7.3 / 6.9 Rockers! - Diesel Forum

gtuplin · 12-28-2007, 03:13 AM

So a little help please! Rocker arms from 7.3 and 6.9 are different in design but do bolt on the same do they have different ratio's?
Just wondering, I have a 7.3 that has one bank of 6.9 aluminium retainer style rockers on it???? Not sure how that came to be but it does raise a flag for me! Any thoughts? Perhaps bad or perhaps makes no difference????
Thanks

cdnsarguy · 12-28-2007, 04:38 AM

Should all be 7.3 rockers in my opinion..... the 7.3 rockers are better design, they can be used on the 6.9 but I would not use them the other way around..... Check the push rods to ensure the copper end is to the top also....

The rockers do wear at the point of contact on the valve and the rocker post to arm contact area... If i remember correctly the lifter can only extend 35 thou to cover wear.

gtuplin · 12-31-2007, 02:47 AM

I agree that the 7.3 rockers are a better bet and will see if I can find a set! It would appear that the push rods are the old 6.9 style without the copper top or circle divot on the side.
Perhaps a little insight on the 7.3 push rods if you will, I have noticed what I thought was all the time (sort of a rule of thumb and more dependable than a copper color mark) that the circle stamp on the side of the push rod was always lifter end as not all push rods have the copper color! I have run into a few that are both circle stamped and copper on the same end?? Any thoughts?
Thanks

91diesel · 12-31-2007, 02:50 AM

when i did the heads on my 7.3...i noticed on a few that they werent colored on either end...chrome on both. i had them in a 2x4 so it didnt matter but would be confusing if you didnt set them like i did

Pete- what might happen if you dont get them in right? is it just that one end is built for wearing with the rocker pivot?

gtuplin · 12-31-2007, 03:00 AM

That is why I thought the stamp on the side of the push rod was like the rule! Sometimes the copper is not there some aftermarket use no color and some wear away with time! Stamp to the bottom was the golden rule for me but now I'm not so sure!

cdnsarguy · 12-31-2007, 10:30 AM

Ford/Navistar push rods have the copper tops... as for what is the difference I will take a new one to the shop this morning and measure it..... I did read a post many moons back about different size ends possibly.. Yes Anthony the copper end is the working end so to speak......the bottom just sits in the oil hole of the lifter.