How to install rocker arms
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 84
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How to install rocker arms
I have a question on installing rocker arms their a mix of opinions on how to install the rocker arms some say just torque them all down to 22 then turn the crank a couple of times and make sure none of the bolts are lose then their is other people say find top dead center so what’s the proper way on doing it
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 760
Likes: 242
From: All Over The Place
Base lobe on the cam to tighten. hand crank the engine and watch with the valve covers off. Easy to see. 22ft lbs and done. Just did mine.Coat them in oil first to minimize friction on initial start up.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 299
Likes: 33
From: Chambersburg PA
Read my post in thread
Installing rockers need help quick
It's right out of the GM service manual, easy and it works, no guessing and once TDC is found on #1 cylinder compression stroke. Paint/permanent marker a line on HB and you only have to turn engine over 1 more time. Also I didn't mention earlier, for ease of turning remove all plugs.
Installing rockers need help quick
It's right out of the GM service manual, easy and it works, no guessing and once TDC is found on #1 cylinder compression stroke. Paint/permanent marker a line on HB and you only have to turn engine over 1 more time. Also I didn't mention earlier, for ease of turning remove all plugs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
Just finished doing this. I did not do the procedure in the manual bc I didn’t know how to find TDC. What I did was rotate the crank with the rockers on and bolts hand tight, watched for when the valve closes then torque to 22ft lb... the part I was confused about was after hand tight it only took about a quarter of a turn to hit 22ft lbs... I was under the impression it should take somewhere close to 1 or 1 1/2 turns depending on what lifter preload you have... I do know that my car had been sitting a week and all the lifters were bled down... also I was using BTR rocker bolts with the Straub trunnion kit, not sure if that makes a difference...
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 299
Likes: 33
From: Chambersburg PA
Just for future reference, how I find top dead center on compression stroke, is after the intake valve opens and closes on cyl. 1 (front cyl on drivers side) I use a small diameter wooden dowel rod ( 5/16th cheap at lowes) angled downward in the spark plug hole. It helps to have a friend to "turn over the engine by hand" and as the piston is traveling upwards near the top it will push on the dowel rod moving the exposed end in a downward motion, like a see saw movement. Once the dowel rod stops moving downward you will be at TDC on the compression stroke, or close enough. Mark HB anywhere you can see it and after torqueing the first set of valves in the list I provided, you only have to rotate the engine 1 full turn then torque the rest of the rockers in the list I provided. Easy peasy.
Last edited by DVUSz06; Jul 28, 2019 at 09:05 PM. Reason: Better clarification
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