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Posted by shiftylx (Member # 2670) on :
 
I noticed my engine sounding like it was missing, pulled the valve covers and found that the #1 rocker arm on the passenger side is loose enough that I can wiggle it around. The bolt that holds the rocker arm in place is still tight but the rod is movable as well. Are the stock rocker arms one piece or two? I know that being able to move the rocker arm is bad, I just don't know HOW bad. I'm guessing either a dished lifter or a flat lobe on the cam. thanks in advance! [patriot]
 
Posted by Red95PonyGirl (Member # 3027) on :
 
I wouldn't try to do n e thing yourself, i would segguest going into a mechanic ASAP!! that sounds scary! [Frown]
 
Posted by Red95PonyGirl (Member # 3027) on :
 
rocker arms are 2 pieces I believe
 
Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
did you try tightening it more?
 
Posted by Red95PonyGirl (Member # 3027) on :
 
[Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Red95PonyGirl:
I wouldn't try to do n e thing yourself
[Roll Eyes] [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by Red95PonyGirl (Member # 3027) on :
 
HEY MAN!!! better safe than sorry right?
 
Posted by Cobra5.0Jeep (Member # 1482) on :
 
yeah take it to a mechanic and have them bend you over and rape you in labor and parts.

Fix it yourself.

[ July 14, 2003, 11:31 PM: Message edited by: Cobra5.0Jeep ]
 
Posted by MoostangGT (Member # 2894) on :
 
Might have a problem with your lifer or push rods.. I would take off the rocker and inspect the rod, if it looks ok, try doing a TEMP swap with another cylinder and see if you are able to tighten to so it does not move, if it still does it is probably your lifter.
I wouldn't bother taking it to a mechanic, cause the first thing they will do is rip that engine apart and replace all your lifers, rods, and rockers cause they know they will get away with it.
 
Posted by Blue Oval (Member # 2548) on :
 
if u need a new set of rocker arms from PAW for like 10 bucks just ask for the stock set and they hook u up.
 
Posted by shade-tree (Member # 298) on :
 
rockers when at BDC can be wiggled by hand.

translation: not enough data to determine if there's a problem.

[ July 15, 2003, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: shade-tree ]
 
Posted by shiftylx (Member # 2670) on :
 
sorry red95 but i can't afford to take it anywhere just yet, so i'm gonna try this myself. Moostang, how easy is it to take off the rocker arms? can i just remove the bolt in the middle or do I have to take the head off? I would like to avoid that for now if i can. shade-tree, If it's just that one rocker arm that is loose and the rest of them are tight, that doesn't feel normal. The bolt in the middle of the rocker is still tight.
 
Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
Its easy to pull them off. No need to pull the head. Just undo the bolt. Try turning the motor a bit, and see if its still lose. You can tighten the bolt down more to fix that. Im sure 5kshade knows of the best sequence to get em all tightened correctly; I don't know shit about pushrod motors. It goes *something* like this- turn the motor until that cylinder is at TDC on the compression stroke and tighten the rockers so the pushrods touch the lifter and tighten it 1/4 turn.
 
Posted by shiftylx (Member # 2670) on :
 
should I hand-crank the engine using a wrench on the crank nut? ALso, how do I know when the #1 cylinder is at top dead center?
 
Posted by MoostangGT (Member # 2894) on :
 
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but pull the spark plug for #1 cylinder, see if you can see it coming close to the top, when it is close at this point you can look at your timing at it should be near TDC, align it exactly with tdc and you should be there.

Also you can hand crank it.. just make sure the car is in neutral when you do.. otherwise you will get one hell of a workout.
 
Posted by shiftylx (Member # 2670) on :
 
thanks sabrina, ill keep ya posted, wish me luck!
-drew
 
Posted by MoostangGT (Member # 2894) on :
 
BTW if you were to look at your rotor it should point to number one at that time...

Also, are you in Chico?
 
Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
Stick your finger in the spark plug hole and crank it. Watch the rocker arms. When you feel it blow your finger out, thats the compression. Then when that rocker goes up again its the exhaust. Then next time it starts to go up thats the beginnning of the compression stroke.
 
Posted by shiftylx (Member # 2670) on :
 
thanks Blown Mystic for the instructions, i turned the crank and every rocker arm except the loose one moved. something tells me thats a bad sign. im gonna try to remove the rocker arm tomorrow and see if i can see anything. sorry sabrina, im in the bay area until the middle of august then im coming back.
 
Posted by MoostangGT (Member # 2894) on :
 
If you were in chico I would say bring it over...
When cranked the engine.. did you atleast see the push rod move?
 
Posted by shiftylx (Member # 2670) on :
 
nope, the loose rocker didn't budge. thats why im hoping its a lifter problem and nothing more serious! btw-do you come down to chico often?
 
Posted by MoostangGT (Member # 2894) on :
 
Just drive through chico thats about all, but redding isn't that far. Did the push rod move at all? Was thinking about it last night talkin with my b/f, if the pushrod is not moving it might be more than just the lifter, you could have cam problems, but I am crossing my fingers and hoping for something simple like a bent push rod.
 
Posted by shiftylx (Member # 2670) on :
 
i checked again and the rocker is moving but it is still loose. my boy brought up the issue of a flattened lobe on my cam, but all i can say is that if it is a flat cam...here comes an f-cam!(gotta look at the bright side of things!)
 
Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
Its probably the lifter that needs to be replaced.
 
Posted by shiftylx (Member # 2670) on :
 
i don't want to replace them with a sotck set...would it be cheaper to replace the busted one and then at a later time when i build this engine up in about a month buy a set of aftermarket ones, or should I buy a set of performance ones now? also...who makes a good set of lifters?
 




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