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    #1

    Rocker Arm help

    So I broke a rocker arm, shitty luck. I have never replaced a rocker arm in my car so I was wondering if you guys had tips/tricks to get the job done faster. Any help would be appreciated.
    BTW, I used to have the bentley manual but someone stole it :(







    YOUTUBE: AR Perez
    - - -
    If lucky, the E36 will die peacefully, in its natural habitat, and be given the prestigious honor of donating its parts to an E30
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    #2
    rocker arm

    Im just curious...what were the circumstances how it happened.....



    did you over rev.......or?......


    were your valves in good adjustment?...

    how many miles on rockers?......

    I track my car alot....and its chipped, so Im careful to stay below 6400...



    GL on the fix.
    Last edited by JRKOUPE; 11-03-2007, 09:05 AM.
    I love sitting down and just driving!

    Comment

      #3
      You are going to have to pull the head I believe as there isn't enough room to slide the rocker shaft out to get to that rocker arm.

      Comment

        #4
        I have swapped that same rocker without pulling the head...but it was a bitch. Lifted the motor, pulled the radiator, hood...Major PITA, but possible.

        Depending on how desperate you are to get your car up and running, now is a really good time to yank the head, clean the varnish, replace valve guide seals, clean, pretty and fix your motor.

        Having taken apart several M20 heads, it is my opinion that the rocker breakage that seems pretty common on these motors is caused more by sticky rocker shafts than anything.

        GL and think it through.

        Luke

        Closing SOON!
        "LAST CHANCE FOR G.A.S." DEAL IS ON NOW

        Luke AT germanaudiospecialties DOT com or text 425-761-6450, or for quickest answers, call me at the shop 360-669-0398

        Thanks for 10 years of fun!

        Comment

          #5
          Originally posted by JoelRKaplan View Post
          Im just curious...what were the circumstances how it happened.....



          did you over rev.......or?......


          were your valves in good adjustment?...

          how many miles on rockers?......

          I track my car alot....and its chipped, so Im careful to stay below 6400...



          GL on the fix.
          I was driving it hard but I never over-rev it, I've made it a habit to shift right before the needle hits the "red" as I like to call it.

          So it happened under full acceleration but no abuse of the engine. However, the car has a lot of miles, when I got it it had 205XXX, and I only drove it on the weekends for about 3 months.

          Jim Conforti came and saw it just to make sure there wasn't any damage to other engine parts. He said it was just a mechanical failure due to the motor mileage and regular stress.
          YOUTUBE: AR Perez
          - - -
          If lucky, the E36 will die peacefully, in its natural habitat, and be given the prestigious honor of donating its parts to an E30

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by Schwarz3 View Post
            I was driving it hard but I never over-rev it, I've made it a habit to shift right before the needle hits the "red" as I like to call it.

            So it happened under full acceleration but no abuse of the engine. However, the car has a lot of miles, when I got it it had 205XXX, and I only drove it on the weekends for about 3 months.

            Jim Conforti came and saw it just to make sure there wasn't any damage to other engine parts. He said it was just a mechanical failure due to the motor mileage and regular stress.

            205xxx...... not bad
            I love sitting down and just driving!

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by JoelRKaplan View Post
              205xxx...... not bad
              really? I thought it was a bit high
              YOUTUBE: AR Perez
              - - -
              If lucky, the E36 will die peacefully, in its natural habitat, and be given the prestigious honor of donating its parts to an E30

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by Schwarz3 View Post
                really? I thought it was a bit high

                no..I meant if you just broke your first arm at 205xxx that was good.
                I love sitting down and just driving!

                Comment

                  #9
                  Mine broke at around 170k but that involved revving to 7200. I try to keep it at 6800 or below now.

                  Unless you want to have the head re-done I'd say find somebody reputable selling a clean lower mileage head and just slap it on there.
                  BimmerHeads
                  Classic BMW Specialists
                  Santa Clarita, CA
                  www.BimmerHeads.com

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Before you pull the head try pulling the shafts out through the front. On my '87 I was able to remove the distributor, radiator and front grill, then pull the shafts all the way through. I did have to fight with the A/C some, but was able to pull both shafts over the top.

                    I've heard that some cars have solid cam gears, so this won't work on them, but I was able to work between the spokes in the gear.

                    It wasn't the easiest job, but MUCH simpler than removing the head.

                    Also, while you're in there you may want to go ahead and replace the head bolts with the updated version. A set of the new ones is only about $19.

                    Good luck
                    Matt

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Pull the head and replace all 12 rockers. New rockers are a significantly improved design, and with your milage and driving if you just replace that one the others will follow sooner or later. You need to replace the time bomb head bolts anyways.
                      Tenured Automotive Service Professional - Avid BMW Enthusiast

                      Vapor Honing & E30 ABS Pump Refurbishment Service
                      https://mtechniqueabs.com/

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Matt H View Post
                        Also, while you're in there you may want to go ahead and replace the head bolts with the updated version. A set of the new ones is only about $19.

                        Good luck
                        Matt
                        If you are telling him to change the head bolts, why wouldn't he just pull the head? I mean, a head gasket is cheap and it's not a lot more work to pull the head.

                        I agree with what Jordan said. Might as well get it all done and not have to worry about it later.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          He can certainly pull the head if that's how he wants to do it.

                          I changed the rocker arms without pulling the head because I did that before I learned of the head bolt problem. I now have new head bolts that will go in sometime this week sitting on my work bench. Had I known about the bolt issue before I fixed the rocker arm and while the timing belt was off, I probably would have just pulled the head.

                          I just wanted to let him know that it is possible to change all 12 rocker arms without absolutely having to remove the head.

                          BTW, Flying Brick has the best deal that I found for the arms and shafts.

                          Good Luck,
                          Matt

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