adjusting rocker arms?

i put my rocker arms on (after doing the head gaskets) and they were torqued to specifications as listed in the manual. they felt tight, but after driving for a day there was some ticking. so i removed the valve cover and three of the rockers were loose one had about two hundred thousands of play in it, the others not so bad but they were completely flush at the fulcrum. this seemed strange because i cant tighten them any further. what could the problem be? (NOTE: the push rods dont look bent) i thought maybe something fell into a valve port and when a valve opened it got jammed on whatever was in there and didnt close leaving the spring compressed. aslo whether related or not theres two tapped holes at the top side of each head one in the front corner and one in the middle both near the base of the intake manifold that smoke is coming out of i dont have any extra pieces so i dont know what they're for. please any information is greatly appreciated!

Welcome to AF.

How many miles did you have before doing the head job? What torque spec did you use on the rocker arms? Was it 11 lbs-ft + 90 degrees? Are using the old lifters?

there were 125k miles before i changed the head gaskets, i torqued them to 18 ft-lbs then 90 degrees, and yes i used the same lifters, i know i think they may have collapsed. so back off with the intake manifold huh?

ok yesterday i took the intake manifold off, and removed the lifters, the plungers were about a hundred and fifty thousands lower than the retaining ring. not really sure if they were collapsed because the ones that didnt have play in the push rods were the same as the ones that did. so today i will replace those just in case. anything else i should know before i put it back together a second time? oh also there were three O-rings in the intake gasket set. i couldnt find a place for them to go, and figured it was a universal kit or something capatible with another engine and i didnt need them, when i had it running i didnt have any problems but if any one knows about these O rings could you let me know were the go? or if I need them?
Thank You -Rob-

What intake gasket kit did you get? I recall some o-rings were not needed. My other key question is what reference did you use for the rocker arm bolt torque? As long as I can remember the torque value on the VIN "1" and "K" SII 3800 engines is the 11 ft-lbs with a torque wrench and plus 90 degrees using a torque angle tool.

IMO with your mileage you're better off replacing the lifters. You could get the old ones leak down tested but replacing them is better. On the rockers arm bolts even though the torque value seems low they are torque to yield, therefore, should be replaced. Also, be sure to use threadlocker on the bolts. On the new lifters be sure to soak them overnight in clean 10W-30 motor oil. Use Molykote camshaft lubricant on each lifter before installing.

About all I can suggest for now. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

well i did have to replace the lifters. i allready did it before reading this though and i didnt soak them in oil but it didnt say to in the manual, and ive put over 200 mi. on it since and it looks smells and drives ok. you dont think this will cause any problems later on do you? (note: the lifters have little oil holes in there side so wont oil get in through there?)

also it was the fel pro gasket kit and if i remember right i believe it was 17 lbs + 90 degrees