What is it that actually gives way or that we need to inspect? Is it the E clip at the tip of the valve or the spring retainer(bowl that's around the spring) that gives way?

 

At least I think it's an E clip. It's hard to tell in the pictures and I haven't seen the valve train in person yet. So, I'm not sure.

 

It's no e-clip. The valve is held in by a pair of grooved valve stem keepers or locks.

 

 

So, what is it that I need to look for? The keepers or the spring retainers cracking? Or should I not even worry about it since The car only has 5000 miles on it?

 

you would look at the retainer on top of the valve spring. I would suspect radial cracks originating from the center of retainer.

 

Thanks, I'll take a look at them tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to see them well enough without taking the cams and everything out.

 

You'll either see the radiating cracks or the retainer itself will 'dish' ever so slightly. If you look at the retainers in the picture, they have a 2 tier shape. The 'dishing' will be evident by a distortion in this shape. This 'dishing' causes the keeper to loose its grip on the valve.

 

Never did though

and Spooling, you can pretty much see the condition of the retainers without taking the cams off or the rockers. Well I should say most of it.

What you will look for is cracks spreading from the middle out, this is where most of the load is placed on the retainers. And if you do see a crack look to see if the valve is a little sunk, like the valve stem, and look at another healthy retainer/valve to compare height.

The keepers are strong enough.

 

Thanks a lot for the info guys.