Is it a immediate problem?

Cobain03 said:

i can hear a...maybe a rocker flappin under the valve covers when i first start the car up on a cold start. is this so important that i should brake it down today? i dont drive the car but to the end of the drive way and back (about a mile round trip), but will be a daily driver come in december. ha ha snow weather and usin it as my DD but i gotta. any suggestions??

Click to expand...

Probably just needs adjustment. I keep a spare set of valve covers with the tops cut out for this; and I use neoprene gaskets so they can be reused. Swap the covers and then idle the engine until hot, then back off each rocker nut until it just starts to tap, then take it down until it stops. Then another 3/4 turn, slowly. My guess is that one of the nuts backed out, I've had that happen. It is not serious but should not be left to go very long because the rocker to valve tip surfaces will wear. It is easier to adjust when the engine is not running, but not nearly as accurate in my experience. Takes about an hour. I touch mine up every year.

Pulling the covers off is a 10 min job, and dealing with the valve train is simple.

did 289 heads have the adjustable rockers? or are they the "bolt em down as tight as you can get em and go" heads?