[Rammstein353]

hi i just have a question about roller rockers ... im an apprentice with mustang engines and do know a good amout bout them but never really learned about the rockers ...i have a 5.0 thunderbird ...the engine was takin out of a mustang, now i want to convert the stock rockers to roller rockers....now do i have to have any special tools to take the stock ones off.. will the springs pop right off? and do i have to have a roller cam also or can you just have certain parts that are roller? like if i were to change just the rocker arms and not the cam or anything else would they be compatible? or work with eachother?, thanks much appriciated

[The Greek]

The 5.0 engine has what is called pedestal mount rocker arms. This setup is for use of a hydraulic cam either roller cam or flat tappet (Flat Lifter) cam. It doesn't require any special tools to change rockers,only a torque wrench that reads 15 lbs. ft.. The rocker arm set should come with a set of shims of different thicknesses. The shims are not usually needed ,they are if the pedestals are not tall enough to give the lifter the correct preload. The rockers just bolt down onto the pedestals and the valve springs will stay in place. The shims are available separately from Ford Racing if the rocker set you get doesn't have them. There are two different rocker arm sets available the stock ratio 6:1 or the 7:1 set that will give the valves a slightly higher lift. You will have to make sure if you use the 7:1 ratio rockers and an after market performance cam that the valves don't hit the pistons because of the higher lift. The 1986 5.0 engine had no valve reliefs in the pistons it was a true flat top piston that in particular may give clearance problems. You follow the firing order of the engine when installing the rockers. If you follow the instructions that come with the rocker set you decide to purchase,just about anyone with a fraction of experience can do the installation. I installed a set of Ford Racing's 7:1 roller rockers on my 5.0 with a B-303 cam that has a valve lift of .480 with the standard 6:1 ratio the 7:1's gave me a valve lift of .510. It is in a way like changing to a higher lift cam just by changing out the rocker arms. Roller rockers are a good addition to any engine because they reduce a lot of friction that exists with the stock rockers. Reduced friction equals increased engine output. Even if you use the stock cam you can expect a performance gain and even a little more with the 7:1 rockers. I hope this gives you a little insight. Good luck ---Chuck

[zyzygy]

I used to own an 88GT and got roller rockers for that car don't forget to install guide plates on the rods it prevents valve float!

[coolwaterblvd]

Yea if u are going with a bigger cam the 1.6's but if not 1.7's but all u need is a air compressor with the spark plug adapter to hold up the valves without removing the head. Also while u have the rocker off replace the valve seals and double seal them with a O ring; if you ask the guys at NAPA they will understand and give you the right stuff and tell you how to put them on correctly. U can get the air adapter from napa on the specialty tools section just get the larger adapter for your size plugs. Just remember work on one cylinder at a time and make sure the U curved peace that goes under the rocker is on right with the curve going in the right position the directions will show you. I you don't read them and just throw them on you can have a world full of problems. But after you put them on and TQ them BAM your done!