How to install rocker arms/pushrods

[bigneilsen]

ok here we go, this is my first time doing this mod and writing a how to. so all comments are weclome. sorry if the pics arnt that nice, had to use my phone and it was little dark.

also, any damage you do to your car and parts is not my fault. you know the deal.

car: vt v6 series 1

i bought a MACE 1.98:1 ultra high ratio set of rockers and pushrods, this is what i got:


so first you should see something like this:


first you will want to remove throttle body and vaccuum hose, you dont have to completely remove throttle body just unbolt and move to the side. i also disconnected the battery, dunno if this is nessacary but i did anyway. also people say to move dipstick and alternator brace, but i managed to get away with not moving theses things.


next undo the 5 bolts that hold down the rocker cover, make sure not to lose the rubber grommets, once this is done lift the rocker cover off and place to the side. i did the driver side first, but it doesnt matter(i thought this side was harder/less room so maybe best to get it out the way first) and you should see this:


once the cover is off, proceed to unbolt the rocker arms, mine took a little force to get going but once they get going its alrite. once all the bolts and arms are removed (one at a time) the retainer plate i think its called will come free, take this out as you have a new one. then simply pull out the push rods and you should see something like this(note my pushrods are still in there):




firstly i put the new pushrods in, easy enough just make sure there in properly, give it a little jiggle and youll know, then place the new retainer plate in roughly in place, then grab the first rocker arm, apply pre lube, dunno exactly how much to use but shown below is how much i used:


then grab a new rocker bolt and install through the rocker arm and retainer plate and into cylinder head, do up finger tight, or just enough so it sits in place making sure the pushrod is in its seat and the other end in center of the spring retainer(i think thats what its called) what i did was install a rocker arm at either end of the heads so the retainer plate stayed in place. as below:


repeat above untill all rocker arms are installed and bolts finger tight. then go through and tighten bolts properly. i think you are supposed to use a tourque wrench(11ft lb) but i just did them up pretty decent but not braining it tight. once all new arms and pushrods are in you should see this:


then refit rocker cover, you dont have to replace the gasket because they use reuseable gaskets, but if its busted then youll need to replace it. i was going to, but turns out holden are to stupid to give me the gaskets i asked for, so the old ones had to go back in. lucky they wernt busted.

then repeat for other side, passenger side i found easier because its alot more open. also after i had removed arms and retainer plate on passenger side i found some dirt built up on the rocker arm bolts studs, i just used a paper towel to clean this up.


once the other side is complete replace the throttle body and vaccuum hose and battery if you disconnected it. stand back admire your work and hope all went well, remove all tools from under bonnet, start engine. if all went well its time for a test drive.

like i said this was my first time doing this, if i missed anything please let me know, and for those wondering it was alot easier than i thought. although it took me around 3 hours, i wanted to take my time and do it properly. hope this helps. time for a beer

[timmysvs11]

nice how to bro, hey i'm thinking of doing this mod as well, just wondering what sort of difference the car felt like to drive, i'm on the goldie too so just wondering where i could pick some of these rockers up from, and also how much do they cost, have u dont any other mods? i have a vs v6 series 2

[acarmody]

My Gregory's says rocker arm retaining bolts is 11-19Nm then plus 90 degrees.

[bigneilsen]

thanks, the car is alot more responsive, especially 3000rpm onwards. i think i talked it up in my head that i was gonna get this bullshit amount of extra tourque. but in saying that you can really feel the difference and was well worth the money. check out MACE ENGINEERING GROUP - thats where i got them from. $650 for a brand new set(includes everything in the first pic)

yeah this was the last mod im planing on doing to the engine (beside the delcowizzd tune on its way). i also have full exhaust, OTRCAI, bored out throttle body, shift kit and corvette servo. because im only on my Ps theres really not much else i can do that i know of thats not forced induction or gonna cost heaps.

thanks acarmody.

[MACE]

Nicely written there bigneilson

Cheers
Steve

[v8superlegend]

hey mace, when you buy the kit does it come with instructions??

no modifications to the valves are needed for the higher ratio?

and what is the precise torque for the rockers?

