Need help with '71, 318LA rocker spacers, please.

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ProjectBazza

ProjectBazza

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As I mentioned in my Introduction post, I'm trying to put together an Australian A-Body with a 318 that was partially disassembled, and right out of the starting gate I find I need help.

The engine has been sitting for a while, so I want to spin it over, get the oil moving, and do a compression check on it. However, the valve covers were pulled-off a couple years ago, and the rockers and shafts were removed. Fortunately everything WAS labeled, and the rockers were never removed from the shafts, but when I tried to put it all back together last night I found that there are three "small" spacers, and two "large" spacers, for each shaft. Now, I only want to spin it over for the compression check, and I WON'T be running it, but I also don't want to damage anything, so can anyone please tell me in what order these spacers go? Also, some of the spacers have tabs on one side, and indents on the other, and I assume (!) this is critical, so again- how, where, and in what order?

Please know that an "official" Shop Manual has been sent to me, but it's coming from Down Under, and if possible I'd rather not wait for it to arrive as I'd like to get the compression check completed ASAP in order to formulate a plan for this engine.

Anyone?

Thanks in advance!

Jim

(Edit: I forgot to add that, 1) I know about replacing the shaft bolts with Grade 8 fasteners, and I'll definitely do so when I get to that point, and 2) the owner of the car wants to keep it as original as possible (see my Intro), so to the greatest exent possible, and with the exception I just mentioned, I don't want to use aftermarket components. Thanks.)

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The narrow spacers go in holes 1, 3 & 5, the wide spacers go in holes 2 & 4.
 
Yeah you cant mess it up just set the shaft on the pedestal and figure where the rocker tips go in a pinch...or look at post 2 :)

You can mess up the shaft install though make sure the notches go down and front on drivers side down and rear on passenger side...
 
The notch will always go to the side of the long head bolt that's where the oil passage is, that's another way I remember it.
 
Not related to the rockers and shafts, but it looks like the exhaust manifolds are loose also. Save yourself and any future mechanic some grief and install studs in the end holes on each head. Use sealer on them, as they go into water jackets.

:thumbsup:
 
JDMopar said:
it looks like the exhaust manifolds are loose also
Click to expand...

Yeah. The owner of the car was getting ready to pull the engine right before he was hospitalized, and thankfully (for me) he didn't get much farther than the top of the engine.

JDMopar said:
...install studs in the end holes on each head. Use sealer on them, as they go into water jackets.
Click to expand...

That's great advice, thanks!
 
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