Thread: Bandook's 01 Imp, top swap-ified

Yeah, heads were off when I cleaned all the threads. Don't remember if I used loctite though. I took the oil cap off and stuck my homemade listening device(vac line) in there and it sounds like the rockers. Its just frustrating trying to pinpoint sounds kwim? I'm waiting on a set of 1.9's whenever the seller gets them off the car, so I'll just redo them then. I heard all the hate about the comp bolts, guess I'll get some stockers when I redo them.

I'm considering getting the pushrod measuring thing-a-ma-jig too. Since I had valve work done I'm feeling I'm close to the edge of spec for the ls7 lifters with stock rods.

I've never used anything besides the comp bolts, like so many others...nothing but good in my experience.

Pull the valve covers and check the bolts. You don't want any ugliness because things were flopping around.

OK, thanks Bill. Thinking to just blind guess some shorter pushrods. I had 8 thou milled off the heads, and a valve job. Would probably be safe to just buy rods that are 10 thou shorter. Or even more because the valves opened a little when I tightened them down initially. Ls7 specs are .020-.050 from what I've seen.

Or I could do it the right way and measure exact length I need, I suppose.

You could start by torquing them down properly. If you are concerned about pr length do a compression test. See if you are low.

Yes sir, will do . Ordered the comp pr length checkermajig. Will do a proper check on them and retorqe em all.

I've always been a little confused about checking length with hydrolic lifters. Do I just crank the engine a few times before checking to keep them pumped?

Since i have never checked length (see...I torqued them properly after hearing the clatter..lol). Hopefully your checker comes with instructions.

FWIW, stop being such a girl and pop the VC's off, recheck the torque and smile when you find that one was loose.

The stock lifters have a pretty wide "room for error" range Read up about it for the exact amount

Originally Posted by RickyBobby03

The stock lifters have a pretty wide "room for error" range Read up about it for the exact amount

Yeah, ls7 are .020-.050 I believe. I should be good but I had 2 valve jobs done and the heads surfaced. I'll measure just for piece of mind.

Checked rockers today, everything is tight and there is no play. Did find a bad pulley, plastic junk so replaced with a new metal one. Think that was some of the noise I was hearing.

So I put it back together, and had it idling for 5 minutes. Then...it died. And won't start. Fried another fuel pump. Sheesh. The relay was very warm to the touch too, so that confirms the pump was on the way out right? Drawing too much current until it fried? Put new relay in, got 12v to the pump but no whirrr. Hammered the tank but no luck.

So...I want a frigging reliable pump with no hack job on the canister that I can run to empty. What are my options? How far can you take a stock ac delco? I could do the venturi walbro but I need a new canister too.

Pulled the pump out and hooked it up to 12v. Nothing. Banged it on the ground and.... boom! It blew up. No, not really, but it did start working again. Hoping just some goo got lodged in there. While I had it out, for the umpteenth time, I hacked it even more.


Why not I guess. Cut the bottom out and pushed it down about 2 inches more. Still don't trust this hillbilly setup, need something more reliable.

id cut the whole bottom off but leave 4 little legs to keep the sock off the tank bottom a 1/4 inch or so.

That's what I did. I didn't cut up the sides, there are a bunch of holes I drilled there.

Not a bad idea...don't know how though lol.

I'm 99% sure my engine noise is an exhaust leak. Yay SD headers! I reused the stock gaskets, and don't think I can get them much tighter. Sounds like front manifold is the culprit. Guess I can try some new gaskets.

Ricer as it sounds, heck I've seen collector gaskets made with just layers of foil. Many layers. Not saying foil could help you but if you added as needed, who knows? That good copper RTV works best if it can sit overnight, doesn't it Scotty? Its actually amazing stuff.

click "edit post" on your very forst post on this thread, change title and all done

Oh, neat. Thanks

Well, the fuel pump is done. Or I'm done with it. Put a new gasket on front header. Started it up an it died after 2 minutes. No fuel, no bueno .

Really interested in your opinions on pumps. Will a stock pump be good down to a 3.0 pulley, ported heads, headers, rr's? Plan on doing a cam next spring too. Just don't see much discussion on pumps. Would like to order something tonight. I'm thinking the walbro venturi pump. I'll also have to buy a canister, which I can't just buy the canister alone so I'm thinking of buying a 35 dollar pump on eBay just for the canister. Help?

Paint my cheeks red, but I don't think I have a venturi pump. I was thinking that the dual pickups on the bottom made it a venturi. But doesn't it need a second smaller fuel hose coming off the top to make it venturi? Confused myself again. Just another day in the life of Dook...

Originally Posted by bandook

Paint my cheeks red, but I don't think I have a venturi pump. I was thinking that the dual pickups on the bottom made it a venturi. But doesn't it need a second smaller fuel hose coming off the top to make it venturi? Confused myself again. Just another day in the life of Dook...

yes. that small black hose tells you if you have a venturi pump or not. small black hose = no small black hose =