Overtightened Rockers?

Is it possible to over tighten the rockers on an SBC with hydraulic lifters? The reason I ask is because ever since I got my heads rebuilt, the car doesnt seem to have as much power as before.

I put it back together myself, and adjusted the rockers with 1/4 turn preload, once the play was out of the pushrod.

Also, the motor got a compression bump from 8.5 to 9.4. and new plugs. Everything else is unchanged other than being disassembled/reassembled.

 

Yes, you can over tighten them, But at 1/4 turn not tight enought.


While running, back off nut till rocker it clicks, , tighten till rocker stops clicking . Tighten 1/2 to 5/8 of a turn
Remove the socket every time you tighten the rocker nut, as it help to hide the clicking of the rocker.

 

Could be a little off on timing ,I have moved timing a little up and made A big differenence.

 

OK I will readjust them and see if it helps.

As far as timing goes, I am 10 degrees advanced with the vacuum advance unhooked. If I want to go more than that I will need to pull the distributor and turn it a tooth.

 

Kind of a hijack, but how much did you mill the heads to gain nearly a point of compression?

 

Honestly I dont know. I told the machine shop what I wanted, and they had me use a thin copper head gasket, and they did the rest.