended before I get to enjoy my work :(

Thanks again !
 
Note that the valve lash is set by shims on these heads. I don't know how you would determine the proper lash and get the shims at home. Might be worth some research. If you're getting new valves and lapping the seats, then lash will almost certainly change.
 

Members online

No members online now.
Back
Top