Rocker arm assembly install

-
moparker

moparker

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 25, 2008
Messages
2,482
Reaction score
650
I will first apologize for what will seem like some dumb questions to some of you. Ok, doing a cam swap in my Duster. Going from solid to hydraulic so I need to change rockers. First question. When the manual refers to left bank and right bank does this mean as if you were sitting in the car or standing in front of the car facing the engine? I was thinking from in the car. This is for the placement of the notches on the rocker shafts.

Second question, The rocker arms themselves. they have RT and LT stamped on them. This would mean right and left correct? The reason I am asking is that they look correct on the rocker shafts reversed.

So there you have it. Any info on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mike.:banghead:
 
the rockers look off if you install them backwards ONCE they are fully installed

it should look like this *\ / * \ / *\ / * \ / *

* is a bolt of course
the left rocker is slanted to the right, and the right rocker is slanted to the left

even if you just lay them out and look at them it will make sense, just imagine a line running from the pushrod to the valve and that's the angle of the rocker

as for as the shafts themselves go, the notch always goes to YOUR left and DOWN presuming you are on the side of the motor (as in leaning over a fender, rather then leaning over the front bumper)



and, in case my drawing wasn't crystal clear already...a link to a better drawing

Bakerlite said:
Pics;
View attachment 1714808047

View attachment 1714808048
Click to expand...
 
As far as the shafts. One side the notch goes to the back of the motor the other towards the front. So I need to be sure what they mean when they say left or right.

Your drawings were great. Thanks.
 
rockershaft.jpg


The key thing about rocker shafts is that the small oil holes point down, 15° below, or simply more vertical than the hold-down bolts. Do not trust those notches. I've seen them cut incorrectly.

In the U.S. the left is the drivers side, the right is the passenger side. This is universal for all parts of all cars. "Handed" as if you are sitting in the car facing forward.
 
moparker said:
As far as the shafts. One side the notch goes to the back of the motor the other towards the front. So I need to be sure what they mean when they say left or right.

Your drawings were great. Thanks.
Click to expand...

look at it this way
if you stand on the driverside, put the notch to your left, and down

if you stand on the passengerside, put the notch to your left and down


you'll notice on is to the left, the other to the right, doesn't matter which one you call which

(of course, this only work is the notches are correct)
 
there are no dumb questions (only rude responses!). yes left/right as you are sitting in the dr seat. As said notch in the front & down on dr (left) bank and notch rearward and down on pass side. A welding rod may help you keep the pushrods lined up as you are torquing down. You want to draw down the (5) bolts so as to keep the shaft horizontle. the rocker arms will be at different levels of open so hand thread the bolts in until they just touch & the shaft is horizontle. then turn center bolt a half turn then near right bolt a half turn then bolt near left of center bolt a half turn then far right a half turn then far left a half turn then back to center & center bolt a half turn & repeat. some bolts will be loose and some tight but resist the urge to tighten em up, stay with 1/2 turn & go around & look at it from the other side to confirm the shaft is staying horizontle & adj your technique slightly as needed. wouldn't hurt to check preload.
 
theres a notch at the back of the rocker shafts keep them twards the back its for oiling and dis confusion lol for real notch goes to the rear
 
Thanks for all the help guys. Just want to make sure I get this right.
 
Since you are going from mech to hyd why not use the adjustable rockers. Get the proper length pushrods (shorter) and you can set the preload of each lifter the same.
 
(some of) You guys seem all confused abouth the notches, which are sometimes cut incorrectly anyways. To be safe, just look at the position of the oil holes!!!
 
moparker said:
...... Just want to make sure I get this right.
Click to expand...

Look at the picture in post #4 that 69_340_GTS posted. The wording at the top is for the bolt hole centerlines. Referencing the bolt holes, the oil hole centerlines are 15° toward the valve on both sides. When installed the oil holes are pointing down compared to the bolt holes.

Note that nothing indicates the rocker shaft notch location in this picture.
 
Last question. Rocker arms have LT and RT stamped on them. This means left and right correct?
 
moparker said:
Last question. Rocker arms have LT and RT stamped on them. This means left and right correct?
Click to expand...


yes and no

open up the first attachment I quoted and you will see

each cylinder takes one left and one right hand rocker
 
So each cylinder would take one stamped LT and one stamped RT correct?
 
moparker said:
So each cylinder would take one stamped LT and one stamped RT correct?
Click to expand...

yessir

the reason is as follows, if you were to draw a line from the pushrods to the valves and back what you get is not a rectangle it is a trapezoid (the line running between the valvestems will be longer then the line between the pushrods)
to make up for this the contact point for the valves on the rockers are offset , one to the left, one to the right

trust me, once you get the heads on the engine, the pushrods in the hole and the rockers on the rockershaft it will be obvious
 
And.... In case you haven't seen the trick to support the push rods while installing the rocker shafts... a small dowel rod or piece of heavy wire (yes coat hanger) can be cut to length and laid across the hump of the shaft pedestals and provide support for the pushrods till the rocker assemblies are bolted down. Then you can just pull the rod or wire out the front.
 
Also, do NOT overtorque. Many of the manuals over the years are WRONG. You have 5/16 bolts? These are 5/16 grade 5, and are torked at 17 ft lb dry, 13 oiled.
 
You should always have a book to reference. A "how to rebuild your small block mopar" would help-
 
That's why I started asking questions. I was looking at the manual and was making sure I was understanding it correctly. I agree 100%!
 
Here is a picture of a set of factory 340 rocker arms that I have.
When you look at the push rod side of the arms. You can clearly see the difference in the offset of the cups.
Note: The arms might not be assembled in their correct positions.

340 Rocker Arms.JPG
 
And another vote! Unmarked even get dimples outboard...Ooh, notice change in design from toolmanmikes and these....interesting..
ssm10081-jpg.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top