roller rockers; have to re-tap bolt holes? - Northern California Ford Owners

This is topic roller rockers; have to re-tap bolt holes? in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners .

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Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

I tried to bolt on the roller rockers I bought, but the bolts will only go so far until they're way too hard to turn. I thought these were supposed to be bolt-on? they're the 1.7 pedestal mount rockers, w/ the ford casting # on em. apparently the bolt holes have to be re-tapped? does anyone know the size and pitch of the tap needed? thanks

Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :

Are you using the required stock parts as well?

It sound like you've left the bars out...

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

bars? do you mean the part that kinda ties the pairs of rockers together? I didn't know that you were supposed to use any stock parts.

I have the rocker assembly, the bolt, the part that goes under the rocker that it pivots on (dunno what to call it), some shims, and the part that goes underneath it all and goes between the pair of rockers. when I try to tighten the bolts down, they only go so far, there's still at least 1/8" between the head of the bolt and the flat part of the rocker that it's supposed to tighten down on

Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :

Yes, you need to use the part that links both the rockers. Do not use shims unless you've got a pre-load issue.

Posted by HungryHippo (Member # 537) on :

you need to reuse the bars

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

thing is, I can't tighten the bolts down far enough for that bar to make any difference [Frown]

Posted by FasterDamnit (Member # 442) on :

Are you using the bolts that came with the rockers? How do they compare to the stock bolts in length?

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

well I just measured the bolts with a micrometer, the ones that came with the roller rockers are in fact thicker than the stockers. seems the stock bolts are 3/8, the new ones 5/16? or maybe I can't read a micrometer right... [Razz]

point is, the new bolt's threads are bigger than the stock ones. but at the top of the bolt, where there are no threads, it's the same size as the stock bolt's threads [Confused]

should I just take the bolt to the hardware store and try to get a tap that matches it?

Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :

No, what you need to do is this...

1. Make sure you indeed have 5/16" pedestal mount rockers
2. Make sure you have all the required hardware
3. Make sure the hardware you have for the rockers is the CORRECT hardware (size, type, length, grade of bolt)
4. Learn how to use tools correctly. [Razz]

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

quote:
Originally posted by JohnB:
No, what you need to do is this...

1. Make sure you indeed have 5/16" pedestal mount rockers
2. Make sure you have all the required hardware
3. Make sure the hardware you have for the rockers is the CORRECT hardware (size, type, length, grade of bolt)
4. Learn how to use tools correctly.

how do I do all of that?
1. I measured the bolt, and it came closest to 5/16". I bought them here, off a guy w/ the name Coupe. Said they were "new 93 Cobra style Crane 1.7 Roller Rockers," which they are. should those rockers come with bolts that will go in the stock holes?
2. This is what I got

and this is how it goes together

right??
this is how it looks on the head

3. No clue what is what, just goin by what was included
4.Hey, it's been years since I've touched a micrometer [Razz]

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

difference between stock bolt and the roller rocker bolt

this is a shot of the stock bolt (left) and the bolts that came with the rockers (right), both bolted down as far as possible.

this is a shot showing how much of the bolt is screwed in

this is showing how much the rocker moves with the bolt screwed in as far as possible. the pushrod is all the way down, but I still don't think there should be this much room

Posted by BlueOvalRacing (Member # 1531) on :

I don't know about your rocker situation, but I will say that every picture you show has what looks like paint chips all over the place. The #1 rule of engine assembly is KEEP STUFF CLEAN. All that paint is going to cause you problems down the road. Just my $.02

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

what paint chips? [Confused]

Posted by BlueOvalRacing (Member # 1531) on :

I said it looks like paint chips... [Roll Eyes]

Maybe I should have said it looks like the heads/springs/retainers/bolts/alignment plates were rolled around in a sandbox that had hair mixed in it, then bolted to a shortblock.

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

quote:
Originally posted by BlueOvalRacing:
Maybe I should have said it looks like the heads/springs/retainers/bolts/alignment plates were rolled around in a sandbox that had hair mixed in it, then bolted to a shortblock.

lol, k as long as they aren't paint chips [Razz]

never really noticed it, this is my first engine

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

so would I be alright tapping the holes or what?

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

or maybe it's just these bolts? where could I get new ones?

Posted by HungryHippo (Member # 537) on :

you really shouldnt have to. i got the replacement bolts from NAPA

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

k I'll try there. I'll probably take both the stock bolts and the other ones to a hardware store and see what they say about em. hopefully it's just these bolts are screwy [Confused]

Posted by zpyro35 (Member # 3745) on :

well turns out it's just the bolts that came with the rockers are screwed up. bought a new bolt and it screws in fine [Big Grin]

now I've just gotta find a place that has more than 5 of em...

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