valve adjusting screw options??

[jaybird840]

Heilige Scheize!!!!! Several of my valve adjusting screws apparently were "stretched" by the zealous P.O. of my 2.7. I'm in the middle of a rebuild, and it looks like I'm going to need to do something with about 8-10 of my screws. Can I chase them with a tap and reuse them with any degree of success?? At $20 each, thats $250 more on the rebuild. Any thoughts on how to salvage them? If you have to screw them out the back of the rocker (pushing the elephant foot off), can you reuse them, or do you have to have new ones? Thanks!

[burgermeister]

Hmmm ... not sure what you mean by stretched. You mean the threads are buggered up on the screws?? Or they just don't turn smoothly?

Not to hijack (or yes to hijack really), but a related question is, just what is the torque spec for those adjuster nuts anyway?

[Rev-it 84]

Buy new for the exhaust side, and use the best old ones for the intake. Best would be to replace all of the stretched ones, its a PITA to replace after the fact.

[KTL]

YOu need twelve new ones? Just replace the ones that are stubborn. I wouldn't risk muscling up on the threads. The rocker arms are cast so you will likely booger the threads. Then you've somewhat ruined a rocker (or more). Don't risk it.

Just back out the ones that are problematic and replace them. You'll pop off the swivel foot and then you can replace the screw without damage to the threads. Some say you can use rocker adj. screws that have had the feet popped off. I tend to believe this because how do you think the feet were installed- likely pressed on. When the foot is not in contact with the valve tip, the amount of play is quite small so they wont fall off and damage the valvetrain. Problem is, is valve clearance tougher to measure accurately with "popped" feet? I would think so if popping them off permanently deforms the captive end of the foot.