Decided to take the valve cover off the '97 Integra today to see why it was making a funny noise when we got it started. Noticed that it's missing one of the rocker arms. It is the very top left rocker arm that's closes to the distributor and it's no place to be found in the head. Only thing I can think of was that someone must have removed it on purpose.

My question is can I just push the valve down and slid another one under the cam with out having to take the whole intake cam out?

 

Werid!

But yeah you can pop a new rocker arm in there without removing the cam. I have done it on a B20B. I can't remember what I used but I pushed the valve open and slid the rocker arm in. Just remember to set the clearances. Would actually be a good time to check the clearances on all the valves unless you know when they were last checked.

BTW, in case your wondering why I had to do this, I was adjusting Valves on a B20 and let the wrench get kinda sideways and the valve pushed open a bit and the rocker arm popped out..At first it scared the **** out of me. But I figured if it came out it can go back in and it wasn't broke. Minute later it was back in.

 

holy sh## that is crazy.
you might want to do a compresion test and see it that pistion is good it could have ran lean and fu## it up

 

Story of the car is that the lady that owned it was getting a divorce and her husband fliped out. He put sugar in the gas tank and it would surprise me if he removed one to but I don't know. I know the car started and ran but it was running poorly. So hopefully after I find another rocker arm and place it in there I can see if the motor runs better. Then all I will need to do is get the sugar out the tank and fuel system.

As for why the rocker arm would be missing is beyond me, I couldn't find it no where in the head so I am thinking someone must have taking it out.

 

Might check the oil pan....not sure if the oil drain hole is large enough for it to fall down in, but it could've happened. Usually popped rockers like that mean they weren't in spec and it was over-revved....or possibly some dumbass removed it.

Also, I have a extra set of LS rockers if you need them. Basically free + shipping.