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I need to replace my head gaskets on a 350 rocket but before i pull the heads off i want to make sure i have the right way to retorque them and the rocker arms. If anyone can help thank you
Yep if stock you just sorta tighten 'em down. no adjusting like a SBC. But if you have aftermarket rockers, etc it varies.. make sure you keep them in order and reinstall on the same place.
Replied in your PM, we are all here to help, well most of us. I usually hand tighten them torque in pairs to 25 ft/lbs, rotate the motor by hand and retorque. Check for any excessive play. Sometimes a push rod and bridge doesn't sit right, just loosen off the pair and use a ratchet equally tighten the bolts a bit at a time with a ratchet and torque and check. I always have extra bridges and rockers around. Also check the pivot points on the rockers for excessive wear, they do wear out. Goid luck.
Don'f forget the heads and intake torque sequence. Also, not that it should be much of an issue, if there's any shim washers under your pedestals when you take them apart (unlikely), make sure to note exactly where they go if using the same rockers/pedestals/pushrods/lifters/cam going back together.
Torque specs can be found in the applicable chassis service manual (CSM) for your year. I've seen some places show 80 for the head (I would do about half that on 1st pass, then full on 2nd pass), some 85 depending on the year, and 35-40 on intake manifold bolts. The exhaust bolts are 25 lbs/ft.
One more consideration - match the head gasket compressed thickness as closely as possible. If you’re using stock rockers and at the wrong end of tolerance you could end up needing different length pushrods if there are thin OE gaskets (.017”?) being removed and you jump to the popular FelPro blue gaskets @ .040” compressed thickness.
If you plan to pull the heads or do similar work, spend the money and buy an original paper Chassis Service Manual. Relying on the interwebs for technical info is a big mistake.
December 12th, 2021, 08:36 PM
