tips on roller rocker install
- Thread starter 3rdelke
- Start date
Yatzee
Well-Known Member
Most rocker systems usually have installation and setup instructions included but not all systems are created equal. Some come with a host of shims for alignment to the valve stems horizontally and some do not give you enough. The rods that the rockers slide on should always be new and when installing make sure that the oiling orifices are orientated in the right position - I have actually seen rods installed upside down. Proper installation is tedious and time consuming as you mount the rockers on the rods one at a time (starting at either end) and repeatedly mount the shaft and move on to the spacing of the adjacent one. Try to position the rocker on the rod so the valve stem is as close to center on the roller as is possible - you may never get all of them exactly on center but that's OK. Watch the push rod's position coming thru the head's openings as some heads do not have large ports and the rods may kiss the head on one side or the other. Check and recheck your alignment of the roller to the valve stem tip before finally tightening the rods bolts. The adjusters on the rockers should only extent 2 to 2 1/2 threads below the tip of the rocker. You should invest in a quality adjustable push rod length checker - you need only do one measurement from the bottom of the seat of the lifter to the rocker. Order a new set of rods but make sure you have the effective length correct - the length from the tip of the ball of the rod to the bottom of the cup on the other end. Temporary assembly lube comes with the rockers. Once all is assembled, remove the plugs and rotate the engine by hand checking the contact area on every valve stem and correct as necessary. You do not want the roller running off the tips of the valve stems and there are alignment blocks available to set the position of the rocker rods laterally - move the rods closer or further from the lateral position of the tips of the valve stems. You may or may not have to use these, it depends on how far towards the outer edges of the valve stem that the roller travels. Read the instructions that come with your rocker system and double check everything manually before actually starting the engine. These instructions should include the adjustment specs for the rocker adjusters for both solid and hydraulic lifters but make sure you do not have too many threads showing below the rocker arms or you will, in effect, change the angle of contact between the roller and the valve stem. Buy a quality system as there are a lot of cheap knock offs that are plagued with cracking, breakage, roller shaft failure and binding when hot. You get what you pay for and yes, their expensive.
Last edited:
Average Joe
Well-Known Member
If they are shaft roller rockers with the tube spacers and washer shims. The easiest way is to center the roller rocker tip over the valve stem and add the shims until you get about .015 to.030 thousands of clearance between the side of the rocker and shim stack. The clearances need to be checked with everything torqued down so you will be taking it apart and putting back together several times. I run mine as close to .015 as possible. I usually start right to left and add the rockers and shims tightening and making sure to move the rockers side to side to compress the shim pack before checking clearance.
3rdelke
Well-Known Member
damn, what have I got myself into? guys thanks so much! no instruction on these from 440 source that I found in the box. oh well i'll give it a try, as I cant seem to find anyone close that knows about mopars.
cdr
Well-Known Member
Also, once I got mine all spaced correct on the shaft, I pulled apart and took each rocker and soaked in oil to pre lube before final install. I just payed out the shaft and spacers. Had a friend give me that little tip. No issues after! Good luck! It was tedious but not too bad.
383man
Well-Known Member
66Satellite47
Well-Known Member
You should check out the Hughes site & read their tech articles on rocker arm installation. Very informative. I have the Hughes stuff too and seems really good. I'll have a better idea of reliability after I get the motor out & taken apart. They sure seemed to hold adjustment really well.
66Satellite47
Well-Known Member
Well even if you have the pro's do the work, check out Hughes tech articles so you can get a handle on what's going on with rocker geometry. Lots of good input here. Yatzee's comments are right on. Attention to detail in this area saves parts in the long run, especially if you run the motor in the high RPM range.
3rdelke
Well-Known Member
guys, thank you all. been studying, think I understand most of the setup. the linear setup with the .015 spacers seems to make sense. but aren't there spacers for under the towers as well? why would I need those, if I am having pushrods made? starting to think I may do this myself. thanks, bob
Similar threads
