Rocker Q's.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

thanx zahn, looks like i'll have to return some individual gaskets i already bought and just pick up the set since they don't sell the uim gasket seperately.....

That AFPR is pretty straight forward right? i imagine it's a piece of cake with the plenum out. Only question is in your opinion do you think it's worth the upgrade? Your sight talked a bit about it but what have you decided on? is it a noticeable mod? If your review is high i will do the swap as per your HOW TO.

thanx

max

[FunkZ]

Re: Rocker Q's.

Due to the lack of tuning options the AFPR is the easiest way to add some fuel. I only max it out at the track, for DD I usually have it set 45-50 at key-on. This time of year I have to back it off to 40 or slightly less so it doesn't run pig-rich during cold startup until the O2's heat up enough to start adjusting trim. I would say for extensive mods like cam/heads or nitrous it's a big help but probably not for just bolt-ons.

Note that if you just want to bump pressure up a bit you can accomplish the same thing by taking off the stock cap and slipping a flat washer under the spring. Only problem with this is I can't tell you how thick a washer to use to achieve a specific psi increase, and it's a real PITA to take that cap off/on when it's in the car if you have to make adjustments. In warmer climates or if you switch to heated O2's this would be a more viable option.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

alrighty, thanx for the perspective. I plan on stopping the modding after this project :rolleyes: so i suppose it would be a little unnecessary to get the AFPR. Still, I only drive my car when its warm out so maybe i'll look into this washer idea, considering the fuel rail is currently out of the car and easy to work on.... and i might get that fuel pressure gauge anyways just so i can keep an eye on whats goin on with my fuel system, if my psi is low i can start thinkin bout a new fuel pump and such instead of wonderin why i have no power.... You know what size washer is needed?



thanx

max

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

update: all i did today was take off all of the valve cover nuts, scrape the old gasket off the plenum (looks like it was doubled up...weird) JB welded a broken piece of the plenum back on, cleaned out the injector nozzles with Q tips, and since i receive my throttle body bolts today from GM i put that on the plenum as well with the new gasket.

A few Questions

1. Whats the best way to get off the valve covers? (i'm planning on buying new ones but i'd like to keep the old ones if i can help it.)
2. Does anyone sell the plenum gasket seperate from that 23$ kit?


thats it for now, hopefully i can take off the old valve covers tomorrow. I might even repaint my plenum while its out. =)

thanx

max

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

Update: Valve covers are off! took a bit of pryin, glad im gonna get some new ones otherwise there might be some leaks.

It's a breath taking sight when you lift off the valve covers for the first time.... pretty crazy **** in there.

anyhow, i'm glad those puppies are off. Plus it gives me room to get that bolt out from the EGR thats still stuck in there like glue even though i've been pb blastin it for 2 weeks straight! any ideas on that would be great....

few updated Questions:

1. What will i have to do in regards to an oil filler cap when the new edelbrock ones are put on? Do they come with one attached? do i have to use the old one? Buy a new one?

2. Now that the rockers are in plain sight, is it ok for me to just take em off now and set them aside?

3. still need to find out if anyone sells the plenum gasket for the 3.4 seperate from that 23$ kit.

thats it for now, thanx

max

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

any ideas?

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

TTT i cant let this die, sorry these are some important Q's for a rookie.

[FunkZ]

Re: Rocker Q's.

No idea on the washer thickness, I'd hate to even guess. I can tell you I don't have to turn my adjuster very far, maybe 1 or 1½ turns, to add or take out a few pounds.

Edelbrock sells a matching chrome cap for those covers. I wouldn't try to reuse that stock extension, just buy a funnel with a long neck, that's what I did.

Leave the rockers on to help you find TDC of #1. By putting a screwdriver in the plug hole you can tell when the piston is all the way up, but you won't know whether it's the compression or exhaust stroke. Leave the rockers in place and you'll be able to tell by which ones are moving as you turn the motor.

Part # for the GM gasket is 14097620 but by the time you pay dealer price or add shipping from GMPD you'll be almost at the cost of the kit.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

hmmm... i'll try to find that matching cap online. yeah i've got a funnel with a long neck that will work just fine. I'll take a look for that gasket too, but if its too much i'll suck it up and pick up that gasket kit. With this in mind, would there be any of the gaskets discussed so far that would be worth doubling up on?
And so your saying leave the stock rockers on until i find TDC for the first set by feeling for play in the rockers and for the piston to be all the way up, then replace them with the new rockers, torque down , then do the same for the other side... is this correct?

thanx

max

[FunkZ]

Re: Rocker Q's.

Don't double up on any of the gaskets.

Yeah, find TDC for #1 first, then swap your rockers. Then you can go ahead and tighten some of them down, it's not all the ones on one side though. It's on page 2A-3 of the Haynes.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

gotcha, thanx, i'll update later.

[FunkZ]

Re: Rocker Q's.

The Haynes will tell you which intake and exhaust rockers for which cylinders you can do. It's going to be all the ones that aren't "in use" when #1 is at TDC. So if you see ones where the pushrod end of the rocker is higher, then the valve is open and you can't do that one. The valve lash has to be set when the lifter is on the base circle of the cam lobe. It's really easy to tell when the LIM is off but you should be able to tell by looking at the rocker too.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

yeah zahn, the haynes helps alot. I've also got a friend who knows all about this stuff comin over to help me install the rockers when they get here, should be by the end of the week im hoping. We're gonna take out the spark plugs most likely and do it that way. I'll replace the plugs while i'm at it, probably with some NGK iridiums =)

I am curious however though, it doesn't seem like the LIM would be that hard to get off, i mean its sitting right down in that valley there right? If i took that off, i could install the rockers easily as you stated, plus i could replace the dreaded gaskets that are prone to failure on our cars. just a thought, let me know what u think.

[FunkZ]

Re: Rocker Q's.

I think it's the FWD 60° motors with aluminum heads that were prone to leaking LIM gaskets. But yeah it's not too difficult to take off the LIM when you're that far down anyway. If that's the case you may as well get that gasket kit then. You'll need some black RTV for the front and rear valley too.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Rocker Q's.

ok, so i drained the radiator, disconnected 2 wires that were grounded to the LIM, disconnected the upper radiator hose and thermostat housing unit, and disconnected the heater coolant hose. I can't see anything else, so am i all set to simply unbolt this thing and pull it up?

how many bolts are there holding it down? Will it just lift right off once i unbolt it? whats the best way to pull it off? anything else i'm forgetting?

thanx
max