Thread: Won't start after cam install

Originally Posted by Silver GTP

If the valve seals were smashed, then that means the rocker is smashing the retainer all the way to the bottom, right? Thinking that through would mean the cam is higher lift than you think it is, the lifter is longer than it should be, the pushrod is longer than it should be or the ratio of the rocker is higher. I can't think of any other way this could happen. Any chance one of those parts are not the right ones?

If the camshaft that I was sent was wrong... Then yes. But I was told that this is a VS cam, he told me positively...

The rockers are stock.
Pushrods are stock.
Lifters are stock (and are now LS7 lifters).
G8 valve springs/retainers.

Originally Posted by Silver GTP

Since you have to pull it apart anyway, I would start by double checking the engraving on the end of the cam. I don't know if ZZP engraves the name on the end of the cam or just a number of some type. You may have to check with them to verify which cam it is. If it really is a VS cam, you should have plenty of clearance unless you had a massive brain fart and forgot to put the tray in under the rockers. I see you have the SSM90 set up too. Since you have the naturally aspirated heads, are there any differences between yours and the L67 heads that could cause a clearance issue like this?

You bring up some good points. I wish I saw what the engraving on the cam was. The tray is under the rockers. I'm not sure if there are different clearances between L67 and L36 heads. Someone should know. I think we are onto something with the too much lift scenario. The valve seals were all smashed.

Would stronger springs solve this? If that was the problem.

Originally Posted by Silver GTP

No. A problem from the wrong springs would be coil binding. If your setup is driving the retainer down into the valve seal, it is a matter of clearance. Modified retainers would give some extra clearance to the valve seal. As bad as the pushrods got destroyed, I think you might need more than that to fix your problem.

I will lose my mind of I got sent the wrong cam.