DeTomaso Mailing List: November 99, Message #316

Hi All:
Just wanted to know about some phenomenon that the local engine rebuilder
informed me about during a phone conversation I had with him yesterday.

During my talk regarding head work on the engine, he told me that installing
and fitting the head to the engine is not a trivial thing. He told me that
the rocker arm assembly (using roller rockers) required that during it's up
and down motion, attention must be payed attention to very carefully,
otherwise, one can wear down the valve guide very quickly. He said that the
best way to avoid this would be to be judicious about pushrod selection.

I guess I can see his point. We discussed "side forces" of the piston
against the cylinder (pretty important when considering stresses to the
cylinder wall). Pretty much the same phenomeonon is occurring should the
rocker arm travel be to excessive. Is this correct? Anyone care to comment?
Thanks. Cal. #2428r.