3 rocker bolts for 202, wanted urgent, in Ballarat area

You need to use new Bolts. Old Bolts can't take being re-torqued.

Make sure you torque them to exactly the right figure.

Too loose and the Valve Gear will rattle to bits.

Too tight and the Bolts will stretch resulting in rattle and a rough idle.

Further info here ...

http://holdenpaedia....

That seems stupid to me, that you have to replace them every time you take them off, the motor has been rebuilt and it certinly has not had new bolts put in. What sort of money am i looking at to buy new ones? it has already cost me more than i planned.

Mark

Fare enough, bit annoying when there is nothing said about it in my workshop manual, still might try to get some second hand bolts, the price of red motor parts is getting rather expensive and these will probably be dear..

makes me start to like valiant engineering more after working on my mates val, re torqued them half a dozen time and had no problems... anyway thats the way of it..

Mark

Mark, the REAL question here is not "What is it going to cost me to replace these bolts" but it IS "What is it going to cost me NOT to replace these bolts"...

One second hand bolt that saved you $5 (or whatever) lets go at WOT and 5,000 RPM - that's NOT going to be pretty AND it WILL be waaay more expensive than the cost of half a dozen new bolts...

Yeah good points, but they have been reused when it was rebuilt and been torqued down after that a couple of times... i did torque them down correctly using a torque wrench. the question could also be asked whey wernt they replace when it was rebuilt?

this is my daily driver and has been out of action for over a week and if a set of gaskets cant be bought over the counter a dont think these will be..

its not like reds are expensive motors, can buy running ones for $100 so if they did let go i would just replace it..

Thanks guys, looks like ill be ordering some new rocker bolts! wish me luck..
Mark

Yeah well these one have lasted 10 years, if i was to replace the bolts now, i was going to take the head off later down the track to re seat the valves would i have to replace them again!! might have to have a read holdenpaedia a bit more :) Thanks T

Yeah i will, they would all be stuff ups tho lol, im still learning a lot and im sure i will be making many more mistakes in the future.. haha

Mark

The bolt pictured has obviously been over tightened at some point.
Holdenpaedia states that the rocker bolt tension is 28ft/lbs. The correct tension is 22-28ft/lbs.
I use the lower figure with old bolts and have never had a problem.
Torque wrench accuracy could also be an issue.

Jeff.

for what its worth, i have never used a new bolt, never torqued a bolt and never had ANY problems be it in a street engine or a hq racing engine.

however, i reckon common sense prevails...

possibly the issue lies with doing up bolts with lifters that are already primed with oil - in this case unless shims are installed under the rocker posts, the bolts will have a fair amount of clearance to take up as the lifter may be fully primed, the valvespring will in most cases be the weak link and the bolt will be the thing trying to push open the valve. and/or trying to install them on cylinders where the cam isnt on the base circle.

in these cases its probably a bit much to ask for a mere 5/16" bolt.

Well i finally found some rocker bolts to replace the streched ones, great to have a mate that works at the local scrappers lol. All went fine and the motor runs great! and Qute i dont think ill have to worry about them letting go at 5 grand, wont be reving this one that hard..

Thanks, Mark