CK4me

Hello Board,

After my recent move, I'm having trouble finding my 4.3's engine manual. Can someone tell me the torque spec's and procedure for the Rocker arm's / nuts?.

I recently completed the head gasket replacement this weekend and luckilly copied the torque specs for the Heads and Intake manifold and I'd like to finish it up this week. Any help would be appreciated.

BobM46128

Uh, better get a new manual. The rocker arm nuts adjust your pushrods/valves. And the 10 bucks or so is pretty cheap compared to what you may loose IMHO.

CK4me

Yeah! I found my manual today..... Thanks for the e-mails.

Good Luck getting a factory service manual for $10.

As far as the "Auto Store manuals" (mainly Haynes). They can keep them. Looking in the Haynes manual the other day, the Intake bolt torque sequence is incorrect in the number of steps (2 not 3) and, it only gives the final torque specs (Incorrect at 32lbs/ft when it should be 36) and only states a final reading of the 32.

As opposed to the Factory procedure of 15lbs/ft for the first step, 25lbs for the second step and then 35/36 lbs/ft for the final step using the second "bolt sequence". Ex Drivers side 1,2,3,4,5,6,in a row and then then passenger side.

Incase anyone needs the 4.3 Rocker Arm Bolt Specs / procedure or so it comes up in future searches: About the same as your run of the mill 8cyl Chevy Small block of the era.:

Bring #1 Piston to TDC. WHile spinning the pushrod between your fingers, "feel" for resistance while tightening the rocker arm nut. When the resistance is felt , go 3/4 turn past that. (on #1 Intake and Exhaust Rocker nuts).

Same procedure for the others. (Book suggests Number 6 would be next after rotating 120 degrees).

This procedure is noted for all vin # except For "W" 4.3's Engines which appear in this book to have shoulder bolts and no vlave adjustment is possible. (My book covers up to 1995).

Thanks for the e-mails

BobM46128

Glad you found it! I'm poor. I gotta use haynes most of the time. I did score the factory manual on disc for my '98 express.

CK4me

I think for the most part the Haynes and Chiltons are ok but there seems to be some "weird" inconsistencies in some of them for some reason. I always keep an eye on E-bay and at the car shows for the Factory Service manuals (FSM's) and have gotten some really good deals on factory manuals. (SOme cheaper that the Haynes manuals) .

Most are the actual manuals, some are on CD which are a bit harder to "read through" but they really come in handy that's for sure.