Bracati

I know - old news, but this just happened to me a couple weeks ago.
2003, 50K miles.

I was in bumper to bumper traffic when it let loose and the engine stopped. In process in replacing all springs with Comp Cam BeeHive with Ti retainer and keepers.

It appears there is no engine damage and will know for sure in the next few days.

With regards to that other post - ya, just replace your springs before they break. I was in denial, won't happen to me, mine is a late 03.

It was a long day and a long tow truck ride and I'm replacing them anyway

ZeeOSix

Hopefully there's no other damage.

2002-2003 LS6 OEM valve springs = Russian Roulette. Chances of getting the loaded chamber is pretty good.

You might want to link this thread in the other one for the non-believers who are also in denial.

Bracati

and now the Proform LS spring compreser tool 6705 does not work - crazy!

Bracati

My bad - the tool works great! Unfortunally, the youtube video was not active. The tool requires all the rockers to be removed and mount to the base of the head.

1 cylinder down and 7 to go

ZeeOSix

It should look something like this when you're done - just finished my project. What springs did you go with?

Bracati

Zee:
I went with the 26918Ti kit (Beehive spring/Ti)

I'll continue to make progress tonight and be finishe early on Saturday with an oil change and new plugs while I'm at it.

speaking of plugs - could GM make it any harder to remove the wires from each plug? I have a tool, but does not work that well

mchicia1

Yeah it is really annoying with the AIR tubes in the way. After doing headers and the air tube delete, I can swap plugs in 15 mins.

ZeeOSix

Nice ...

I'd highly suggest you get a good set of aftermarket silicone spark plug wires while you're at it. You'll probably destroy a few OEM plug wires trying to get them off ... I sure did. I went with a set of Taylor plug wires.

Bracati

zee - good input. I'll more than likely finish the job with what I got and order a set to follow. I have a tool that pulls at the base of the wire, but can't get any kind of leverage.

also, interesting:
Kragens OE replacement plugs - $56.72 a set
GM dealer - $78.08 a set

note plug pn changed from 41-974 to 41-110

ZeeOSix

FYI ... the spark plug gap has changed from 0.060" to 0.040" per ACDelco/GM service bulletin. Those new plugs should have the 0.040" gap, and shouldn't be changed.

Bracati

zee - your are just too cool!! I just picked up my plugs at lunch and was about to search for gap. thanks,

ZeeOSix

No problem ... I just went through all this stuff with my '02 Zee, so glad I can pass on some hints and help out.

Bracati

zee -
did you put blue loctite on your rocker bolts? by the looks of your pic, you changed out the stock rocker bolts to allens

ZeeOSix

I have Allen bolts on the rocker arms because they came with the Comp Cams trunnion upgrade kit I also installed while in there.

http://www.compcams.com/WhatsNew/New...yID=1508422545

http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp-Cams/249/...ductId=1353769

No, I did not put blue Loctite on the rocker arm bolts ... the manual says nothing about using Loctite. Just clean out the holes in the head where the bolts screw into and torque to 22 ft-lbs as the manual calls out. There is so much thread engagement that there is no worry of stripping them out if there is still a little oil residue in them. I rolled up a piece of paper towel and stuffed it all the way down the bolt holes to absorb any oil laying in the bottom of the holes - worked pretty good. You could after that use some compressed air to get more out if needed.

Woodytick

man you got lucky with only the spring breaking & nothing else happening. i had the same thing happen 2 months ago but i was not so luck. ended up with not only a broken spring but also a ruined head, & destroyed piston. i pumped $2800 into mine with a new rebuild, cam, clutch & a few other up grades.

Bob Thomas

53,000 miles and the #2 intake spring broke on the way home from work. Everyone needs to replace the factory spings ASAP. Guess I need to pull the head and check the piston? Is it typical when the spring breaks on these motors to have piston contact?

ZeeOSix

Valve to piston contact can definitely happen. Some guys get lucky and don't have any piston or valve damage ... other guys not so lucky get major damage from a broken valve spring.

Before tearing the head off, I'd suggest doing a leakdown test to see if the valve was bent and doesn't seal well.

Woodytick

add me to the not so lucky catagory. check this out & it will show you what can happen.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lvcfxeLGRA

Bracati

Woody:
by the looks of your head, your spark plug had to be banged up pretty bad. It also appeard you valve seat was buggered up pretty good too.

Would your valve move freely, or was it somewhat jammed too?

Total bummer, but it sure sounds good now. I will have my final assessment late morning to early afternoon on Saturday.

Right side springs all replaced.

Fri evening (like in the next hour)
install valve cover and coil pack tonight
start on spring replacement

Sat:
finish springs
install valve cover and coil pack
compression check
install plugs
drive
wash
beer

ZeeOSix

Sounds like you're making good progress.

When I started mine for the first time after the spring replacement, it had lots of valve train noise that lasted awhile and slowly quieted down. I think the lifters got collapsed from turning the engine over by hand with the springs installed. I had lubed everything in the valve train real well with new motor oil before putting the valve covers back on.

Let me know if yours does the same ... it kind of freaked me out at first because it sounded terrible. Once it ran for 10+ minutes, it sounded normal again. Hopefully that doesn't cause any damage to anything ... I think it's just noise from the rocker arms due to the lifters not being fully pumped up.