Rocker pivot wear - 6.9 rocker arms

BlindAmbition

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2020
Posts
405
Reaction score
326
Location
SoCal
Is this wear abnormal or acceptable? I understand the 7.3 IDI rocker arms are better and will replace this set when I can, however I'd like to use them for now until I find a set at reasonable cost. My searches have not yielded any results for this particular pivot area. Any advice is appreciated, can take better pictures if required.

1986 IDI with ~146k miles. Turboed at one point, previous owner removed it before I purchased it.


You must be registered for see images attach



You must be registered for see images attach



You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

IDIBRONCO

IDIBRONCO
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Posts
14,976
Reaction score
14,078
Location
edmond, ks
Those aren't made any more. It does look like you're starting to get some wear on those pivots. I can't be sure but it looks like there may be a crack starting on the one in your middle picture. If it is a crack, you'd better not try to run them. It will only get worse.
 

Randy Bush

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2019
Posts
709
Reaction score
453
Location
Great Falls, Mt
That is pretty much normal wear. How does the valve face of it look? Along with the push rod and part in rocker? All important areas to check out. If planning on replacing fairly soon would just run them.
 

BlindAmbition

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2020
Posts
405
Reaction score
326
Location
SoCal
The thing that looks like a crack looks to be a casting defect on that one bridge. Push rods look ok, even some of the copper/brass coloring exists on the rocker end. Valve face looks in good condition, I was able to ascertain that by pictures found elsewhere. Found a Pick N Pull with a '92, hoping it has a set in good condition, I'll just replace all of them if that's the case. Thanks for the responses both of you, this is the farthest I've torn an engine down before and your input helps.
 

BlindAmbition

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2020
Posts
405
Reaction score
326
Location
SoCal
I picked up a set from the junkyard off a '92 IDI non-turbo Superduty, along with the hydroboost setup and took the injection pump, lines, and BB code injectors to boot. I kept the rocker arms in order that I took them off of the 7.3 engine and was planning on doing a direct 1:1 swap onto my 6.9.

The set of rocker arms cost $18. A new set from Rockauto will set me back a bit over $400 after tax and shipping. Is there any reason I shouldn't run these?

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

IDIBRONCO

IDIBRONCO
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Posts
14,976
Reaction score
14,078
Location
edmond, ks
The 7.3 one in your picture has some odd wear since it's off to one side. It appears that either the rocker arm or the valve was off at an angle. There's practically no wear in the center where the valve should be hitting so I think it should be ok to run for a while.
 

Randy Bush

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2019
Posts
709
Reaction score
453
Location
Great Falls, Mt
I agree you will be ok running those if no worse the one in picture. Ok that you keep them in order , but was not necessary. I would say most professional rebuilders keep them in order when rebuilding. We never did and it never caused undo wear.
 

IDIBRONCO

IDIBRONCO
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Posts
14,976
Reaction score
14,078
Location
edmond, ks
Ok that you keep them in order , but was not necessary. I would say most professional rebuilders keep them in order when rebuilding. We never did and it never caused undo wear.
That's something that I forgot about. Since these came off of one engine and are going back onto a different engine, the wear patterns won't be the same anyway. You don't have to keep them in any particular order, but you can if you want to.
 

Randy Bush

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2019
Posts
709
Reaction score
453
Location
Great Falls, Mt
That's something that I forgot about. Since these came off of one engine and are going back onto a different engine, the wear patterns won't be the same anyway. You don't have to keep them in any particular order, but you can if you want to.
I meant to say most rebuilds don't keep them in order.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 

BlindAmbition

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2020
Posts
405
Reaction score
326
Location
SoCal
Thanks folks, got them installed. Will see how it does once this thing gets fired up, it'll be a bit yet before then.

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Forum statistics

Threads
92,929
Posts
1,155,105
Members
26,430
Latest member
Brownlee5212

Members online

Top