Replacing M20 rocker arms

[e30Matt]

The 325is I'm buying has a broken intake rocker on #2... there's no damage to anything else, I just need to replace that rocker. How big of a bitch is it, and how long will it take? I'm pretty mechanically inclined, if that helps at all.

Also, will I have to pull the rocker shaft to replace it? I assume so. Will the radiator need to be pulled if the rocker shaft does? I also assume so on this.

[DaN]

I believe you need to pull the head, you cant slide the rocker shaft out far enough to remove #2. Get the head rebuilt while you're at it.

[bkelsey86]

coming from someone who originally tried to get the shafts out wiht the head on....Don't do it take the time and effort to remove teh head its so much easier and really doesn't take long.

[T.Dot E30]

Your outa luck, I believe it can be done on #5 & 6, but not the others

[e30Matt]

Meh, not what I wanted to hear. :(

[Jordan]

Don't do it halfass.

Pull the head, tear it completely down, put all new valve guides, rocker arms, and rocker shafts in. Do a 3 angle valve grind, replace all seals with new and slap it back on.

If you have all the parts its a single days job (if you know what you are doing)

If you don't know what you are doing, likely going to take a whole week.

[e30Matt]

Don't do it halfass.

Pull the head, tear it completely down, put all new valve guides, rocker arms, and rocker shafts in. Do a 3 angle valve grind, replace all seals with new and slap it back on.

If you have all the parts its a single days job (if you know what you are doing)

If you don't know what you are doing, likely going to take a whole week.

When I have time for the downtime, I will. I'm not going to attempt to do a three angle valve grind as I have never done it before. That'd be stupid...

All I want to do is get #2 back up on its feet for the time being. The M20 won't be in there for too much longer anyway... rebuilt '94 M50 will be going in this summer.

[E30godz]

cant you remove the radiator and slide the cam out farther? doesnt seem like it would be a huge deal

[e30Matt]

cant you remove the radiator and slide the cam out farther? doesnt seem like it would be a huge deal

This is what I heard, hence me asking if it was possible.

[bkelsey86]

you can but trust me its a bitch the hardest part is knocking out the shafts because there is no room in the back to place somethning in there to hit against the shaft with a hammer to push it out.

[wolf_walker]

Tack weld a slide hammer to the front of it?
(random suggestion)

:)