possible cam failure

[ohioshodude]

yes you read right something is banging now in my dad's 97 sho. it all started today after buttoning it up with new spark plugs. it ran fine for 1-2 secs then a clanking noise. i have the front valve cover off and i don't see any abnormal wear. i'm thinking its possible i dropped something in the intake. but what i have no idea, i've accounted for all the tools i used and all screws. i've really grown to hate this v8. ever since i had the flowmasters installed its been nothing be down hill.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Pull every coil and plug and check them. I've seen a couple of plugs blown right out of the head lately due to cross-threading them on install. The engine will sound like **** when there isn't a plug in the hole.

If not, you're going to have to completely remove the upper & lower intake and both valve covers, and inspect the cams and look for anything in the valvetrain that shouldn't be there. Any chance you're missing one of the little metal rings in the vanity cover that lines the holes that the bolts or studs go through?

 

[ohioshodude]

well i just pulled the intake upper and lower, and found that the secondaires are rusted. which i'm think i caused buy washing it off after b-12'ing it. stupid mistake number one. but fixable. but still, i don't see this causing a banging noise. lucky no stray object in the intake valves either. i took of the front vavle cover and the cams looks really good. nots a single bit of scoring. so it 50/50 now on the rear. i'm hoping for the best. i/m 95-99% sure none of the spark plugs are crossthreaded but i will check them all again. what are these "little metal rings in the vanity cover that lines the holes that the bolts or studs go through" i'm not sure what you are talking about with those.

the only good side to this? i can take a v8 sho apart in mear minutes, with out the 3/8" fuel disconnect mind you! lol keep the ideas flowing as i havent a clue.

oh i think i might know what you are talking about now. the metal cylinders in the apparence cover, that help to align the bolts. yes one is missing but it was gone when we got the car.

 

[ohioshodude]

well you were right chris, i found the one that was missing from the top right in the far right secondary intake chamber. i don't see any damage and they appear to close completely. i'll reinstall everything and see if it runs ok, then run a compression check. thanks for the idea. i never considered that, that thing would still be sitting on the engine.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Yup, that's why when Kirk and I do a cam weld, we make sure to account for all of those little rings, and even still we carefully check each intake port before reassembling the motor. More than one motor has been lost that way.

 

[SHO--ripper]

Good work Chris

 

[ohioshodude]

engine is all back together and right as rain, thank god. its still missing but not as bad now with the new plugs. thanks for the help