The V8 Owners Forum -

Hello all, does anyone have a new aluminum rocker and a micrometer to hand? I need the internal measurement please.. I ask because I trying to solve the top end over oiling problem i have on my 3.5 V8. When running the oil is pouring out between the rockers & the shafts, flooding the head & being sucked down the guides.. I'm sure this isn't normal & I suspect the rockers (cast iron ones) are of poor quality.. (both shafts & rockers were renewed recently when I rebuilt the motor) I have removed one set to inspect & there does seem to be a far bit of play between rocker & shaft but can't find a reference anywhere to correct size or wear limit etc..
Many thanks
Jon

Jon,

The rockers are either alloy as standard or steel, which could be Federal Mogul ones which I believe are good quality but I thingk need a mod to block off one of the oiling holes, the standard alloy rockers only have a oiling passage to the push rod end.

There are also some I think far eastern manufactured steel rockers that are or were on the market and there has been comment about their poor quality.

If the rocker shafts are not worn and the rockers to the correct spec you should not get excessive oiling except possibly at very high 6500 RPM + and mods are usually done to restrict the oil passages in the heads to cure this.

Kevin.

Jon!
Where did you buy your steel rockers and shafts from??

Oil flooding form this area means the gap between the shaft and rockers is way too big.

Did you assemble the rockers and shafts yourself??

When you fit the rockers to the shafts they should bind a little so you no you have a good fit. I got some brand new steel rockers a while back off ebay and they were looser than the 140,000 mile ones I took of.

If you get the right combo of rockers and shafts all will be fine.

I have done the mod of fitting grub screws (with 1mm holes drilled through them) into the oil holes in the heads for a couple of mates who didnt want to do it right, and it works most of the time. I prefer to do it right first time. I've had rockers and shafts from Real Steel for years with no issues.

I've even heard of folk using emery paper to open up the holes in the rockers so they slip onto the shafts easily???

You can buy brand new rockers and shafts from various suppliers and they will all have different tolerances when fitting.

You can either fix the problem by fitting the right stuff. Or you can choke the 5mm holes in the heads down to 1mm to reduce the problem. But you will still have badly worn rocker gear, even if it is new??

Hi Guys & thanks for the replies, Unfortunately my rocker arms aren't Federal Mogul.. Cheep Chinese i'm guessing.. Bought from Paddocks so beware.. I did assemble myself, but checked & checked again & all seems correct.. to get a definitive answer i've just fitted a very old/worn set of rocker shafts I have on a spare engine.. the difference is incredible.. barely any oil at all.. I'm assuming the 'new' shafts i have are ok as they are a tight fit on the pillars, it must be the arms.. So.. My problem is now where to buy some new rockers?

Jon,

If the push rod cups and the faces that run onto the valve stems are not excessively worn then you could stay with what you have.

If you want new one's then V8 Tuner or Real Steel will have them in stock.

http://v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=92

Kevin

CastleMGBV8 wrote:Jon,

If the push rod cups and the faces that ru nonto the balve stems are excessively worn then you could stay with what you have.

If you want new one's then V8 Tuner or Real Steel will have them in stock.

http://v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=92

Kevin

I tried buying some products from 'V8 tuner' but his phone went to answerphone and I got a message saying that they were not in business at the moment but would be back soon.

Are they up and running again?

Richard,

I haven't spoken to Paul recently so hope he's ok business wise, and not another victim of "Gormless Gordon"

Kevin

I think a full set of ally ones from Real Steel is about £75-80

When I fitted my steel rockers there was a hole in each one from the shaft bore through to the outside edge and I was advised to weld the hole up, perhaps yours are the same and just need a drop of weld? I'll try and take a picture over the next few days if I can.

Jon,

One other thing to check is that the oil holes in the rocker shafts are pointing down towards the centre of the engine.

It easy to get this wrong and will aggravate the problem you have had.

kevin.

Hi, & thanks for all the info guys.. Unfortunately the saga continues.. Tried to get a new set of rockers from Real steel but they're out of stock & told me that because of poor quality parts they now have them made especially for them, but aren't expecting any to be delivered anytime soon.. So.. Went to my local Land Rover dealer & bought a new set (packaged 'Allmakes') haven't fitted them yet but to be honest i don't see much point.. They are just the same dimensions/sloppy fit as the steel ones i already have!.. So..... Some more questions.. Am I barking up the wrong tree here? Should i (a) Try & find some rocker arms that are a tight fit (b) try & restrict the oil flow to the rocker gear, & can this be done without removing the heads? or (c) except the oil flow, remove the heads & get the guides machined to take the later type seals so that it doesn't get sucked down the guides.. don't wont to take the heads off if i can help it.. just thought of another option!.. (d) buy a Toyota.............

Jon,

RPI should have them in stock and to save problems I would buy shafts and rockers.

I did get a set for my new engine and the complete rockers, shafts, pillars and springs off RPI's e-bay site were approx £125 which was their start price asnobody else bid.

Kevin.