Polishing of rocker arms

afterburn 549 · 05-11-2005, 11:20 AM

This is what i think I know..about 10000 miles ago I rebuilt this 2.7 (and of course on a budget)...I did everthing I could and farmed out only what I could not do. Now with new cams in hand the question to polish rocker arms faces or not.
Well I did what seems to have worked to this pt.- I got out my dremel and several kinds of jewlers polishing coumpouds and several hours later they all gleamed like mirrors.
I have done 2 valve adj.and now for fun instaling RSR "o" rings on the rocker shafts to try to settle a score with some seeping.
So far no one has been on the loose side and all looks well on them and the cam........so for those on a budget with more time then $$ this might be a option.........................

911pcars · 05-11-2005, 11:33 AM

Lightening and polishing rocker arms is on my to-do list as well. You actually refinished the rubbing face of the rocker arm w/a Dremel? Got any pics?

Sherwood

afterburn 549 · 05-11-2005, 11:47 AM

Dremel and flex cable (to make it ez) yes the drem did a good job using some buffing and polishing things sold in most stores (ACE Hardware) I do not know what the big guys use or if its any better....mabe I will get flamed for it,,but it worked for me.Just takes time....but I did my own boat tailing and cyl eye browing too....I am for doing all I can do as the mistakes i make are my, own I hate paying someone else to learn on my stuff............................................

911pcars · 05-11-2005, 11:57 AM

Not sure how much material you removed from the rocker arm face, but this area has a convex shape that must be mantained so it rubs against the cam lobe with the correct arc. The arm should also rub evenly across the cam lobe surface as well. This operation usually requires a jig to make sure things are aligned.

Sherwood

afterburn 549 · 05-11-2005, 12:16 PM

I doubt I took even 1/2 a thou of them...started with rubbing coumpund and worked thrue to the polish stuff.....probbly 3/10 of a thou if i were to guess

afterburn 549 · 05-11-2005, 02:26 PM

This is Real scary...the whole reason I am doing this is I thought I had a loose valve back there some where...here I am looking at #5 intake tring to figure out what is wrong with this picture...the rocker arm shaft is hanging 1/2 out of its home!!! Yikes....even double yikes!!!!

afterburn 549 · 05-13-2005, 04:39 PM

Ok got the whole job done....about 10 hours (eng in car) removed exhaust and all to make it a little more ez....still pretty hard....nothing showed ware from my backyard polishing job and after break in went to cam oil restricters too.....quite awhile ago now

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

I recall reading somewhere that both the cam lobes and rocker faces should be finished to the same "spec". That is to say, both the cam and faces are usually finished slightly rough and then wear at each-other to create matching surfaces during the run-in period.

350HP930 · 05-14-2005, 04:54 AM

I would worry about the above handy work creating high spots on the contact pad that will create abnormal wear.

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

Perhaps you should use some prussian blue/bearing blue to ensure an even mating face?

fastfredracing · 05-14-2005, 07:07 PM

I like to use 2000 grit wet sand paper placed over a piece of glass, I lightly sand/polish the face of the rocker, using wd 40 etc.... I try to maintain the arc of the rocker face, and only polish until the shine is gone. I am agreeance with fishcop, I believe the two finishes are to be slightly rough, and bed into each other during break in.

afterburn 549 · 05-14-2005, 07:20 PM

Dono all the ans. just what has worked so far for me..I polished everything till it glowed in the dark, tops of pistons, cam lobes, heads and exhaust ports to mention a few.....I think the real big deal is get to high idle on break in in a hury!