Fellow Dodge owners, I really need your help. Experienced people please. I am a bit in over my head. I am doing a top end rebuild on my 97 3.9L v6. I have taken down the top end and put re manned heads back in and bolted down to 105 ft. lbs.

I have no clue how to put my new rods and rockers back in correctly. This is my first time rebuilding an engine so any pointers, procedures or best practices you can provide me is really help. Chilton's book is a bit confusing. They say that when re-installing the rocker/rods, the engine should not be in Top Dead Center position on #1 cylinder. However, in their install section for the rocker arms, it says to be in TDC. Confusing. The way I understand installing the rockers and rods is to go cylinder by cylinder, installing rods when the piston is at bottom dead center on the compression stroke. Can somebody help me to get this done right?

 

From my experience, you always start at tdc.

 

Mopar may be different, but when we do the pushrods and rockers on the camaro, they all go at once, we dont turn the motor- it's dangerous to do so, as the valvesprings will spin the motor on their own while you crank to the next TDC and the breaker bar will when you in the head. It's easier to put all the pushrods in, then then crank the rockers down against the springs. The only time we put them in by turning to the cam flats, is if it is in the car with the starter attached, and we bump it that way.

 

there is NO substitute for a chrysler service manual. i have seen the other brands. and they are only fair. on older mopar engines do note the way the rocker shaft goes in. all so when doing the timing chain once the two dots are lined up you are done. dont out trick your self and look under the cap.