New Rocker Arms And Pushrods For Rebuilt Engine?

[comanche1989]

Hi all,

      I am in the process of rebuilding my 1992 4.0 engine that had around ~240,000 miles on it. So far I have gotten the cylinders bored .30 over, oversized main and rod bearings, a master rebuild kit, new cam bearings pressed in, and a new head job. Everything I'm putting on the engine is brand new quality parts. The only things that I possibly would reuse would be the push rods and the rocker arms. This is where the problem comes up... when I disassembled the engine, I carefully labeled the push rods and rocker arms. When I got them back from the shop, they were all in one big bag. I am very hesitant to use them now, since I know that the push rods are essentially mated to a certain rocker arm. I have spent a fair amount of money on this engine rebuild, and the last thing I want is valvetrain noise in an essentially new engine. I have shopped around, and if need be I am going to purchase OE Hesco push rods and rocker arms. Would there be any risk in using the old push rods and rocker arms, since they are all mismatched? Any help would be appreciated, since this is my first time rebuilding an engine.

 

Thanks again,  

                   Sam

[Alexia]

I used brand new push rods with old rockers. If the block or head has been shaved different length push rods may be required for the correct rocker arm preload.

[comanche1989]

Did you keep yours carefully labeled during the rebuild? Or when you reassembled did you just put them in random spots? I'm just very hesitant, since this is my first rebuild.

[Bornindesert]

I think it's a best practice to keep them together if you are pulling the head, or in your case doing a rebuild. In a non-racing or non hi-performance engine rebuild, personally I wouldn't worry about mixing and matching pushrods or rockers. Things I would not mix up are lifters on the same old Cam, so presuming you have a new Cam and new lifters.

 

Since both the rockers and pushrods have high miles, I would carfully inspect all bearing surfaces and ensure none of the pushrods are bent. If you see any scoring, pitting or strange wear grooves, toss that part and get a new one.

[Alexia]

Did you keep yours carefully labeled during the rebuild? Or when you reassembled did you just put them in random spots? I'm just very hesitant, since this is my first rebuild.

I had a remanufactured head sent to me so I simply transferred them one by one onto the new head. I only reused them because they had no abnormal wear and preloaded correctly. Since the push rods were new the order of the rockers did not matter.

[Stacks]

With the money you have put into the rebuild so far, machine work, new pistons, new oil pump, new camshaft and lifters etc., the cost of new push rods and rocker arms is minimal by comparison.  Unless you are racing, I personally see no reason to go with anything other than stock rocker arms and push rods.  If you go with say Crower, Crane, Hesco, Isky, CompCams push rods and/or rocker arms a fair chunk of the price is the name.  The stock ones lasted 240,000 miles.   Why take the chance??  Just my two cents worth.

 

FYI... Cost difference  Hesco-rocker arms and push rods    $196.51. Price for same from Rock Auto... $92.28

[Eagle]

Put cam assembly lube (essentially high moly-content grease) on the pushrods and the mating surfaces of the rockers and go ahead and use them. Also put assembly lube on the pivot balls for the rocker arms.

 

Why did you send the rockers and pushrods to the shop if they weren't going to assemble the engine? And what the heck kind of shop would take a set or carefully marked and sorted rockers and push rods and REMOVE THE MARKINGS and then toss everything in a bag?

[comanche1989]

Put cam assembly lube (essentially high moly-content grease) on the pushrods and the mating surfaces of the rockers and go ahead and use them. Also put assembly lube on the pivot balls for the rocker arms.

 

Why did you send the rockers and pushrods to the shop if they weren't going to assemble the engine? And what the heck kind of shop would take a set or carefully marked and sorted rockers and push rods and REMOVE THE MARKINGS and then toss everything in a bag?

I sent them to the machine shop so they would clean them up and check the push rods for any curvature.