Loose rocker arms
New User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio USA
Loose rocker arms
All I did was take the rocker arms off to go have the heads milled since they were a bit uneven. Now that I got the heads back on, I put the orcker arms on according to specs, and they come loose. It's a 78 F-150. It'll idle fine. As soon as I start to drive it, it runs rough and ends up cutting out. I pop the valve covers off and I find loose rocker arms. First it was only 3 of them. So I swapped ont hat was snug with a loose one. Both of them stayed sung. But now I have 9 rocker arms that come loose while driving. Any ideas?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Chimacum/Jefferson County
Loose rocker arms
What engine do you have?
77 F250 Highboy 4X4
"The Money Pit"
"If it wasn't for Chevy's my tools would rust"
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=10344&.jpg
77 F250 Highboy 4X4
"The Money Pit"
"If it wasn't for Chevy's my tools would rust"
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=10344&.jpg
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Loose rocker arms
Did you keep labelled & put them back on in the exact order you took them off without mixing them up?
They MUST go back on the SAME as they were before you removed them <> No mixing them up.
Dennis
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They MUST go back on the SAME as they were before you removed them <> No mixing them up.
Dennis
[i]F.T.E. Assistant Administrator
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New User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio USA
Loose rocker arms
It's the 351W motor. I didn't keep them labelled because I thought it was just personal preference if they went back on the same order, or if it was okay to mix them up. I did notice that in the cup part of the rocker arm, it's stamped with a 1,2,3,or a 4. But there seem to be more 2's than any other. Not sure if that makes a difference. But I assume I'm being told I have 256 ways of trying to get my rocker arms snug? That sucks. Might as well get a new long block! lol. Hell, I want to restore the beast myself, so I guess I'll have to try and try until I get a snug fit on all the arms.
