title says it all. I have a lunati bracket master II Cam and I'm going with hardened push rods. I've bent a few standard rods and my rocker arms have been wandering off. how do guide plates bolt on? will I need the rocker arm study mount conversion kit?

 

Unless your heads have had screw in studs already installed, you cannot put guide plates on 400 heads. The stock 400 rockers had self aligning with sled fulcrums. (pedestal rockers)

 

Like was said, no guide plates needed for stock heads. Something is not right with your installation, I suggest checking for proper pushrod length and making sure the rockers are installed correctly.

 

Crane do a bolt on guide plate conversion for fitting roller rockers.
Agree, sounds like you have an issue there with alignment?

 

I'm bullet proofing the heads. comp cams dual valve springs, comp cams High energy push rods, hardened guide plates, and steel roller rockers. What size studs will I need? I'm new to adjusting the rockers, since the stock are pedestal, self align. The push rods are standard 9.5" length. How do I adjust it if needed? shims?

 

Well if your aim is to "bullet proof" the valve train, the LAST thing you want to do is half *** the heads by using the pedestal to stud conversion kit. These kits have studs with a 5/16" bottom thread and a 3/8 top thread that screw directly into the 5/16" rocker bolt holes, the guide plates are also held in place by the same puny 5/16 bottom thread. If you're going to keep the pedestal rockers you can tailor the geometry by using either shims under the pedestal or changing the pushrod lengths. You didn't say what rocker fulcrums you're using now, are they the aluminum ones, or are they iron ? If they're aluminum, then you need to switch to the better iron ones, which can be found on the 80's 351M/400 and the 385 series truck engines (370 and 460's)

 

With a hyd. camshaft, we only use the Scorpion pedestal rocker arms.
We have used them with roller cams over .600" lift.
No machining required.
You can still use a harden push rod if you think you need it.

 

The stock fulcrums were aluminum. I got the comp cams part #1411 roller rockers. I don't mind going to a 3/8" or 7/16" thread in the heads for studs. I found the crane 5/16-7/16 studs for 72.99 plus shipping through summit, but I'll probably end up getting the heads machined for 3/8" and make it a little cheaper.

 

. I'd go 7/16" threads since even then you're only talking a 3/8" bolt base under the threads... with 3/8" threads, you're down to a wimpy 5/16" bolt base... and, of course, 5/16" threads have tiny 1/4" base... with 7/16" threads you can get 3/8" or 7/16" top ends on the nut style studs...

 

if my memory's good the stock bolts for perestal still 5/16. So i bought the conversion kit for screw in stud(5/16 in head) to accept 7/16 roller rockers with guide plate. I bought a pushrods lenght adjuster to mesure the proper lenght of pushrods need for the good geometrie of the valve train. I bought roller rockers from crane cams fully rollers everywhere and aluminium but the ratio was 1.7 compare to stock 1.73 . i recommend using scorpion. less troubles. you can also machine the heads like tom monroe book show with all the spec need for machining, taping & drilling. How to rebuilt 351c,351m,400....very helpfull book since i'v done the rebuilt myself.

http://351cleveland.wikifoundry.com/...conversion+kit

http://www.summitracing.com/int/part...-size/6-6l-400

i only went with the crane cams roller rocker arm because a freind of mine sell me the 16 kit for 100$ in the box brand new.

 

.. I'll prolly just use the stock rocker arms... or stock replacements if originals have already had it... shimming as necessary...

 

bent pushrod ? do you know if your heads have been shave? or the block decked ? this can change your pushrods lenght. if so you'll need shorther pushrods. if your not sure just buy a pushrods lenght checker.

COMP Cams® - Pushrods

how to know your lenght with a black marker on tip of valves: Setting Pushrods Length, Quick and Easy- Car Craft Magazine