[chlebowskicj]

During my recent 70 GTO 400 cylinder head rebuild, I re-installed my rocker arms by torquing each locking nut to 20 ft-lbs and doing all 16 in a row without rotating the crank to get each cylinder at TDC before tightening the locking nut--per the original Service manual instructions (a repro Pontiac 2-volume manual). It runs fine, no excessive valve train noise that I can tell. My only worry came up later when I then saw a Chilton's manual that says to go through the process of moving each cylinder to TDC then torque the locking nuts to 20 while checking pushrods for binding--that's how I did it when I first rebuilt the motor. Does anyone know if the way I did it as first explained is safe for the engine or do I risk problems with uneven torque distribution across my rocker arms and do I need to go back and do the cylinder by cylinder method?

[chlebowskicj]

During my recent 70 GTO 400 cylinder head rebuild, I re-installed my rocker arms by torquing each locking nut to 20 ft-lbs and doing all 16 in a row without rotating the crank to get each cylinder at TDC before tightening the locking nut--per the original Service manual instructions (a repro Pontiac 2-volume manual). It runs fine, no excessive valve train noise that I can tell. My only worry came up later when I then saw a Chilton's manual that says to go through the process of moving each cylinder to TDC then torque the locking nuts to 20 while checking pushrods for binding--that's how I did it when I first rebuilt the motor. Does anyone know if the way I did it as first explained is safe for the engine or do I risk problems with uneven torque distribution across my rocker arms and do I need to go back and do the cylinder by cylinder method?

[johnta1]

It won't matter.

[chlebowskicj]

OK, good to hear.
Thanks!

[Malky]

I personally would have done the TDC method just to be sure everthing was installed correctly, but if you have stock cam, lifters, and valvtrain, and it is running OK, it should be OK.