Hi, my problem is that I have a 350 TPI w/ a non roller cam but I do have roller rocker arms. I know that one of the rocker arms are loose b/c of the sound it is making. My question is how do I adjust the rocker arms properly. The man who built my engine said to set the rocker arms at Zero Back Lash. If anyone can explain how to do this it would be great. Thanks for the help.

 

loosen the rocker nut untill you hear the rocker ticking and then tighten it untill it stops then go another 1/2 to 3/4 turn.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

 

Pop the valve cover; with the engine running, back off each rocker one at a time until it ticks, then tighten it back until it just stops ticking. This is what is known as "zero lash".

You can't really leave a motor like that, because any wear or changes due to temperature or whatever will change the lash. With hydraulic lifters there's a little valve in the lifter that allows the pushrod to be pushed down into it somewhat when at rest, then when the cam pushes it up, the valve shuts and seals the oil in, and the pushrod doesn't get pushed in any more. So you add "preload" to the lifter to get it to stay adjusted but yet not hang th evalve open. For a performance build, about ¼ turn of preload is a good amount.

So after you "zero lash" all 16 rockers, turn the emgine off, and go around it and tighten each one of them ¼ turn. They should shut up and stay quiet for a long time.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

If your rocker started to make noise all by its self, then you probably have a bad lifter,or the rocker stud is pulling out.

You can try to adjust it.
If its the exhaust valve,your must rotate the engine untill the INTAKE valve on the SAME cylinder moves All the way down, then right BEFORE it is all the way UP,you can adjust the EXHAST valve by turning the adjustment nut untill the push rod stops turning easy, then turn the nut HALF turn more and your DONE.

BUT if its the INTAKE valve, then watch the EXHAUST valve to JUST to start to go down then you can adjust the INTAKE valve, the same way as the exhaust valve

Good Luck

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'91 Camaro 3.1 t-tops 44k original.
'98 GMC Sonoma excab 4.3 auto 35k.

 

P.S My way is with the engine off! Less measy!!!

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'91 Camaro 3.1 t-tops 44k original.
'98 GMC Sonoma excab 4.3 auto 35k.