magnum rocker arms questions
Amateur
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
I realize this thread is beyond ancient, but I've been thinking similar thoughts after noticing the same with my 5.9 magnum rebuild.
The oiler passage V direction seems to be random, as it does not correlate with side of the engine or with intake/exhaust rockers. It seems like the most important thing is that the V in the pivot ball is going in the same direction as the V in the rocker arms so that the oil grooves are functional.
I mistakenly put one of mine 180 degrees off when I put it in and then I pulled it off and inspected it after a thousand miles or so of the engine running and there was some minor wear to the oil grooves. From what I can tell a good condition oiler groove should catch when you run your fingernail across it perpendicularly. Enough to where it stops your fingernail from continuing across it.
I purchased a beater motor for parts and educational purposes and I checked all of it's rocker arm oiler V grooves and they all were worn to ****, my fingernail barely could even detect some of them at all. I haven't heard of this before now, and only have seen it on this old thread. People should know that you shouldn't reuse your rocker arms on an engine rebuild if these oiler passages are worn down I'm sure it would cause issues long term with oil starvation on your valve train.
The pivot ball (part number 53008283) on my number 1 cylinder was worn down from me incorrectly installing it backwards. Not terribly worn like the beater engine's all were but enough that you could feel the difference between it's V shaped oiler grooves vs the next one. I'm still deciding if I should buy a new rocker arm and pivot ball for the number one cylinder or just the pivot ball (since the rocker arm seems fine). Or if I should just leave it as is because it's still in pretty good shape and catches pretty well when I feel it with a finger nail. No scratches or galling and not unevenly worn.
Does anybody know more about this? Or how important it is to oiling the valve train? I feel so information starved on this subject.
The oiler passage V direction seems to be random, as it does not correlate with side of the engine or with intake/exhaust rockers. It seems like the most important thing is that the V in the pivot ball is going in the same direction as the V in the rocker arms so that the oil grooves are functional.
I mistakenly put one of mine 180 degrees off when I put it in and then I pulled it off and inspected it after a thousand miles or so of the engine running and there was some minor wear to the oil grooves. From what I can tell a good condition oiler groove should catch when you run your fingernail across it perpendicularly. Enough to where it stops your fingernail from continuing across it.
I purchased a beater motor for parts and educational purposes and I checked all of it's rocker arm oiler V grooves and they all were worn to ****, my fingernail barely could even detect some of them at all. I haven't heard of this before now, and only have seen it on this old thread. People should know that you shouldn't reuse your rocker arms on an engine rebuild if these oiler passages are worn down I'm sure it would cause issues long term with oil starvation on your valve train.
The pivot ball (part number 53008283) on my number 1 cylinder was worn down from me incorrectly installing it backwards. Not terribly worn like the beater engine's all were but enough that you could feel the difference between it's V shaped oiler grooves vs the next one. I'm still deciding if I should buy a new rocker arm and pivot ball for the number one cylinder or just the pivot ball (since the rocker arm seems fine). Or if I should just leave it as is because it's still in pretty good shape and catches pretty well when I feel it with a finger nail. No scratches or galling and not unevenly worn.
Does anybody know more about this? Or how important it is to oiling the valve train? I feel so information starved on this subject.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,267
Likes: 4,197
From: Clayton MI
If it actually matters, I would expect there would be some marking on the pivot ball to indicate orientation....... and also a notification in the service manual in the appropriate section. Magnum motors were pretty much internally identical throughout production, with maybe some minor changes. (cam profiles, that kind of thing) Maybe have a read thru the appropriate section in the service manual for your truck, (or, pick random year.....) see if there is anything.