69 383 rocker arms

[69XP383]

New to MOPAR's...very new. I recently picked up a 69 charger with about 90% of the body work completed...and I'm new to body work too. I was checking out the engine (1969 383 c.i.) and I happened to notice that most of the rocker arms are sloppy/egg shaped. Is it OK to just purchase replacement stock or aftermarket rocker arms, and if so, what rockers would anyone suggest?

Also, should I check any clearances while the rocker arm bar is off of its respective head, should i replace the bars (they appear to have no wear), what clearances should I check, and any other info I should know? It appears that everyting in the valve train assembly seems OK, no wear on the lifters, valves seem to be seating good, etc.

Any other advice will help as well. Also, where can i purchase replacement/reproduction front inner fenders? I can't find them anywhere, all I seem to be finding are challenger replacements.

Thanks....

[Plumcrazy]

I can't be 100% sure without a photo but from your description I don't think there is anything wrong with your rocker arms.

[69XP383]

I'll try to post a photo or two, but several of the rockers seem to have up to an 1/8 inch of free play on the rocker arm bar; I figured that since I could literally see light between the bar and where the rockers seat on the bar, I kinda thought there might be some excessive wear on some of the rockers. Some of the rockers have little play, if any at all which is what led me to think that some might need to be replaced. It also seemed that there was a lot more torque on the four bolts that hold the bars to the heads. I don't have a spec book yet, but I think I saw somewhere that only 25 ft lbs. of torque was needed for the rocker bar bolts...

[Big Lebowski]

  Look in the '69 manual to see how the oil holes pointed in the right direction. You don't know how many clowns I know who didn't oil the top of their motor because of their own stupidity. That's how rockers and their shafts get worn out.

[Ghoste]

25 ft lbs is correct.

[firefighter3931]

New to MOPAR's...very new. I recently picked up a 69 charger with about 90% of the body work completed...and I'm new to body work too. I was checking out the engine (1969 383 c.i.) and I happened to notice that most of the rocker arms are sloppy/egg shaped. Is it OK to just purchase replacement stock or aftermarket rocker arms, and if so, what rockers would anyone suggest?

Also, should I check any clearances while the rocker arm bar is off of its respective head, should i replace the bars (they appear to have no wear), what clearances should I check, and any other info I should know? It appears that everyting in the valve train assembly seems OK, no wear on the lifters, valves seem to be seating good, etc.

Any other advice will help as well. Also, where can i purchase replacement/reproduction front inner fenders? I can't find them anywhere, all I seem to be finding are challenger replacements.

Thanks....

First off....welcome to the site 

The rocker arms will wear out over time...if they're egg shaped i would just go ahead and replace them. If the rocker shafts are still in good shape and not gauled you can re-use them no problem. Mancini sells a nice heavy duty stamped replacement rocker arm. As mentioned above....make sure that you're getting oil to the rocker arms.....the oil holes must face down and be angled towards the exhaust manifolds or rocker wear will be accelerated due to insufficient lubrication. 


rocker arms :

http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/mopbrbhyd15r.html


Shermans carries the inner fender sheetmetal you're looking for :

http://store.shermanparts.com/cgi-bin/sherman/product_list.html?img_num=171



Ron