Hi, everybody!

I have a customer that has a 1999 Grand Am with a 3.4. He purchased some rebuilt heads from Napa and says the number one cylinder is making noise.

He pulled the spark plug and claims the valve hit the plug. Does anyone know what caused this?

Thanks!

Maybe then wrong plugs??

Nope, triple checked them.

dont think that its possible for the spark plug and valve to meet unless the valve is bent. the intake and exhaust pushrods are different lengths and if you get them backwards it can slam pistons into the valves. i have seen several cars come into our shop that a customer did this and we ended up doing head jobs on. those motors are also bad about the rocker arm bolts stripping out and the rockers coming loose or off.

Hi, I think the push rods are different sizes also. Ray

gj,
I think about half the people that do this job for the first time get the pushrods mixed up and bend valves :( I dont know how because there is a pretty significant difference in the length. All I know is that I have fixed a bunch of them over the years :) $$$