Rocker install (need some help)

[jthm]

I have a 95 corsica v6. I am replacing the lower intake manifold gasket due to a leak from the coolant. I have never worked on a domestic vehicle before so forgive my ignorance. The problem I am having is with reinstalling the rockers. The service manual states to torque them down to 89ft +30 degrees. What does +30 degrees mean? Is there any adjusting to the valve lash that needs to be done? 95 was the switch over year, so how can I tell which type of rocker I have? Thanks for any help!!

[Carlspike]

That torque spec doesn't sound right. Are you sure it isn't 89 inch pounds plus 30 degrees? Is the car multi port or sequential fuel injection? It will say MPFI or SFI on the intake plenum. I have a 96 SFI and the rocker, ball, and bolt are all 1 piece. If that is how yours are then there is no lash adjustment, my books says to torque them down to 14-20 foot pounds. If the rocker, ball, and nut are not one piece then you'll need to adjust valve lash. I've never done that on the 3.1 so I'll leave that question to somebody more experienced. Also, make sure you have all the pushrods in the original positions.

[bszopi]

Its a 3100SFI (since its a 95). It doesn't matter which type you have, there is no lash adjustment required. Just torque to the spec and you are done.

As far as the spec goes, it is most likely 89in-lbs. Once you hit the 89in-lbs, turn the wrench an additional 30 degrees and you are done.

[tractorman]

I'm pretty sure I torqued my '94 corsica's rocker bolts to 18 ft-lbs. 89 in-lbs plus 30 degrees would probably be close to that- either spec would probably work.

Don't try torquing it to 89 ft-lbs, though. You'll strip the threads long before that happens.

Do some searches around on this board and you'll find lots of helpful advice on the LIM job. If you get nothing else from my post- remember this:

KEEP THEM PUSHRODS IN ORDER!!

The exhaust pushrods are longer the the intake ones (or is it the other way around?). Regardless... if you get a pushrod out of place, you can bend a valve and tear up that engine real quick. Do not under any circumstances try to start that engine until you're absolutely sure that all pushrods are in their proper positions. Turn it over carefully by hand with a ratchet at least two turns beforehand and make sure nothing binds up- if a pushrod is out of place, it'll clunk to a stop.

Good luck and godspeed.

[tractorman]

About the switch-over with the rocker arms. GM switched from ball n' socket rockers to roller rockers in '95. If you have roller rockers, the needle bearings are easy to see.

If you use the plastic gaskets, then the gaskets are different depeding on whether or not you have roller rockers. If you use the metal fel-pro gaskets (and you should in my opinion), then MS98004T should work whether you have roller rockers or not.

[jthm]

Thanks for the replies. I have kept everything in order so I wont make the mistake of switching the push rods. I accidently bought the manual for a 96 instead of a 95 which is why I am confused with this install. Anyway, here is a picture of the rockers. Are these the ones which require a lash adjustment?

[bszopi]

As I already stated, no 3x00 stock rocker requires a lash adjustment. Just torque to spec and you are done.

[jthm]

Lots of help, thank you!

[tractorman]

That there's a roller rocker FYI.

[jthm]

Another question, do I need to rotate the crank to the proper position for each rocker? My manual does not mention this.

[bszopi]

Nope...