I Shine

I'm replacing my valve cover gasket and while cleaning the surface I noticed something weird. Some of my rocker arms are VERY loose ??? The engine hasn't been ran in a little over a month because I have been taken care of a bunch of small things. Replacing the radiator, opti-spark, spark plugs, spark plug wires, and water pump drive seals. It has been very cold here so some of the cylinders where left with no spark plugs for a few days. If these rocker arms have always been this loose I'm sure I would had noticed the loud ticking sound before. Could the rocker arms loosen up because it has been sitting for a while ??? Could they tighten up once the engine starts and the lifters pressurize ???

96lt1m6

iTrader: (31)

Willing to bet the lifters bled down and have little to no oil in them. When you fire it up, they will most likely pump up. In short dont tighten them at this point cause you may bend a pushrod or break through a rocker with the pushrod when you attempt to fire it up..

I Shine

Thanks, this is also what I was thinking. It nice too have a little reassurance. Once I start it and warms up I'll listen for the dreaded sound of tapping rocker arms.

Badazz 97 TA

iTrader: (18)

They will always have a little play if they dont have any spring pressure on them(lifter on base of cam.)

big hammer

it's normal for them to be loose when the lifters bleed down. as long as they're quiet while running--- no problem.