Got a rocker problem..
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 10
From: Charleston SC
Well I put the new one one and noticed it is a little wider, which is probably helpful..
I noticed while looking at some of the others, that many of them are not centered, but resting on the edge of the valves..why is that? Is it because they lack some sort of guide? Should I buy some? I've seen them on summit before..or would the local parts store have them?
Here's some pics:
I noticed while looking at some of the others, that many of them are not centered, but resting on the edge of the valves..why is that? Is it because they lack some sort of guide? Should I buy some? I've seen them on summit before..or would the local parts store have them?
Here's some pics:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
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From: Charleston SC
Burning Brakes
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From: ESCONDIDO CA
2025 C2 of the Year ('63 and '67) Finalist - Unmodified
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It's the tip of the valve stem that wore through the lifter. As long as that tip has not worn away to the point that the wedges that hold the valve spring retainer in place fall out, you should be fine. That is something that I have never seen happen before. It is a good idea to see that the valves are all opening to verify no cam damage. If there is severe wear, the valve at that location will not move as much (or at all).
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 384
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From: Northern New Jersey
The easiest but sloppy way is to warm up the engine with the valve cover on and then remove the cover start the engine and loosen the rocker until it taps and then tighten until it stops tapping and then tighten 3/4 turn more. The clean way is warm the engine then bring the piston all the way up on that cylinder and tighten the rocker until it just touches the stem and then tighten another 3/4 turn.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 10
From: Charleston SC
Well that did it! No more ticking, or any unwanted noises. That was the problem and I'm so relieved that it wasn't something more serious. Due to no abnormal wear on the valvespring, stem, or rod, my guess is that it was just old and worn out, and possible bad timing in the past could have made it worse.
Thanks everyone for your help!
Thanks everyone for your help!
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: League City TX
The typical way for a stamped rocker to fail is to snap all at once, not to grind away slowly.
Normally they fail on the pushrod side though.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Guideplates are fastened under the screw in rocker studs. You're opening up a whole can of worms installing them...guide plates require special hardened push rods. Don't bother.
In the 'for-what-it's-worth' department, and I say that because not many still fool with the OEM stamped rocker arms, but the best GM small block rockers has a raised triangle on the valve end. I don't see them in birdman's pics.
You can see it in this pic:
In the 'for-what-it's-worth' department, and I say that because not many still fool with the OEM stamped rocker arms, but the best GM small block rockers has a raised triangle on the valve end. I don't see them in birdman's pics.
You can see it in this pic:
Last edited by 69 Chevy; Dec 15, 2011 at 11:56 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 265
From: Charleston SC
you should really pull the pushrod out on that one and check for straightness. If you have granite counters, that works great, just roll it on it and look to see if it's wiggling up and down. A glass top will also work.
Over tightening won't do that to a rocker: on a hydraulic cam, you would just push the lifter plunger down, eventually making it a solid lifter cam, but you'd have other issues and you would know it imediatly (poor perf, backfiring, caughing out the carb etc). On a solid cam, you would have the valve hanging open, and you'd know it too...
It could be a sign of valve float, but, it would show on the other rockers...can't really know for sure unless you have a spring pressure checker and know what the spring pressure is for those to begin with...I happen to have that tool...along many others...
Do yourself a favor (and me lol) take a magnet and pass it over the head where the oil is returning to catch any pieces...do an oil change with new filter...and while you are in there, can you get me the heads number?
Over tightening won't do that to a rocker: on a hydraulic cam, you would just push the lifter plunger down, eventually making it a solid lifter cam, but you'd have other issues and you would know it imediatly (poor perf, backfiring, caughing out the carb etc). On a solid cam, you would have the valve hanging open, and you'd know it too...
It could be a sign of valve float, but, it would show on the other rockers...can't really know for sure unless you have a spring pressure checker and know what the spring pressure is for those to begin with...I happen to have that tool...along many others...
Do yourself a favor (and me lol) take a magnet and pass it over the head where the oil is returning to catch any pieces...do an oil change with new filter...and while you are in there, can you get me the heads number?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 10
From: Charleston SC
you should really pull the pushrod out on that one and check for straightness. If you have granite counters, that works great, just roll it on it and look to see if it's wiggling up and down. A glass top will also work.
Over tightening won't do that to a rocker: on a hydraulic cam, you would just push the lifter plunger down, eventually making it a solid lifter cam, but you'd have other issues and you would know it imediatly (poor perf, backfiring, caughing out the carb etc). On a solid cam, you would have the valve hanging open, and you'd know it too...
It could be a sign of valve float, but, it would show on the other rockers...can't really know for sure unless you have a spring pressure checker and know what the spring pressure is for those to begin with...I happen to have that tool...along many others...
Do yourself a favor (and me lol) take a magnet and pass it over the head where the oil is returning to catch any pieces...do an oil change with new filter...and while you are in there, can you get me the heads number?
Over tightening won't do that to a rocker: on a hydraulic cam, you would just push the lifter plunger down, eventually making it a solid lifter cam, but you'd have other issues and you would know it imediatly (poor perf, backfiring, caughing out the carb etc). On a solid cam, you would have the valve hanging open, and you'd know it too...
It could be a sign of valve float, but, it would show on the other rockers...can't really know for sure unless you have a spring pressure checker and know what the spring pressure is for those to begin with...I happen to have that tool...along many others...
Do yourself a favor (and me lol) take a magnet and pass it over the head where the oil is returning to catch any pieces...do an oil change with new filter...and while you are in there, can you get me the heads number?
Where's the heads number?
I'll definitely do an oil change for you. I was able to pick a big chunk of the rocker off the top of the heads, which appeared to be 95% of the metal.
Last edited by Birdman; Dec 15, 2011 at 08:52 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 265
From: Charleston SC
good man!! 
I was talking about head casting number...should be in there somewhere...been a while since I looked at an SBC block (I'm a BBC guy)...check between the rockers of cyl 2 and 4, I think I can see something there on your pic...
I was talking about head casting number...should be in there somewhere...been a while since I looked at an SBC block (I'm a BBC guy)...check between the rockers of cyl 2 and 4, I think I can see something there on your pic...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 10
From: Charleston SC
