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VT 5 Litre Tick

HoldenHoon

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Hey guys I have bought a 1997 VT COMMODORE 5 Litre and have noticed it is very sluggish and responds very slow. After removing valve covers I was extremely shocked to find that someone had completely removed the rocker arms from Cylinder 6. After searching for a new rocker arm and finally being able to get one I make sure I soak them in engine oil and wait about 2 hour before installing them. Then I torqued them down using a torque ratchet. After installing and checking I started up the car to hear a very loud ticking noise from that cylinder. I have also put new engine oil in and poured in the oil really quickly so it completely submerged the rocker arms and springs so they did have oil on them. I also notice that the engine oil has gone white/milky so I’m assuming it’s also got a blown head gasket? Why is it ticking so loudly? Could the cam be screwed after the engine had been running without rocker arms on a cylinder?
 

EYY

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Hey guys I have bought a 1997 VT COMMODORE 5 Litre and have noticed it is very sluggish and responds very slow. After removing valve covers I was extremely shocked to find that someone had completely removed the rocker arms from Cylinder 6. After searching for a new rocker arm and finally being able to get one I make sure I soak them in engine oil and wait about 2 hour before installing them. Then I torqued them down using a torque ratchet. After installing and checking I started up the car to hear a very loud ticking noise from that cylinder. I have also put new engine oil in and poured in the oil really quickly so it completely submerged the rocker arms and springs so they did have oil on them. I also notice that the engine oil has gone white/milky so I’m assuming it’s also got a blown head gasket? Why is it ticking so loudly? Could the cam be screwed after the engine had been running without rocker arms on a cylinder?
Very likely that the lifter retaining plate has broken and the cam has munched the lifters.

Removing the rockers would allow somebody to drive home safely without sending metal through the entire engine, guaranteeing the requirement of a full rebuild.

Pull the engine out, remove manifold, rocker covers, timing cover and sump and assess the condition of the bearings and cam/lifters. Clean it all out and replace parts as required. This will be your cheapest/most effective way out of a bad situation.
 

HoldenHoon

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@EYY Thanks for the info! I remember when I pulled it out that the plate in the middle had legs going to each cylinder. I also remember the leg being broken on the problem cylinder that is ticking. How could the retainer plate leg snap? What is the purpose of the plate also?
 
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EYY

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@EYY Thanks for the info! I remember when I pulled it out that the plate in the middle had legs going to each cylinder. I also remember the leg being broken on the problem cylinder that is ticking. How could the retainer plate leg snap? What is the purpose of the plate also?
Those ‘legs’ stop the roller lifter from rotating and munching the cam. They did have a habit of failing, but it’s not all that common.
 

HoldenHoon

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Those ‘legs’ stop the roller lifter from rotating and munching the cam. They did have a habit of failing, but it’s not all that common.
Ah ok thanks for that. Hopefully the engine is Saveable!
 
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