Hey guys,

Over the weekend, I did something stupid. I have a 1992 K2500 with a 350. I recently had the heads worked on with a little bit of porting. I also installed a VooDoo cam and lifters (I don't remember the lift specs but I did not need to change springs or rocker arms.) I read the manual to torque the rocker arms and somehow I skipped a page. I read it a couple of times that the arms had to be torqued to 40 ft/lbs. It sounded strange to me but I went ahead and did it to that spec. The procedure kept bugging me so I went back to the book and found the actual page. I have not turned over the engine at all. I have loosened the arms to have some play in the pushrods.

My major question: torqueing the arms that much, would any of the components have been damaged? I don't have a vidscope handy but I would like to get an idea before I start the motor. Since my motor is still not complete, I can get the parts replaced, if needed.

Any reasonable suggestion will be appreciated. I am worried that I really F'd-up the lifters or valves. Hopefully not the pistons.

FYI: this is not the first engine I build up but my mind was not there at that moment.

Thank you in advance.

 

You shouldn't have hurt anything but you won't know for sure until you crank it. I'd pull the pushrods and roll them on the table to make sure they are straight.
Get #1 piston on top dead center of the compression stroke and tighten down the rockers while wiggling the pushrod up and down. Once all the play/lash is out of it tighten approx 3/4-1 full turn to pre-load the lifter.
Rotate cranshaft 90*(1/4 turn) and do the same step on #8,4,3,6,5,7&2. Rotating 1/4 turn and going in the firing order will ensure you have both vavles fully closed on each cyl while you adjust.

 

sure it wasnt 40 in/lbs?

 

you dont torque rockers for SBC. nothing like LSx motors. He needs to follow the procedure that turbogibbs give him!

 

Thanks, turbogibb, you gave me a little bit of peace. I know that I won't find out until the motor is fully running to find out of there was any damage.

00chevyscott, it was in ft/lbs not inches, unfortunately.

Thanks for you help, I will let you know what happens in the next couple of days. "To make noise or not to make noise." followed by "Kids....where's my shotgun?"

Thanks again.