L36 rocker pivot bols

[jjubeck619]

A friend and Iwere changing head gaskets this weekend on my 99 gt. Well after putting it all back together and starting it, I get a very rough Idle and my friend tells me he might have over torqued the rocker arms. Would that give me a rough idle?

[BNaylor]

Possible and other things during reassembly could too. It is just a poor idle or how are the other rpm ranges/driveability?

To what and how were the rocker bolts torqued?

The proper procedure is to initially torque to 11 ft-lbs and then an additional 90 degrees.

[jjubeck619]

On the initial start up there was no problems, fired up on he first try. After the engine started warming up is when the problem started. If I give it throttle it revs like i should then sputters and dies. Try to start it again and it will but it hesitates and doesnt sound healthy. I haven't tried agian after it has cooled.

He probably torqued the pivot bolts closer 20ftlbs

[jjubeck619]

I'm kinda broke and need as much info as possable. Thank you for he help

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by jjubeck619

On the initial start up there was no problems, fired up on he first try. After the engine started warming up is when the problem started. If I give it throttle it revs like i should then sputters and dies. Try to start it again and it will but it hesitates and doesnt sound healthy. I haven't tried agian after it has cooled.

He probably torqued the pivot bolts closer 20ftlbs

Were the bolts torqued to just 20 ft-lbs? Or 20 ft-lbs and the additional 90 degrees?

Have you looked into other areas like a possible fuel or ignition problem? Are all the vacuum lines good and connected properly (no leaks)? How about all electrical connectors like to the MAF, TPS, IAC, IAT, CKPS, etc. Double check your spark plug wires and hook up to the coil packs.

[BlueGT02]

are they new bolts, cause i think those are torque to yeild and if you re-used torque to yeild bolts, they tend to stretch and break(during instalation)

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by BlueGT02

are they new bolts, cause i think those are torque to yeild and if you re-used torque to yeild bolts, they tend to stretch and break(during instalation)

You are correct BlueGT02, they are TTY bolts, however, due to the low torque on rocker arm bolts for a Series II 3800 which is 11 ft-lbs plus an additional 90 degrees or additional 1/4 turn there is not much torque to yield to. Although it is not recommended you can reuse the rocker bolts. Same applies to the cylinder head bolts since I believe this poster replaced his head gaskets but those I would have replaced with new. And Intake manifold bolts can be reused as long as the old thread locker is removed.

[BlueGT02]

that makes sence, the only time ive had to use tty bolts was on a ford 5.4, and on the third time (we were doing a dissasemble - reasemble time test) 3 of the head bolts cracked, but those were 60ftlb then 90 then another 90

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by BlueGT02

that makes sence, the only time ive had to use tty bolts was on a ford 5.4, and on the third time (we were doing a dissasemble - reasemble time test) 3 of the head bolts cracked, but those were 60ftlb then 90 then another 90

I was giving my brother morale type support while watching him torque cylinder head bolts on a 280ZX Turbo undergoing refurb. and he always overtorqued like a BFFI.

When the bolt snapped he fell on his rear end. I laughed so hard I busted a nutt.

Taking the head bolt out was no fun either. It snapped clean off at the block where the threads are.