roller rockers?
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New User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: florida
roller rockers?
Hey guys:
Im considering crane roller rockers for my 400. It says if they are pedistal mount the heads need machining. Is this true for the 400? Im pretty sure these heads are pedistal mount. Ive had others tell me they are a direct bolt on. Im checking with you guys first before I go any further.
Thanks, jdog
Im considering crane roller rockers for my 400. It says if they are pedistal mount the heads need machining. Is this true for the 400? Im pretty sure these heads are pedistal mount. Ive had others tell me they are a direct bolt on. Im checking with you guys first before I go any further.
Thanks, jdog
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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They are not a direct bolt on for the 400. I checked into this at Summit Racing last year, and I ended up with the Harland Sharp roller rockers that also require the pedistals to be machined off for stud mount. The Harland Sharp rockers were alot cheaper than the Crane rockers. Before you buy anything, check out TMI's site. He offers direct bolt on roller rockers. Had I known these were available, that is what I would have bought for a set of factory 400 heads. Oh well, live and learn.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
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I'm running the Crane bolt-on adjustable roller kit on one engine and the Scorpion non-adjustable bolt-ons that Tim sells on another. I'll be sticking with the Scorpions for most future builds (much cheaper than the Crane kit)..or the nearly-identical Angus bolt-ons(which Tim also sells). I have also used the Crane roller-fulcrum kit on several engines, but that costs as much as a complete set of the Scorpion or Angus rockers...which were not available back when I bought the roller-fulcrum conversion kits.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,620
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From: Albuquerque
If you are going to run roller rockers I would definitely make sure they were adjustable. They wont be exactly the same dimensions as the stock and are usually used in conjunction with head work that can change your lifter preload. (valve seates, head milling etc.). Bad pushrod geometry and lifter preload can cause problems down the road.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Western Slope, Colorado
I have a picture of some Ford Motorsport Roller Rockers installed in my gallery. At the time I purchased these there did not seem to be too many options for bolt on roller rockers. I have about thirty thousand miles on this engine at this point. I checked the roller rockers about 4 months ago and they looked fine and I have been happy with them. I did have some valve cover baffle clearance issues after the gaskets had seated in and compressed over time. The valve covers are FMS also, did they run these with their rockers when they designed them? Who knows.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Eastern Pa
I've been running the Scorpions on mine since my build. I had no clearance issues with stock valve covers. They require no work on the head, you must use the shims that come with them and make sure you get the preload right.
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x2. I've got the Scorpions on a set of Aussie heads in my '69 EB that are cut about .015 and the pedestal shims were all that was required to get the rocker geometry right with stock pushrods.
FWIW..the adjustable Crane bolt-ons required a non-stock length push-rod to get the geometry correct...also on an Aussie-head 408.
FWIW..the adjustable Crane bolt-ons required a non-stock length push-rod to get the geometry correct...also on an Aussie-head 408.
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,561
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From: Earth
You just need the conversion kit, NO machining required and I'm running stock length push rods 
The only down side is it does get a bit spendy $$$. I had to get the SVO tall valve covers. I have the Crane conversion kit and roller rockers.
Part Numbers:
Conversion Kit-- CRN-52655-16
Roller Rockers-- CRN-13744-16
Here's a pic of mine
The only down side is it does get a bit spendy $$$. I had to get the SVO tall valve covers. I have the Crane conversion kit and roller rockers.Part Numbers:
Conversion Kit-- CRN-52655-16
Roller Rockers-- CRN-13744-16
Here's a pic of mine
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Senior User
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That is the same conversion kit I have on one too. In fairness, the need for my pushrod length change was probably related to the non-stock valves I was using and how much I cut both the heads and the block on that engine. They were not far off..but far enough that I changed to a pushrod that was .100" shorter than stock to put the roller tips where they belonged. Biggest beef I had was that I have to pull all the rocker studs to remove the little guide plates to get a socket on the nuts on my head studs.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,561
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From: Earth
Originally Posted by bmc69
That is the same conversion kit I have on one too. In fairness, the need for my pushrod length change was probably related to the non-stock valves I was using and how much I cut both the heads and the block on that engine. They were not far off..but far enough that I changed to a pushrod that was .100" shorter than stock to put the roller tips where they belonged. Biggest beef I had was that I have to pull all the rocker studs to remove the little guide plates to get a socket on the nuts on my head studs.
New User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Whitehall, Michigan
Jdog
I have a 400 with Angus roller rockers. I was going to get the Scorpions but TMI had a good price on that set so I went with them instead. My pushrod length was stock and all the other parts (valves, springs, etc) were new so the install was a snap. If you go with this type make sure to pick up a shim kit incase you need to adjust a little.
Good Luck
I have a 400 with Angus roller rockers. I was going to get the Scorpions but TMI had a good price on that set so I went with them instead. My pushrod length was stock and all the other parts (valves, springs, etc) were new so the install was a snap. If you go with this type make sure to pick up a shim kit incase you need to adjust a little.
Good Luck
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
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Heads cut .015 and block cut .010...but I suspect that one or both had been previously cut on the engine that required shorter pushrods and I didn't take the time to blueprint it.....we were in a hurry to get a rig ready for a competition..
Said engine was subsequently found to be unable to maintain proper oil pressure after a very liberal addition of mud/silt to the oil and is being disassembled now for a new bottom end...which will include one of Tim's stroker kits when we get to it. We are going to try something a 'little different' with CN machining the piston tops when we do assemble it again so will cc the Oz heads and measure the actual deck height carefully this time.
Said engine was subsequently found to be unable to maintain proper oil pressure after a very liberal addition of mud/silt to the oil and is being disassembled now for a new bottom end...which will include one of Tim's stroker kits when we get to it. We are going to try something a 'little different' with CN machining the piston tops when we do assemble it again so will cc the Oz heads and measure the actual deck height carefully this time.