[edals]

I will be getting this kit in the next month, Stupid question but do the rods go only in one way or it dont matter? just want to be sure for when i do this.

Thanks.

[acarmody]

Doesn't matter, they are completely symmetrical.

[Hot-Rod]

Word of warning to people with VX Series 1, 2, VY series 1, 2. You will probably have overcasting in the rocker bay area around the pushrod holes. This will prevent you from putting in the pushrods correctly as they will sit on a different angle from then new ratio rockers. You will have to chip away some of the overcasting which will be in the way (cast). You can use a small chisel and hammer to do this. Be very careful not to drop bits down the holes. I put tissues under were i chipped away the overcasting.

[acarmody]

Much safer to just get the thinner pushrods. You get ANY metal down their and you risk a LOT.And I believe it was the VYs that were the biggest culprit.

[Hot-Rod]

In my case i had the thinner push rods, crow cam rods. Didn't matter, still had to chip away the overcasting. I also had a old vacuum handy. I used this after chipping away to try and prevent any of it going down the hole. Also had a magnet which did the trick.

[xclr8r01]

need big time help , mate ripped out old rockers and rods and put them back in and then found out he put them in wrong order, they are now rubbing when engine started and making bad noise, asked around town and as always ( unless you pay them by the hour) they know nothing . the manual says keep them in the same order , but anyway . Did the new set say anything about a certain order or did you put them in random , have a vs series 2 3.8 eco , any help would be much appreciated

[mattchew13]

Thanks for this, the instillation put me off but picture guide ftw

[VS_Pete_1]

Good writeup mate.

[bigneilsen]

xcl - Nah mate i just put them in at random. i cant see how the order maters THAT much after all each rocker and push rod should be identical. sure he didnt **** up putting it back together? other than that i cant help ya mate, sorry (see below, when i refit rocker arms i didnt keep them in any order)

mathew - lol what put you off it? its actually one of the easiest mods ive done.

vs_pete - Thanks!

only 2wks after i snapped a valve spring, had to rip them all out, change all valve springs and re fit all rockers, now that is a SH!T of a job. valve spring compresser broke after 8 springs. the last 4 took just as long as the first 8 haha

[George7]

question

what is the worst that could go wrong if they were installed incorrectly? I read up about them and saw some shit about they need to have the correct positioning or something?

Do you just slip them in and they should fit fine without needing to measure up anything? thats got me worried.

[acarmody]

That absolute worst that could happen is that you tighten the rockers up WAY WAY to much and you put to much load on the rods and lifters, which causes the valves to go down too far and possibly hitting a piston and destroying the engine. But I'm not even sure this is possible since you would need to squash the rocker or the pedestal to do that.

But seriously they are very easy to install. The pedestal positions them properly, all you have to do is torque the bolts up properly. So make sure you have a torque wrench handy.

[Super_Low 91]

So there is no need to pressurize the cylinder or anything like that, sweet, a lot easier then i thought, in saying that tho im doing it to a vn so hopefully will be just as easy..

[acarmody]

You only need to pressurize the cylinder when you are changing the valve springs, collets, or retainers, this is because once you remove the collets there is nothing holding the valve up. But you don't have to touch any of that unless you have really worn out valve springs or are going a very high ratio, where it might be advised to run stiifer/newer valve springs.

[Super_Low 91]

ah ok, Thanks for clearing that up, hopefully my valve springs wont need changing. I got some Mace 1.9 high ratio rockers, when i checked em last before i put the motor in they looked like new so hopefully should be all good

[acarmody]

I put 1.97 FIT rockers in my Ecotec a few years ago and they ran fine with factory springs so you should be alright.

[Super_Low 91]

Sweet,, Thanks again

[acarmody]

No probs. If you want good insurance then its not expensive to change the springs, contact somewhere like Crow Cams for prices.

[fenda]

does any body know if you have to remove throttle body ect ta get in there?

[acarmody]

No you don't. Just take off the intake pipe, from the TB and the airbox, only held on by two hose clamps.