I have a 89 iroc with the 5.7. It had headers and a few bolt ons. I ran a best 14.4@96 with the T-5. I now have vortec heads, zz4 cam with 1.6 RR, and the scoggin dickey baseplate. I did have some minor problems with getting the right pushrod length and the intake gasket didnt seal the first time. I fixed both of those. but I am still getting a fair amout of blue smoke at startup and for the first for minutes of driving. then no blue smoke but i still smell oil burning sometimes, and the dipstick proves that. But it has brand new valve seals and they are the nice ones. i do have screw in studs but we used plenty of thread sealer on them. so I am thinking could i have smashed the valve seals? .505 and .544 are my lift numbers. Also I just ran the 1/4 mile again and my best was a 14.8@94! why is it slower? It is a stock short block could the lift be to high. Or even though they seemed fine and I havent had any problems the rings are bad! It seems to have tons of power and much more than before but slower?

 

Did you have the heads clearanced for extra lift? With factory hardware, Vortec heads that aren't clearanced for lift slam the bottom of the retainer into the top of the guide boss at about .46o-.480" valve lift.

 

I had them machined for up to .550 lift. So if the guy knew what he was doing then it should be fine and he said he was selling 4-6 sets a week. I am also using guideplates. I do plan on pulling it apart and checking out under the valve cover and springs. But regardless of the oil unless its the issue why slower? everybody else with the same combo are running low 13's or maybe mid with shifting.

 

Bottom line, and you know it, blue smoke means burning oil. Have you tried a leak down test yet?

 

No thats a good idea though. Its really hard to get to all the holes with those headers. but that would tell me what I need to know. Thanks!

 

Well i think i found my problem. I have only pulled off the #1 springs and they were both broken. The inner spring and about a 1 inch piece. The chunk had slightly damaged the seal but both retainers had beed hitting also. So they guy must have screwed me with the machine #'s and the quality of parts. I will be calling him tomorrow. But now I have to get the heads machined. By chance is there a special tool that alows you to do it on the car? I was told i should get the new comp cam "honey comb" springs that get smaller at the top. Dont know much about them, but? Atleast I know why it was so damn slow now!

 

Beehive

 

yeah thems are it haha!