2003 Discovery SE (USA)

While changing my valve cover gaskets I noticed the front RH rocker had a larger gap between it and the rocker pillar. No other rocker arms have this gap. See pic.

This is normal or is the arm worn? Never worked on engine internals before.

The engine was completely rebuilt by D&D in Almont, MI about 2 years ago (previous owner).

 

Bump

The split pin and washer look like they're doing a fine job keeping the rocker arm on the shaft.

Gave the rocker a couple of light taps with a rubber mallet and it slipped back against the rocker pillar.

I'm going to toss the valve cover back on tonight unless someone thinks this is going to destroy my engine in the next 6 months.

 

I wish I could provide positive feedback to your concerns, here, but I didn't look that hard at my rocker shafts last time I had them off. Rover wasn't too concerned with tolerances in their production of the D2, if it makes you feel any better. I'm sure that the rocker arm will ride within the towers without any issue, unless you happened to find scoring of the shaft as if it had been in a bind at some point while it was rotating; that's the 1st thing I'd have looked for but you didn't give us a lot of pictures to go on. Look through the rocker shaft overhaul (12-2-59) of online workshop manual if you seek any further clarity. After you start the engine you can put a stethoscope on the R/C behind that tower you were concerned with & listen for suspicious sounds. Now that I think about it, I would have taken several different measurements comparing it with the other rocker shaft, along with anything else that may have distinguishing specs'