Hi,
I have a 65 Barracuda that has a 1980 2BBL slant six with hydraulic lifters. Sometimes it runs pretty smooth, but often it rattles a lot. When I decided to paint the Valve cover and took it off, I realized that the rockers and spacers on the rocker arm shaft have a lot of play. Also, I think they are not getting lubricated a lot. So I poured some motoroil over them and for a couple of miles the noise was gone- I assume until the oil was gone again. The real problem I guess is the play between rockers and spacers. Can I get wider spacers? I saw Summit has shims for rocker arms (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DCC-3690896/), is that the solution?
Please let me know!

Thanks,

Steve

Having side to side motion along the rocker shaft of the rocker & spacers is normal. Having to hand oil the lifters to quit them down is not.

You may have crud built up in the oil ways of both the rocker shaft & rockers.

One will need to remove the rocker shaft from the head, keeping all spacers & rockers in order of use, in other words #1 intake rocker once replaced after cleaning is still articulating #1 intake valve etc. I have accomplished maintaining order of use by stringing all these parts onto a length of “Romexâ€￾. Clean each rocker’s oil passages with carburetor cleaner until they pass fluid freely. The rocker shaft may have crud/sludge in it as well which can be dissolved with carburetor or brake cleaner.

Make sure that rocker shaft’s oil holes are pointing to valve springs when reinstalling it. A special bolt that lets oil pass, which attaches the shaft to head, is used in the last hole over number six piston closest to the fire wall. This is where the oil is fed to the rocker shaft from the oil pump.

Once all is reassembled, oil down the shaft & rockers, and start her up. Oil should be pumped to shaft in a few seconds, and be seen coating the valve train.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

After cleaning out the oil passages in the rockers, it would be a good time to adjust the valve lash: Adjusting Valves

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/6 '67 Barracuda convertible, electronic ignition, 4-OD, street cam, SBP KH discs, 3.55 SG 7.25" 1" t-bars. Bilstein.
340 '67 fastback, Doug Nash 5-speed.
1988 Toyota pickup work truck

He has a hydraulic slant six engine-no valve adjustments.

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50 chrysler,54 Plymouth, 64 Valiant conv 4 speed, 66 Valiant V8 wagon, 70 Challenger R/T 440+6 conv 4 speed,80 Colt, 98 Neon ACR,84 Honda V45 Magna
Taking care of 57 300C conv,48 T&C conv. Missing my 67 GTX and 36 Ply coupe

Thanks guys! I will try that next weekend and I'll let you know of the results

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nice car, it would look sweet pro street.

Were was the photo taken - Joshua Tree National Forest? I do miss the desert.

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50 chrysler,54 Plymouth, 64 Valiant conv 4 speed, 66 Valiant V8 wagon, 70 Challenger R/T 440+6 conv 4 speed,80 Colt, 98 Neon ACR,84 Honda V45 Magna
Taking care of 57 300C conv,48 T&C conv. Missing my 67 GTX and 36 Ply coupe

Make sure your engine is not a solid lifter cam. My 1980 Volare' did not have hydraulic valve lifters. Just something to double check. Looks like a real nice car!!

I followed your advice and cleaned the rockers and rockershaft with lots of brake cleaner and put it back together again and now the car runs smoother than ever like new! Thanks a lot, guys!

And yes, the picture was taken in Joshua Tree last year.

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