302 rocker adjustment/help

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Just learning my way around a 302 (in an old Bronco).
What would cause this (see pic) - rocker slid off to the side to the top of the valve wasn't on the roller on the end of the rocker?
I tapped it gently and it popped back into place.

I'm assuming this means needing a valve adjustment and making sure the nuts are tight?

Fun part... I know know nothing about whats in this motor, except that the idle is pretty "lopey", and the heads are Eddlebrocks so I really doubt it is a stock cam.
Its never run well since I've had it so I have no experience to work on.
 

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Looks like you're missing the pushrod guide plates that bolt down under the rocker studs. That's why it walked to the side.
 
Also you'll need to determine if its a hydraulic or solid lifter can because that will determine how you adjust them after you install guide plates.

Summit racing has edelbrock guide plates for their heads part number 9665. Verify they match your heads but at least it'll be an example of what you're looking for.
 
Possibly a bent pushrod. I'd definitely check.
 
Putting a guide plate on will space those rocker studs up so the stud will actually come up through the lock nut. After looking at the picture again I'm betting its got hydraulic lifters since it has lock nuts on the rockers and not a nut with a jam bolt.
 
Croatan_Kid said:
Possibly a bent pushrod. I'd definitely check.
Click to expand...

How would I know? After I popped it back in place, it has stayed there and now looks just like all the others.

Unfortunately I have no clue what kind of cam is in it. What other hints might tell me?
I'll look into those guides. Shouldn't the nut tension keep it from wandering too much?

It's definitely very challenging to fit a socket on that nut. Pretty much the only way I can fit one on is when the spring is compressed.
... oh and just learned that the far left one (#4) was only finger tight (b/c it was compressed and I could try it). Yeesh.
 
To check for a bent pushrod remove it and roll it on a flat surface. If it wobbles like a banana its bent.

I'm pretty sure its a hydraulic cam. To test see if the pushrod side of the rocker can be compressed. You'll have to use a prybar but if it goes down then feels like it has spring tension pushing it up its hydraulic. If it doesn't compress it'd be solid. I'm almost positive its a hydraulic can though.

The reason the adjustment is backing off and possibly the reason it doesn't run right is because the lock nuts can't lock without the stud coming up through it to the deformed thread portion.

With out the guide plates or some other method of locating the rocker arm it can swivel. If the manufacturing tolerance is off so the pushrod isn't exactly vertical it will try to push the rocker sideways every time it rocks. Ford factory heads were mostly non adjustable rockers. The rocker stand was keyed to the head so it couldn't move kind of like solid high steer arms. The rocker pedestal was square and the rocker had a rectangular opening. That prevented it from turning. Other manufacturers used locating tabs on the head gaskets or tighter tolerance holes in the head for the pushrod to prevent the movement.

Get the guideplates, check that pushrod, and properly adjust the valves and you should be good to go.
 
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