@Draco-REX

Here's were element tuning first encountered the problem:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73858

And if you scroll down a little on this page it talks about it briefly:
http://elementtuning.com/competition...r-wrx-fa20dit/

Again hopefully that's all your problem is.

Edit:

There was also a more recent occurance and I believe all that was needed was a new cam and rocker.

I don't want to get my hopes up, but I'm starting to think I dodged a bullet here. A week can't go by fast enough.

Rockers fail. It happens without oil starvation. Common causes are extra revs and especially hitting the rev limiter.

I did bounce off the Rev limiter a couple times. But I believe Delicious uses a soft limiter.

Valve springs help big time. Seems like they float a little with stock springs at the limiter and the rocker looses the direct pressure/contact and the smacking lets the pin walk out. We had a built motor a year and a half ago shoot out a rocker. Pulled it back out and replaced everything that broke and installed springs/retainers per full blown and it's been good since. Have 3 built motors revving to 8300rpm with ferrea springs and retainers and all have been good since that first one let go

Newb Question, what does eating a rocker mean?

It just means one of the rocker arms in the head broke.

In this case, the pin that helps keep the rocker in place had a manufacturing defect, causing it to come out and let the rocker loose. The rocker is between the rotating cam and spring-loaded valve. So it get spat out with enough force to crack or even go through the valve cover.

In b4 @Tcoat somehow finds a relevant picture

Generally don't play in the tech threads but that sounds like a challenge.


http://24.media.tumblr.com/e988266c6...zsmdo1_500.gif

Sorry, not buying this. @Draco-REX's failure happened as he was approaching a red light. Not exactly the type of situation you'd expect to see fuel starvation.

ZB got the valve cover off and was able to get a good look at the damage. He confirmed rocker failure as the cause. Unfortunately when the rocker came loose it damaged the head. So the engine is getting pulled and the head removed. We'll give the cylinders a good look and see if forged internals is warranted. I really wish there were aftermarket rockers available.

No pictures yet.

Did you ever extend your rpm over factory at any point?

@Element Tuning offers rockers with secured axles to prevent them from sliding out.