273 Rocker Arm modification jig for locking adjusters

[daves66valiant]

I made a quick jig today to flatten the casting surface on these 273 rockers for locking adjuster nuts. As you can see the original castings are way off

Measured the rocker shaft and it was .87”. It just so happens a craftsman 5/8” deep socket is also .87”. Well I drilled a 7/8 in hole in some straight scraps and the socket fit snug. Then I squared everything up to the disc sander.

I screwed in the adjuster nut and then flipped the locking nut. I referenced it to the flat surface of the sanding disc

I set up a couple of fences to keep things squared up. Went through all 16 rockers in about 20 minutes carefully checking each locking nut. Pretty happy with this set up.

 

[brian6pac]

I made a adapter for my lathe that cuts them perfectly flat.

 

[pishta]

brilliant! Chuck a lifter in a 1" drill and reface it on a concave wet wheel. I saw a Sioux or Black & Decker valve grinder that had a lifter facer attachment on it. So cool.....

 

[RustyRatRod]

Nice job!

 

[j par]

I remember when triple-R told me I had to get a flat surface on mine and I just put mine in a vise and used a file and gently made them nice and flat by hand. But this looks a lot more precise.

 

[rustycowll69]

brilliant! Chuck a lifter in a 1" drill and reface it on a concave wet wheel. I saw a Sioux or Black & Decker valve grinder that had a lifter facer attachment on it. So cool.....

yeah, I got one of those attachment jigs on my Sioux valve refacer. It does a great job.

I made an arbor for my lathe to face the top of the rocker arm threaded end. I sort of cut threads on to the end of like a 5/8" drill rod, and I chuck the other end of the rod up into a 3 or 4 jaw, then I just thread the rocker onto the threads, rocker top facing lathe tailstock, until it bottoms out, then face the rocker off until it cleans up. Super easy, super quick, and the facing is exactly 90 degrees to the thread centerline.

 

[daves66valiant]

Lathe would be nice to have. I’m running out of space already in my garage. Wifey has to have room for her car. Otherwise, I’d have more tools ))

I’m happy with how everything squared up. Simple jig for anyone who has a disc sander of any size. Mine happens to be a 12”. I’m sure it would work on a smaller disc sander as well

 

[nm9stheham]

A great example of how a lot of good things can be done with simple tools. Thanks for the pix!

 

['63GT]

A great example of how a lot of good things can be done with simple tools. Thanks for the pix!

You're exactly right.. Too much emphasis is focused upon the 'tool', instead of the 'know how'.

 

[Wyrmrider]

Reminds me of "adjusting" the lifter buttons on an E Jag on the grinder
Great Idea and a must do
the old rockers had interference jam adjusters which took a special tap PITA

 

[crackedback]

Nice piece of "Hillbilly Engineering"! Good job.

 

[daves66valiant]

Nice piece of "Hillbilly Engineering"! Good job.

Okie style lol

 

[gzig5]

If you don't have a disk or belt grinder, turn the fixture on its side and mount a grinding disk in the drill press. Will go a little slower due to less disk surface speed, but it will make it happen. Of course if you are a caveman, a file will be sufficient.

 

[Jadaharabi]

Nice piece of "Hillbilly Engineering"! Good job.

.
Just out of curiosity anybody have a way to resurface your hydraulic lifter faces?

 

[Mopar Sam]

yeah, I got one of those attachment jigs on my Sioux valve refacer. It does a great job.

Rustycowl, can you post a picture of this?

 

[rustycowll69]

Rustycowl, can you post a picture of this?

I don't know how to post a picture on here.

 

[Mopar Sam]

I don't know how to post a picture on here.

OK,I don't either.

 

[DesertRat]

I am going to use this method to prep mine for the new Smith Brothers adjusters I have on the way.

 

[pishta]

.
Just out of curiosity anybody have a way to resurface your hydraulic lifter faces?

see post #3

 

[toolmanmike]

I don't know how to post a picture on here.

OK,I don't either.

Click on "Upload photos" next to "post reply" . There should be a option to your photo file. Find your photo and click on it. It should load on your screen. Then click "post reply".

 

[toolmanmike]

see post #3

Sometimes I wish I had an old valve/seat grinder.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Video of resurfacing and pictures of adding the lock nut the correct way. You hold the rocker by the threaded hole which gives the lock nut the correct surface so the nut seats level with the adjuster. Only when grinding the stem surface it gets held by the shaft bore to get the correct arc.

You all can due it how ever you want. But when doing them for customers we have to make sure they are finished so the lock nut seats perfect when threaded tight.




About your loose interference fit rocker. Usually you can tighten that up by pressing the base of the threaded hole on the side to oval the hole. Find someone with a good press. It does not take much. We find the same issue on slant sixes. Not every one can afford to have all the lock nuts installed.

Usually they loosen the interference fit running them to loose from the hammering effect on the adjuster for 50 years.

 

[NC Engine Builder]

Resurrection of a 7 year old post to chest thump. Unreal

 

[crackedback]

Resurrection of a 7 year old post to chest thump. Unreal

Guy gets the job done using what he has at his disposal and gets "dogged". Lucky for him it's just his stuff he has to work on.

I bet he'd have done it a bunch different if he had a fancy mill/lathe in his pocket.

Dave hasn't been around in years and is a great guy. Typical garbage spewed.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Guy gets the job done using what he has at his disposal and gets "dogged". Lucky for him it's just his stuff he has to work on.

I bet he'd have done it a bunch different if he had a fancy mill/lathe in his pocket.

Dave hasn't been around in years and is a great guy. Typical garbage spewed.

I kinda like his method.