Pontiac 24504436 Arm Assembly, Valve Rocker

To release the cylinder head valve cover, unbolt the cover and then step on off the rocker arm nuts, in case of exclusive pushrod replacement, turn the rocker arms out of the way. Take out the bolts, the rocker arms and the pivot balls and keep them in separate containers that bear markings to facilitate identification of locations of original installation. Disconnect the pushrods and place them somewhere aside, better in the box of perforated cardboard, labeling it with the words 'Front of the engine'. If the pushrod guides are to be removed you must mark them prior to fitting so that they can be correctly refitted. During the inspection check each rocker arm for signs of wear, cracks and damage at contact points of the pushrods and valve stem, the hole near the pushrod opened should also be inspected. Check the rocker-end of each rocker arm for signs of wear or damage; replace rocker arms and or rocker-version balls if worn or damaged. Their general condition needs to be examined with an eye toward their cracks and overall wear; this can be done by rolling the pushrods on a flat surface, for example, then trying to insert metal into a gap between the pushrod and the flat surface to check for bends. For installation, it is recommended that the lower ends of the pushrods be lubricated with clean engine oil or moly-base grease and then replaced in their original positions with the threaded ends going into the lifter socket until they bottom out. Before installing the rocker arms, put moly-base grease to the stems of the valves and the upper ends of the pushrods. The pivot balls have to be fitted on the rocker arm bolts where they are greased to protect the mating surfaces and the rocker arm assemblies are then fitted into the cylinder head and the push rods seated into the rocker arms and the bolts tightened to the recommended torque. Last of all, it is required to install the valve cover back onto the engine block.

The valve cover (s) can be troubled, but the rocker arms must first be removed; these are fastened by nuts or bolts depending on the year of manufacture, the year 1995 and earlier used the nuts with the triangular pivot ball, while from the year 1996 an engine used the pedestal mount with the bolt. Slowly disassemble the rocker arm parts, to avoid options and put each set of parts in a clearly labelled plastic bag for reassembly. If only the pushrods need to be withdrawn, then the bolts and nuts of the rocker arms must be loosened and the rocker arms must be turned in order to acquire space. During disassembly, intake and exhaust pushrods are often similar in appearance but are different lengths; intake rods are shorter than exhaust rods and are sometimes painted different colours for differentiation. This is the time to look for wear and damage on the rocker arms paying attention to the pivot seat and ball faces for galling or cracks. Check the pushrod ends for any signs of wear and debonding; pull them and if they are flat, they are bent. For reassembly, it is advised that the lower ends of the pushrods be coated with a bit of oil before they are put back in their original positions provided that they will set properly. Lubricate the valve stems, and the pushrod ends, and the pivot balls to lubricate the surfaces before there is the oil pressure. Last but not the least; replace the rocker arms, tighten the nuts to the recommended torrue setting, and replace the valve covers along with other parts and start the engine in order to check any abnormal sounds.

Tighten them.

Starting at the drivebelt end of one cylinder head, remove the rocker arm mounting bolts one at a time and detach the rocker arms, pivot balls, and pedestals. It is important to keep each set of rocker arm components separately stored in marked plastic bags for proper reinstallation.

Pry out the nylon rocker arm retainers using a pair of channel locks.