In the process of slowly doing up the 72 Galaxies engine, 400 (now a 410) it is running so not getting too frustrated. Next on the list is either butcher my set of headers into the engine bay, or get a set of roller rockers. Just missed out on a set of YT5006's for a good price on evilbay (approx $350US) vs the asking price of new ones of $800+. Wasnt too upset as that was my limit but now have in my head that I must get some. I will not be taking the heads off for machining so I have several options.
I either get a set of standard 1.73x7/16 rockers (which ones?) and get a set of the crane rocker conversion guideplates, studs etc, and bolt them in.
OR buy a set of non adjustable pedastal types (scorpion come to mind and the guru T Meyer likes them so thats a big tick).
OR a set of these- FORD RACING 351C 429 460 PEDASTAL 1.73 ADJUSTABLE ROCKER ARM SET M-6564-C351C-(or similiar). Yella terra do a set like them and say they are good cheap replacement items for the stamped steel jobs and still want 1000+ for them!!! actually think that was for some other non adjustable ones-just as wrong! Whats the go with that, dont seem a good alternative at all. All up budget cant crack the $450 mark with freight.
There are a lot of good looking sets there in the US that are significantly cheaper than the exact same ones here in OZ but up to $80 freight ruins it, and then they are awfully close to the local alternatives.
In saying that I may have a place one of our suppliers uses to import stuff so the freight will only be in the US and sometimes that is free.
Has anyone used those ford racing rockers listed above-they have an adjustable cup on the pushrod end-or at least give me some ideas on the rest of the stuff? Past experience is invaluable and they are definitely not all created equal - dont even mention Procomp, I dont know if they are the same things as in Aussie, but over here everything they do is junk.
There is also a filthy rumour out there that BB chev rockers are the same and indeed some suppliers do list the 351C-429-460-454 etc in the same details. Comments? That should be enough for some robust discussion and if anyone has some good ones for sale I may be interested at the right price. Cheers

 

BBC rockers are NOT the same.

 

Fair enough. What is the difference?

 

B.B Chevy 1.7 ratio will not produce good valve train geometry in Ford heads, forget those. I'd probably get the headers instead, you will get more out of those.

 

Got the headers, but they are from another model. Forget about a factory fit bolt in set as it is a Ford Australia conversion and there is nothing on the shelf to fit, so while I wont pay the 800+ everyone keeps quoting me to make a set, I just have to steel myself for some bruised knuckles, burnt skin and lost hair with the fit. NOT looking forward to fitting the set in the steering side as the starter is there also and not much room and I also have to beg-borrow-steal a small mig for the fit.
The engine has been rebuilt with the valve train about the only thing left as standard. I did not see the point in buying a set of OEM replacement rocker arms for approx $100-120 when that would go towards a set of proper rollers.
I would rather go with the "sportsman" roller tip only types if that was the case but would always kick myself knowing I should have gone for full rollers. I do that now as the engine was dual fuel (gas+propane) and for power I should have gone dedicated propane and got my compression right up and really made it snort.
For now I settle for the smaller bolt ons and it actually goes pretty good anyway so any of these will make a difference. any more help with suggestions on the rockers?

 

Dont be such a tight a*#se smify by the time you work out what ya gunna do you would have saved another couple of hundy then you could go arround the corner to High Perfomance World and buy a set of YT rollers with the adjuster at push rod end. I put a set in my 351c just recently and have taken it to 5500 rpm on a number of times with no trouble. If ya gunna try and go the cheap all the time you are lookin for trouble. Just remember how much time you spend on your baby and the outcomes you achieve. It will be worth it.

 

Not so much worried about cheap just cheap and nasty. A lot of rockers out there but I do realise not all created equal hence this thread. Especially if comparing to US suppliers.
How much did you go on the YT jobbies?

 

Craig... you an' Wallingnuma sound like good friends if not BROTHERS. LMAO. I can just hear the banter between you two guys over being cheap an'/or getting a really good deal. I would love to be there. Popa John

 

Ha, I hear you. As I said there is major disparity between certain rockers (good name brands especially) and what you pay for them in the US. BUT then they want 80-90 us to freight them over here and then not so good. Looked up the new Lunati jobbies (Black and shiny...mmmm), not too bad price either (under 300). Emailed them for freight details and then realised after I hit send that freight in the US is free, so I have to consider that when buying.
Anyone else with experience on these in regards to what to stay away from of the next best thing that hasnt taken off yet?

 

W/numa, just had a look at HP world just in case. +300 aussie for Comp cam magnum 1411-16's that are only 150US, approx $650 for the YT rockers you suggested. Cheapest Harland Sharp rocker for the clevo was $520 and the two different HS bolt on adjustable ones were over 700 and 800 respectively. Thats why I am looking in the Us, I just cant afford it.

 

Yer no worries miffy good to see ya shopin arround. I liked those Harland but they wern,t available when I needed them and I was talked into the YT ones they cost 750 aussie including frieght so I went with them. I am happy with them but at first when they arrived in the box I must admit I felt a bit ripped off as they looked a bit ordinary. Any way put them on and no regrets they have performed well for street use only though. Goin out the road with a few mates finding a straight road and givin her a flogin no worries. In my other motor (351c with solid lifters and stud adjusters) I have YT rollers as well and that motor really cranks it has the closed chamber 2v heads with the big valves. They are the heads me ol mate mark. a. couldn't get his head arround. Any how keep up the good work. All you guys are a great pool of info and entertainment.

Cheers

 

Hey all good. Found a good site with some Howards cams jobbies for under$300. I believe that Howards makes good gear yes?
Supplier suggests they are not rebuildable though-will do some more research. Leaning back to the new shiny black Lunatis mentioned earlier but I still have to by studs/guideplates etc ala the crane stud adapter set, but the ford racing ones don't need them-they are the same as those yella terra items with the adj push rod cup.

 

What type of heads are they ie; where the rocker bolts on is it a pedistal type or just flat for the stud type?
Also depends how much work is the motor gunna do is it daily driver or weekend wonderer.

 

I used the 1.7 ratio from crane cam and got perfect geometry with pushrods lenght adjuster then order the good length pushrods. visit
COMP Cams® - Pushrods

I used a black marker on the tip of the valve then rotate the engine. The patern is in the middle of the valve.

 

heads are pedastal 2V 302cc aussie heads and it is only a weekend warrior really. Cant justify top end items but dont want cheap and nasties to break either.
I have no problems setting up the chevvy items if i really have to. I do understand setting up the rocker tip on the valve. I even went to the trouble of checking my hydraulic lifters when I reassembled my engine for correct valve lash (did find one I had to mess with). Did not go so far as to try to get the original stamped rockers set up on the valve. Like the idea of the ford racing ones with the adjustable push-rod cup (like some of the yella terras). Gives you the option to shim the rockers to get the tip to tip thing right, then set up the pushrod with the adjuster and you dont need over $100 woth of the crane guideplates etc. just heard back from Lunati, the new shine black ones of theirs aren't rebuildable and they do not consider alloy ones rebuildable. Interesting. Looking at flatlander racing for bits, they arent badly priced. Anyone used them-are they any good?