So i bought a truck a year ago since the day i bought it has knockied. Well i finally decided to take the oil pan off and see if i had a rod knock. So far i don't see any rod bearings that are bad by trying to wiggling the rods up and down. so i figured it was a wrist pin since from the research ive done they tend to go bad. so i was starting to tear the motor down while still in the truck of course. well i took the rocker bolts out and noticed that none of them were tapered. Well i once did notice when i popped the valve covers that i couldn't really see oil coming out of the rocker shafts while the truck was running. And then when i bought the truck the kid told me the previous owner rebuilt the heads. So im thinking that they used regular bolts. i was wondering where i could get the correct bolts for the rocker arm shafts and the locations for them. So before i keep tearing the motor apart i can put the correct bolts in put the oil pan back on and see if that has been the problem all along.

 

You didn't say what type of engine, non of your signature trucks have an FE, but it sounds like that's what you're working on? While the shafts are off, you can slide the rockers sideways against the springs to see what shape the shafts are in, if it hasn't been getting oil, probably pretty bad. Pretty easy to pull a couple rockers off the shaft to see what they look like. If it ran for quite a while with no oil, might be dry with metal dust in there- guides wouldn't be getting oil, either- not good. If you get a good set of junkyard rockers for it, you can get the correct bolts 'n washers with them

 

oh yeah, sorry, i forgot to mention what motor it is. But yeah the motor is a 390. ill check the rocker shaft tomorrow.

 

With the assemblies off you will see the correct hole for the necked down bolt. IIRC tird from front on the pass side and second from front on driver side. But it's obvious once the assembly is off. The stand boss has a diagonal hole at the top for the necked bolt. Parts yard is likely the best source for a replacement. If the engine was rebuilt it's unlikely that they cleaned the rocker shafts out and replaced the end plugs. Preferably keeping the rods/rockers in exact locations. If they are in good shape take the time to do so. If they are scored up the rockers are likely toast due to clearance issues which will result in poor oil pressure.

 

I have many of the necked down bolts sitting in my shop. All I need is the required length (there are a couple) and a shipping adress and you can have 'em.