Adjusting Rocker Arms

86GT · 09-09-2001, 09:34 PM

I have Crane 3/8" stud mount roller rockers for my edelbrocks. Lately they've a couple on the passenger side starting making more noise than normal, so all my friends said I should tighten them up.

Yesterday I took off the valve covers and tightened them up, using the method they all told me about. Making sure the lifter is on the heel of the cam, rotate the pushrod with your fingers and tighten til you can't rotate the pushrod anymore. Then screw the lock nut in, and viola.

Well today, I'm still having problems with the car running rough and feeling like its missing. ( I've only drove it around the block, just to see, that way I won't mess things up too much I hope). Anyways, between downpours of rain, I mangaged to check the passenger side, and get those fairly well, now it runs a bit smoother, but not the same.

I need some advice here... Should I just start fresh and do them all again? Or just check the driver's side first and see? I just hate doing that side cause I have to remove the upper intake (Edelbrock Performer w/ 3/8" spacer) and then get to the vavle cover. Any thoughts? I will also check my plugs out as well, just in case... Sorry for the length.

crewzin · 09-09-2001, 09:56 PM

I like to adjust mine with it running. This requires a extra valve cover that you cut in half and then adjust while running. It works great. Alot of times people who dont have a lot of experience setting the valves get it off a little, its easy to do. If the lifter leaks down while tightening.

jimmyjamed · 07-17-2004, 06:05 PM

You need to add an extra half turn after you can't spin the pushrods with your fingers. The Rockers not being adjusted right will cause the problems your seeing. Your basically not getting full lift from your cam and have excessive play causing loss of power and noise.
Go ahead and readjust all of them , giving them half a turn after you can't rotate the pushrods with your fingers.

420nitro · 07-17-2004, 07:40 PM

Wow ...I never had mine that tight.

The way I do them is as soon as the push-rod is hard to turn.... I lock the poly lock.

The time you adjust them is also very critical too!

I use the following method.....
As soon as the intake reaches full lift...I set the exhaust.
As soon as the exhaust starts to open I do the intake.

That's the way I do it and yet to have any problems or issues. I also check to make sure the lifters are in good shape as well as the proper valve train geometry.

86gt have you checked to make sure you have the proper push-rod length?

86GT · 07-18-2004, 01:25 PM

Wow, this is an old thread....

I've figured out how to do a short while after posting this, so that's almost 3 years ago now. Time flies. Nice having a carb'd setup to adjust everything while running.

Anyway, thanks for the help I guess..

09-09-2001, 09:34 PM	#1
86GT Sniffed too much n20 Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 1,018	Adjusting Rocker Arms I have Crane 3/8" stud mount roller rockers for my edelbrocks. Lately they've a couple on the passenger side starting making more noise than normal, so all my friends said I should tighten them up. Yesterday I took off the valve covers and tightened them up, using the method they all told me about. Making sure the lifter is on the heel of the cam, rotate the pushrod with your fingers and tighten til you can't rotate the pushrod anymore. Then screw the lock nut in, and viola. Well today, I'm still having problems with the car running rough and feeling like its missing. ( I've only drove it around the block, just to see, that way I won't mess things up too much I hope). Anyways, between downpours of rain, I mangaged to check the passenger side, and get those fairly well, now it runs a bit smoother, but not the same. I need some advice here... Should I just start fresh and do them all again? Or just check the driver's side first and see? I just hate doing that side cause I have to remove the upper intake (Edelbrock Performer w/ 3/8" spacer) and then get to the vavle cover. Any thoughts? I will also check my plugs out as well, just in case... Sorry for the length.

07-17-2004, 06:05 PM	#3
jimmyjamed Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 47	You need to add an extra half turn after you can't spin the pushrods with your fingers. The Rockers not being adjusted right will cause the problems your seeing. Your basically not getting full lift from your cam and have excessive play causing loss of power and noise. Go ahead and readjust all of them , giving them half a turn after you can't rotate the pushrods with your fingers. __________________ '65 Mustang vert, 289 4V, 4 speed '93 LX Ported E7's, Ported Cobra intake, 73mm MAF, 65mm Throttle Body, 1 5/8" shorty's, Underdrive Pullies, 3.55's, 5 speed snatched by a PRO 5.0 shifter, 155,000 and still screamin'!

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09-09-2001, 09:56 PM	#2
crewzin Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Sour Lake, TX Posts: 211	I like to adjust mine with it running. This requires a extra valve cover that you cut in half and then adjust while running. It works great. Alot of times people who dont have a lot of experience setting the valves get it off a little, its easy to do. If the lifter leaks down while tightening.

07-17-2004, 07:40 PM	#4
420nitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rockford Posts: 596	Wow ...I never had mine that tight. The way I do them is as soon as the push-rod is hard to turn.... I lock the poly lock. The time you adjust them is also very critical too! I use the following method..... As soon as the intake reaches full lift...I set the exhaust. As soon as the exhaust starts to open I do the intake. That's the way I do it and yet to have any problems or issues. I also check to make sure the lifters are in good shape as well as the proper valve train geometry. 86gt have you checked to make sure you have the proper push-rod length?

07-18-2004, 01:25 PM	#5
86GT Sniffed too much n20 Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 1,018	Wow, this is an old thread.... I've figured out how to do a short while after posting this, so that's almost 3 years ago now. Time flies. Nice having a carb'd setup to adjust everything while running. Anyway, thanks for the help I guess..