Rocker arm shaft hold downs

[214infantry]

Should the shaft hold down brackets be touching the rocker arms? Some are and some aren’t on my set up.

 

[68Charger440HP]

I think you’re fine. I just checked a picture of my GTX’s rocker arms and they looked the same. I have roller rockers on my Charger though and the hold downs are right up against a thin shim on each side.

 

[gkent]

If they aren't touching I'd be trying to understand why they're not - are the pushrods rubbing the heads? If everything is free and clear only then would I not be concerned. There is also a lot of play in a stock setup so that just might be the position they were in when the engine was shut down.

 

[beanhead]

If that's a big block there should be a spacer between each pair of rocker arms. If they're in place, you're good..

 

[Don Frelier]

The arms do have a right and left offset where the pushrod dent is shaped and installed so the pushrods are close together.
The tips of the rockers should be centered over the valve stem pretty closely.

 

[gkent]

The arms do have a right and left offset where the pushrod dent is shaped and installed so the pushrods are close together.

I don't think they can be installed wrong !!

 

[Don Frelier]

I'm not making this stuff up:

 

[gkent]

I would honestly like to see you install them wrong !!

And FWIW, I've never seen a stock set with "oilite" spacers - all I've ever seen were just steel.

 

[Orig69]

The rocker on the left (in the first picture) looks like it's a little bit too far away from the rocker shaft hold down. The rocker on the right looks okay.

 

[Islandkent]

Ma done it that way.

 

[214infantry]

Thanks for the replies, the pic Don Frelier posted shows them touching the rocker arms. They do have the spacers between each rocker arm, some of the rocker arm tip wear patterns are a little off, not centered. Going to buy a new set from 440 source, have my heads at the machine shop after I found 2 bent pushrods and 3 pushrods not even on the rocker arms, they were just laying there.

 

[Don Frelier]

That's not a picture I believe it is a drawing from 1966.

 

[BSB67]

..........I found 2 bent pushrods and 3 pushrods not even on the rocker arms, they were just laying there.

What was the cause?

 

[214infantry]

What was the cause?

Hopefully when I get the heads back from the machine shop I'll know what caused the issue. I'll post back here when I get the heads back.

 

[beanhead]

Thanks for the replies, the pic Don Frelier posted shows them touching the rocker arms. They do have the spacers between each rocker arm, some of the rocker arm tip wear patterns are a little off, not centered. Going to buy a new set from 440 source, have my heads at the machine shop after I found 2 bent pushrods and 3 pushrods not even on the rocker arms, they were just laying there.

That's usually from the rockers not being correctly oriented...though that may not be the cause in your case.
Check out the picture Don F posted above....the pushrod cups in BB rockers are slightly offset to one side or the other. Each pair of rockers gets installed so the cups are closer together/toward each other.

It could just be the angle of the pictures.....but look closely and make sure someone didn't stick small-block rockers in there

 

[BSB67]

Hopefully when I get the heads back from the machine shop I'll know what caused the issue. I'll post back here when I get the heads back.

So you are thinking that the machine shop will know? Interesting. Do they have the entire motor and the valve train peices as found in its failed condition?

 

[214infantry]

So you are thinking that the machine shop will know? Interesting. Do they have the entire motor and the valve train peices as found in its failed condition?

I'm hoping they can figure out if it was a valve train issue from the heads, I'm no expert and I don't plan on pulling the engine and tearing it down. The only failed pieces that I could detect with a visual was 2 bent pushrods and 3 pushrods just there, not touching the rocker arm, one was off entirely and stuck at an angle under the valley pan. Please inform me on what else I could look at after finding the pushrods in that condition.

 

[beanhead]

I'm hoping they can figure out if it was a valve train issue from the heads, I'm no expert and I don't plan on pulling the engine and tearing it down. The only failed pieces that I could detect with a visual was 2 bent pushrods and 3 pushrods just there, not touching the rocker arm, one was off entirely and stuck at an angle under the valley pan. Please inform me on what else I could look at after finding the pushrods in that condition.

If the rockers are as they should be, verify that the pushrods were the correct length (not too short).

 

[33 IMP]

......and make sure none of the lifters got tossed out of their bores.

 

[BSB67]

I'm hoping they can figure out if it was a valve train issue from the heads, I'm no expert and I don't plan on pulling the engine and tearing it down. The only failed pieces that I could detect with a visual was 2 bent pushrods and 3 pushrods just there, not touching the rocker arm, one was off entirely and stuck at an angle under the valley pan. Please inform me on what else I could look at after finding the pushrods in that condition.

You don't need to pull the engine. You just need to do thorough investigation of the evidence at the time of discovery. What happened might be discoverable by/at the machine shop, but there is a lot to consider before going to the machine shop.

What cylinders and valves had the mislocated pushrods?
What cylinders and valves had the bent push rods?
Was the lifter preload checked and what was it?
Where the valve stem heights the same? What was the variance?
Any damage to the rocker arms at all? look closely and be specific, particularly in the cup area.
Were any lifters out of their bores?
Was there xcessive lifter bleed down as evidenced with excessive valve train clatter?
Any marks on the pistons?
Any spring coil bind?
Any other interferences like keeper to guide?

These are some things needed to look at, and likely many more.

Also the recent past engine operating and upgrade history might help.......