Talyn
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Radford, Communistwealth of Virginia
Did you say the crooked rockers came back?
Fast and Easy Way to Check Hydraulic Lifter Preload when using Non-Adjustable Rocker Arms
With the cam, hydraulic lifters and pushrods in place, install your rocker arm assembly. Use the prescribed method in your repair manual and torque down all the valve train bolts in the proper sequence. Pick a cylinder that you are going to check. Hand rotate the engine in its normal direction of rotation until both valves are closed. You are on the compression cycle for that cylinder. (At this position the valve springs are at their least amount of tension making the job a little easier to do.)
Wait a few minutes, allowing the lifters to bleed down. Now, lay a rigid straightedge across the cylinder head, supporting it on the surface of the head where the valve cover gasket would go. Using a metal scribe and the straightedge, carefully scribe a line on both pushrods. Now carefully remove the torque from all valve train bolts, removing any pressure from the pushrods. Wait a few minutes for the pushrod seat in the hydraulic lifter to move back to the neutral position. Carefully scribe a new line on both pushrods.
Measure the distance between the two scribe marks, it represents the amount of lifter preload. If the lines are .020" to .060" apart you have proper lifter preload. If the lines are the same or less than .020" apart you have no, or insufficient, preload. If the lines are further apart than .060", you have excessive lifter preload.
You should buy Comp Cams' 7704-1 pushrod length checker and see what length pushrods you need. Variables that change with the stroker/engine work are shaved head, decked block, cams with larger/smaller base circles, and rockers. I would not run it from the way your pics look. 96 head/block stock deck height is 9.450-9.456" and pushrod lengths are 9.640-9.660". I ended up using 9.602" pushrods for my 4.6l.
I'm using 9.635" on mine, but also have HS rockers which like a longer rod.That is what I ended up using too on my Stroker (4.6)...
Where? I just paid $8.68/qt for it.But I pay $7 a quart