Well, not really a shaving, but a broken piece in the pan.
I broke another rocker arm last night.
This time, half of one leg broke off, and the broken part continued to open the valve…so no loss in performance. It started ticking though…almost like a loud ass lifter tick. I checked the oil, and added just a little, but no dice.
This morning I pulled the valve cover, and sure enough, another broken rocker arm.
I found the broken leg in the pan, along with the valve shim.
But I also found an aluminum bit…which I need help identifying.
This rocker was #1 exhaust (closest to the front), so I assume that it broke and both pieces fell down through the timing chain spacing.
Somewhere between the head and the pan, it broke this wedge shaped piece of aluminum…and I need to find out where.
It broke on the thick end of the wedge.
Here’s a pic of what I’m dealing with.
Obviously the large part of the rocker was placed in the pan by me.
Can anyone think of what the aluminum bit is?
Thanks.
Edit:
There’s also that small sharp brown/black tinted bit that you can see in the pan!
The first one that broke when I got the car was, from what I gather, an original rocker with ~220K on it.
Yes these were all new when I bought them…OEM Nissan rockers from FRSport.com
It seems that these rockers just can’t handle any abuse I guess.
I need to order a set of valve shims and re-shim, as they must not have been done correctly in the first place. I know that hydraulic lifters are self adjusting, but I’m sure the retainer and shim should be level.
WOW. Those are tiny. And with stock rev Limiter? Now I’m scared.
Those cams are basically meant for stock hardware if I remember correctly.
Are you constantly at high revs?
I think Gord Bush built your bottom end.
The head was built at… HeadWorX in New Jersey?? Maybe give them a call and see if they have encountered this before?
Double check the clearences. I would also double check mechanical timing just to be sure.
Those are stock yeah. Besides daily, I do race almost every weekend, which is high rev…but I’m rarely on the limiter if at all.
Even if I were, a brand new OEM rocker should last more than a couple K regardless…lol
Both times that I’ve broken a rocker, the car is warm, and I pull say 1st & 2nd…and they just pop. Last night I think it happened when I broke traction dropping into 2nd.
Rockers are supposedly the weak link in the SR motors, but they shouldn’t be that bad. I’m going to have the find the time to properly re-assemble everything sometime soon.
Oh, I didn’t mention that the car is running again now. I spent the afternoon replacing the rocker and assembling/waiting for the RTV to dry.
It seems to be running good now again…although it’s down pouring here now, and my corded front tires at -3.9 deg were a little sketchy during the shakedown run in the rain.
At least I have the ign advance (cam angle sensor) close now. No idea what it’s set at, but I just twisted it until it idled/revved smoothly and cranked it down.
I’m hoping to re-install my repaired Full Race manifold tomorrow and hit up the street car shootout on Sunday. I’ve been at the drag strip once ever, but they have this event once per year.
Two classes this Sunday, 13.0 sec + , and 12.999 sec - .
If I get the car running properly, I’ll probably try to tune for a 13.0 sec pass and see if I can get some prizes $$.
I don’t know what that peice is…but I had a few in my pan a few months ago and now that motor has been lost. Related? not sure…but it certainly ain’t good.
