Broke Rocker Arm now what?!

[scm320]

So the other day i realized my car sounded and ran funny. I opened my valve cover to discover i broke a rocker arm. I asked a friend of mine what to do but he wasnt to clear on it and not enough information. So i have a few questions.

1) what should i do about it now? Should i replace the rocker? Ive done it before with a friend but it was very difficult for us and we destroyed some stuff just to get the stupid thing out. and to take it to a shop is rediculous for how much they charge.

2) how bad is it to still drive it? Obviously not good but i drove it a little before i realized what was wrong. Im hoping i didnt cause anymore damage to anything else.

I was considering getting a used head and just throwing it on there but im unsure on exactly what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Ruffian]

Best case scenario has you just replacing the rocker. You need to pull the head. Replace the headgasket and head bolts. Not difficult to replace the rocker, but you need to be patient, pull out the rocker shaft then replace. With the head out, you'll be able to see if you've gotten any damage to your valve as well.

Worst case scenario has you with bent valves and damaged piston top.



The cheapest way to go it to just replace the rocker, but you have to pull the head no matter which way you go.(even buying a used head will require removing yours)

Gasket set and head bolts will run you about $100. Used rocker could be had for $10 and new rocker will be like $20.(get new) make sure you inspect all the others with the head off.

[scm320]

Okay cool thanks man. So driving it at all at this point is a definite no correct?

[jlevie]

Driving the car in this condition is a bad idea.

[SpecM]

Driving the car in this condition is a bad idea.

yes

at the very least, unplug the injector to that cylinder, so fuel will not wash out the inoporative cylinder

[scm320]

Do you guys know of any threads or something that have a step by step instruction on how to do this? I did it before with a friend a few years back but we destroyed the shaft and it was a pain to take out in the first place. we messed up pretty much everything around it and replaced it all and i have a low budget as is.

[RangerGress]

You should be able to get a serviceable replacement head for $150 easy. I think that would be the easy route here. From what I understand, disassembly of an old head can go poorly in that a rocker arm shaft can get deformed if too much force is used to tap them out.

That's a lot of work to save $150. Minus the cost of the replacement rocker arm.

For another 2-3 hundred bucks you could get a head that's had a valve job. Do a leakdown test before you pull the head. That will tell you if a valve job is warranted.

[kishg]

You should be able to get a serviceable replacement head for $150 easy. I think that would be the easy route here. From what I understand, disassembly of an old head can go poorly in that a rocker arm shaft can get deformed if too much force is used to tap them out.

That's a lot of work to save $150. Minus the cost of the replacement rocker arm.

For another 2-3 hundred bucks you could get a head that's had a valve job.

tapping the shaft out without damaging it isn't that hard, just go slowly and use a socket extension so the load is spread across the surface and doesn't mushroom the shaft end.

putting in a cheap head without having it checked for cracks, leaks etc by a shop could mean more trouble down the line. depends on your risk tolerance.

i'd take the head off, have it checked, decked, rebuild and put it back together.

[SpecM]

tapping the shaft out without damaging it isn't that hard, just go slowly and use a socket extension so the load is spread across the surface and doesn't mushroom the shaft end.

.

that works, but I prefer to use a wooden dowel. Very safe.

soak the shaft with PB plaster and let the head sit out in the sun for a couple hours... it loosens it right up!

[kishg]

that works, but I prefer to use a wooden dowel. Very safe.

soak the shaft with PB plaster and let the head sit out in the sun for a couple hours... it loosens it right up!

yup, wooden dowel is safer. i just could never find one wide enough.

[scm320]

thanks guys! ill try that! could i just use a heat gun because its too cold and rainy to depend on the warm weather to show up