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Anyone else have trouble with "re-usable rocker arm bolts"?

G

GTPChristopher

New member
So I'm putting my winter build back together (L67 block and heads), torqued my heads on, and then moved onto checking my pushrod length. I installed ZZP's "re-usable rocker arm bolts". Threaded them in by hand, then torqued them to 23 lb/fts. Went over them 2 or 3 times until my OCD was happy ha! I used the pushrod length checker (Comp Cams) until I was throughly satisfied that 6.95 pushrods would do the trick with my LS7 lifters. Went to take off the rockers, and BAM! Two bolts break. Anyone had any trouble with these things? I have no idea why they broke. I'm no newbie to cars, modding, etc. I do this for a living. Totally puzzled as to why this happened. They're in there tight too! Tried to extract one, used a little heat, and just broke it some more. I'm thinking I'll have to pull off my rear head, put it on a bench, and drill/tap/extract, etc. Any thoughts or suggestions to provide insight to this freak problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!
 


Yup I had that problem with comp cam bolts broke quite a few just trying to get them torqued correct and ended up just get a set of prj. I bet if you take the rockers back off you'll be able to just grab the broken bolt with vice grips etc
 
I took the rockers off and those bolts are stuck in there good. I'm going to take the head off and go through my normal extraction routine. The thought of drilling/extracting bolts with it installed makes me cringe. Atleast I'm not the only one that had this happen.
 
Really clean those well. Use q-tips and brake cleaner. Get all the oil out of there.
I've done so many rockers I never had a bolt break.
I'm actually shocked you broke yours.
Is your torque wrench crappy ? Are you using thread locker ?
 
Sounds like they bottomed out. Typically, if you break a screw, once you remove whatever it was holding down (i.e. the rocker arm) and release the pressure, the remaining portion/stud will thread out by hand. I've drilled more than a few screw heads off, and then backed the screw out using a pen magnet.
 
I just had both of my torque wrenches calibrated 3 weeks ago, specifically for putting my motor back together. No loctite, threads were clean. I'm just completely puzzled as to why this happened. I like BrandonHall10's idea of them bottoming out. There's no reason for them to still be stuck in there after the head snapped off. Once I extract them I will have more answers.
 


The comp bolts suck. I've broken them as well. I won't use them anymore.

The prj bolts are awesome, but you will probably have a hard time getting ahold of him. I believe they are ARP bolts, but no idea which ones.
 
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