Rocker Arms

[Col Klinx]

One of the rocker arms on my truck loosened up and fell off while driving it. I think i can get away with reinstalling it because the pushrod is still straight but i need to know if the rockers need specific tightening or if you just tighten them and how much. the engine is a 78 351 M (stock).

 

[BlackFord77]

If the rocker arm fell off- did you recover the nut and half moon washer that holds it on? (Don't want those bouncing around in the block) To help I need to know if it has positive stop rockers- or adjustable ones. Positive stop means they all get torqued down tight to specs. and no adjustment (even if you need it due to wear) is possible, unless you contact Shawn at: [email protected]. If you have adjustable rockers- the locknut is probably shot. May be good to replace them (the nuts) all at once then, and re-adjust your valves. Adjust valves first while the motor's off, and then re-adjust while running (warmed up 1st and don't forget your rocker clips to deflect the oil holes and turn the idle down some). Good lord- I wonder how it got that loose? The nut coulda' fractured in pieces and fell in the pan if you couldn't find it. I hope it wasn't an exhaust valve-you could have pissed up your rings on that piston, or worse blew a hole in the piston. Either way a compression test on that cylinder will help determine any problems once the valve is repaired. Don't worry though. Even damage to one piston isn't that costly to have repaired unless a broken part cracks the block.