After re-adjusting some roller tip rocker arms on my brother's LT1, we found some problems. Three separate rockers were really loose, after correctly adjusting the rockers. If you push down on the pushrod end of the rocker arm, should you be able to compress the lifter? Only three of them you could, and it was so bad that the rockers won't stay tight. There was a previous problem with the cam being installed wrong and bending a pushrod, I think that this may have ruined a few lifters. What do you guys think? The rest of the rockers, they stayed adjusted and you couldn't push the pushrod end down with your hand. The three you could move were really easy to compress. Thanks, my speculation is that a few of the lifters were killed when the pushrod was bent, due to improper cam installation, but was wondering if you are supposed to be able to compress the lifters by hand, after adjusted..................thanks

BamaZ28

 

The ones that won't compress are full of oil and you have to put it in a vice or something if you want to squeeze the oil out. The ones that are springy were probably in the open position when you took the valvetrain apart, so there's no oil in them.

 

They have been in the car for 2,000 miles though, and we adjusted the rockers all within an hour. These squishy lifters won't hold firm, and I assume are damaged.............

 

i had 16 like that....didnt know if they were bad or not...motor made alot of noise...people said i spun a bearing...took the motor out and there was nothing wrong with the bearings! damn thats gotta suck!!!

 

So, you are saying it was bad lifters?

 

Bama,
Do they clack when the car is running?If not they should be OK.Sometimes when lifters get varnish or some fine trash in them they will bleed down when the engine is off.As long as they are quiet with oil pressure they are doing there job.
The spongie's may go away after proper adj.and a few miles.

 

mine clacked like a ****! thats why everyone on here said it was a spun bearing.

 

Well adjust them!!

 

They don't really clack TOO bad, but there is one that I am nearly 100% sure needs replaced (bent a pushrod), it won't pump up at all, I don't think.

 

there wasnt even any damn oil coming out of mine so i figured they were bad. had plenty of oil pressure.

 

The bent pushrod is not the fault of the lifter.There is something else wrong,like maybe valve hit piston or RR came off or something.
Check for oil to rocker's like Marshall said and re adjust them and run them to see how they do.Go to Shoebox's sight to get the different methods to adjust them.Let us know.