i am doing a basic rebuild on a H22A4 engine. After i sent the head and block to the machine shop, my mechanic told me i may want to replace all the rocker arm asy. I looked and there was significant wear, you can feel a ridge if you run your finger accross it, however at 100 bucks a pop X8 is rather expensive. Is there any alternative to this problem or will i be better off forking over the money for new rocker arms. The car is a 99 prelude base model with 140K on the engine. Thanks in advanced for the information.

 

I've seen several people resurface them, and that's what I've done before to put a fresh surface on them to wear into a new set of cams. If you are using the same cams and the wear is not really bad, I'd just put them all back in their original positions as they're already worn to match the cams. You may also be able to find some used ones around that are in good condition. Maybe someone has a head off a blown up engine that still has good rockers in it. You could probably get a whole head in good shape for less than 800. Good luck.

 

Find a used head with good rockers that you can throw in your head for considerably less. Just run a good oil when you run your engine from now on. Shell Rotella-t triple protection has worked VERY well for me. And its much cheaper at about $13 a gallon, and puts out better wear protection than most stuff for $13 a qt.

But your oil was 100% the cause of this rocker arm wear.

 

Thanks for the advice, I proposed to my mechanic if they could be resurfaced but he told me he didn't know of anyone who could. Flyrod, do you know a reputable shop that could, if so how much would it cost, I don't mind shipping them off if it ends up being less expensive. As far as the cams go, I plan on getting a pair of sk2 stage 1.

 

Honda changed the rocker arms in 97. All the people I've come across with excessive rocker wear (including myself) have had it with h22a4's. Find a h22a/1 head and you should be ok.

 

Never thought about that, but its true. Funny though, they should have toughened them up before when the oil was better. Kinda backwards.

 

so even though i have already dumped some money into the original head ~400. Do you think it would be more beneficial to purchase a head from a H22A1 and build on that? If so, is there any kind of additional conversions that need to be down to accomodate the change. Thanks.

 

Find a H22a/1 head, take the rockers arms and cams (run a matched set of cams and rockers if using stock cams) and resell it.

 

Yeah, keep your head, just throw the new rockers in.

 

Here is one thing. You are planning on putting in a Skunk 2 cam u may just want to get a used set of rockers because u will be changing them again. The resson people see the wear on the newwer rocker is because the cams are more agressive. Your oil may help but not with the Sk2 cams. I may have a set to let go PM me if u want them.

 

anyone know of a place that can resurface the rocker arms.

 

Incorrect.

 

so you are saying that 5th gens have different cams than 4th gens? never heard that 1 b4

 

I just looked up the p/n's earlier actually because of something else. The intake cams are different, but the exhaust cams are the same (I'm guessing the 4th gens were superseded since the exhaust cam p/n is P5M).

 

So does anyone know of a shop that resurfaces rocker arms. Also can I use the rocker arms from a H22a1 head on my a4 if the cam is a different size. I appreciate any input I don't want to fork over 800 bucks if I don't have to.

 

hey i will get those pictures to you soon! sorry ive been busy..

 

hey guys, just refreshing this thread because i didnt get an answer from the original post. Does anyone know of a reputable shop that will resurface rocker arms opposed to me having to buy new ones. I dont mind shipping off, so it doesnt matter if the shop isnt local for me.

OR, does anyone have either a used head on a H22A4 they want to sell with rocker arms in decent condition or just want to sell a set of rocker arms. PM me pics and a price, thanks.

 

^I just received a phone call back from my buddy at a local race shop. The only time he has seen severly bad worn rocker arms was when a cheap cam was put in, the motor was ran hard with low oil on a regular basis, or the valve lashing was far off specs. The rocker arms were made durable and reliable and should maintain the whole life of the motor (depending on how maintained). He also stated the rocker arms could not be resurfaced. Is this guy speaking the truth? Thanks in advance.