Thread: N1 vs 20V blog, ate TB screw, fixed... i think.

I couldn't get the screws out to locktite them. I was banging on the TB with an impact driver trying to get the screws out. Instead, I just stripped the screws a bit, and rather risk bending the TB shaft, I decided to glue them in place instead.

I can't believe the screw fell out. An impact driver and a mini-sledge couldn't break it loose. wow. Guys, learn from my mistake and just tear your TB apart. Red loctite everything. If you can't get the screws out, drill em out. Then use new bolts with red loctite.

Was this on a VE TB? I haven't seen this on LowPort or High ports personally, but I've heard of a few VE TB's eating screws.

Yeah, it is a stock VE TB.

That sucks. You had loctite on them and they still came loose. What strength did you use?

..........

-Phone-

Ok guys, I must be the luckiest-unlucky mother f*r out there. I pulled the head off with the engine still in the car. It went pretty smooth actually. Only took a couple hours of me hunched over. But the screw never made it in the cylinder. It got caught on the valve seat and locked the valve open, causing the misfire I had right after I stalled the engine. This caused the shim to get kicked out as the cam slapped the rocker.

The valve was removed, and crudely attached to my drill. After spinning it, it isn't bent one bit! The piston shows zero signs of contact, as with the valve. The valve seats perfectly, with one tiny scuff mark on it that is barely even visible. the screw doesn't look to be in bad shape either, the threads on 2 sides are flattened, but otherwise looks like it could be reused... not that I would.

The cylinders are in immaculate shape, showing ZERO signs of detonation. Just a bit of deposits on the piston. The head is in perfect shape. After inspecting the seat, it looks like it pummeled the screw without any signs of contact on the seat. The combustion chamber has a very very tiny scuff mark where the screw popped through and it cleaned the area a bit.

Overall I couldn't be happier with this outcome. I must have pulled into my driveway right when the screw caught the valve. I figured the piston was messed because when I pulled the plug and looked inside, it looked very rough. This roughness was just the small deposits on the piston.

The cylinder walls are perfect. The pistons look perfect, other than said deposits. I got lucky, and caught this in the perfect time. This could have cost me a ton of $$$.

Well, I am debating having some valve work done while I have the head off. I could have some Supertech valves put in, oversized of course. I don't know what this will do as far as shimming goes. I really really don't want to have to grind valves to get proper tolerances on this motor, as I've done on some. Shims are hard to find in all the sizes needed to do a proper valve job on the VE. So perhaps I will put it back together with the stock stuff in there.

Now I'm on the fence whether or not to reuse this valve, or use one out of my spare head. But to be honest, the valve I have now looks better than the one in the spare head. Ah, decisions.

I'm gonna post pics in a few if I can.

Nice save!! you only skip death once in a blue

I can't believe the valve seat and the valve are completely unscathed! I'm feeling really good right now. Just put the cams back in, pulled the valves open. Inspected the seating of the valve. Everything is perfect.

Glad to hear that Bro..

Very glad to hear man. I told you it was the throttle body screw. Things dont just happen to a motor. lol.

Glad to hear it all worked out and enjoy the car man.