rocker arm? cam? new SL owner HELP!
 

Just bought my 1st '85 380 SL. It has 150,000 miles and had the "top" of the engine done at 135k. Been told it needs rocker arm(s) and possibly cam. Different mechanics, different views.
One said if you replace one arm you might as well replace all of them.?? Does replacing the rocker(s) go hand in hand with replacing the cam?"
Another said when the top was done it should have been helicoiled. I dont think it was.
Im a little (lot!) nervous about the whole experience($).
And I really just want the car to tool around town in.
Theres a spot of oil under the car when its parked also.
After driving it 500 miles, oil is down maybe 1/2 quart.
Thoughts for this newbie are appreciated.
Any reasonable good repair shops in Bergen County NJ?

MB says that one must replace all rockers when replacing a cam. They also say one must replace a cam if a rocker is worn.

In practice, on old motors not destined for a few hundred k more hard miles, replacing rockers as necessary is a common occurance. The rocker goes first and if caught quickly enough the cam will weather the storm. If you can see a line of wear across the cam or any reduction in profile the cam has had it.

I have put rockers on every manner of worn cam and if the cam is really gouged the new rocker probably won't last 10k miles.

If the cam only has radial lines and no cross wise groove or line a new rocker will last indefinitely. In a motor with a single noisey worn rocker the rest of the rockers are also shot (if all this is virgin and no one has already fixed it with a single rocker).

I always advise replacing all the rockers when one has failed. When you view the failed rocker there will be a groove. If you look at the rest of the rockers you will find varying amounts of failure of the surface hardened contact point. Some will have holes in the hardening others just a line across the face. All with any of such should be replaced if you don't wish to replace the cam and definitely if you are replacing the cam.

rocker reply
 

THanks for much for that info. I can go into the repair shop armed with some intelligence. Can I use aftermarket products for the cam or do you recommend OEM?
And...what happens if I dont do ANYTHING and dont replace the rockers and cam? Am I doing damage to the car?