Valves is this my problem?
 

Hey guys ..

I've been working in my winter ride a little too much:mad: This time should working on the Mustang ONLY..;)
Anyways...winter beater is a 96'Chevy 4X4 with a 350ci Vortec (L31 Heads) I know should have bought a ford...:rolleyes:
Hears the deal I went a long trip (1500kms round trip) halfway it starts to tick, like a top-end tick. I parked it for the night ,went out in the am and no tick....no such luck once it warmed up it starts to tick but only at an Idle rev it up a bit and it seems to get quiet and disappear(sp) and when your driving and let off the gas on the hwy it ticks...
after getting home it developes a miss at all operating rpms and it also backfires through the exhaust...
So like a smart guy I go and tear the heads off thinking thats the problem ...a couple of guys tell me I probally have a stuck valve or a broken spring or a collapsted lifter or bent pushrod or a burnt valve.
I've got the heads all apart (first time for a big job like this)
I haven't found anything bent or broken or clogged (pushrod)..
I did find one intake valve (#2) that has some nicks around the edge of the valve at the stem end where the rocker hit it ,...the rocker is fine no scoring or discoloration.Some of the valves have a lot of carbon on them like 1/16+ of an inch (3mm)...,same with the heads ....
Would the nicks on the stem make it tick??? and would the carbon make the valves not seat?Creating a miss?

WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW .....
:(


Thanks Guys Big Bopper..

P.S. I'll try to get some pics of the Bad valve so you guys can see if its the ticking problem...

man, it could have been just a simple loose rocker arm? but maybe not? if you have the heads off, go ahead and have them machined, they will resurface valves, or replace, them ,whatever they need, they will/should know, and also they can test your springs, and why not replace the lifters why the heads are off.

That sounds like the thing to do...But...I don't have any $$ is there a way to check everthing myself and save myself from having to spend all that cash ......I live in a small town and the only machinist is a old drunk wino....Who has a super bad rep. for doing crumby work..

I'll attach a pic of my worse valve and maybe someone could tell me if its to blame...?

That sounds like the thing to do...But...I don't have any $$ is there a way to check everthing myself and save myself from having to spend all that cash ......I live in a small town and the only machinist is a old drunk wino....Who has a super bad rep. for doing crumby work..

I'll attach a pic of my worse valve and maybe someone could tell me if its to blame...?

hmm, that stem is chewed up quite a bit, but i dont see why it would make a noticable noise though, i wonder what the pivot point of that paticular rocker arm looked like, that moved that certain valve?,
I hope your oil pump isnt slowly crapping out? keep this thread up, 'pkrwd' can probaly help you.........good luck