I just pulled my Dove adjustable rocker set to replace a cracked push rod and now I have to send the 4 damaged Dove Rockers and 4 damaged push rods back to DSC. I'll start calling Dennis Monday and put them in The mail Monday. I am putting my stock non adjustable rockers back on until that issue is taken care of. I got my bolts out of order when I saw the damage and have loaned my Steve Christ book out. Is the oiling bolt on the right hand (passenger) side of the engine the third one back from the front? The one that has the bevel on the head itself? On top of #3? Thanks Charles

 

Yes. I don't even try to keep those bolts straight, just look for the bevel with the hole in the side on the head.

 

Thanks Bear thats what I thought. Do you remember the torque on them and sequence to torque them? I'm lost with out my book I think its 45# and 1324. Sorry to be a pain. Charles

 

My Ford book says 40-45#.

 

What's the damage on the rockers? Good luck with Dennis.
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draw down the assembly evenly till snug and then torque to specs from the two inside bolt working out.

 

Thanks every one for all the info. I'm lost with out my Steve Christ book.
Beemer I found out that the dsc rods sent to me with the new dover rockers in the same box are to long for dove rods. What was happening on 5 rockers was that when I had them adjusted it was so close to the rocker that they hit the bottom of it with the push rod cup. This of course indented the rocker and over time craked and broke the cup on the pushrod. The new Crane adjustable rockers are 3/16 shorter. I just cleaned up the bottom of the rockers with my dremel tool after completly breaking down both rocker assb. I had some tiny pieces of rod cup in the oil passages and got them cleaned up and all back together and on the truck. I'm looking for my valve covers with the tops cut out and then I'll start it up. They were adjusted so close to rocker they just hit it as well. The cranes are adjusted now and they are out far enough that they wont hit the rockers like they are supposed to be. So if any one wants to run the Doves adj. rockers with the $40 DSC rods be sure to tell them NO.
I,ll still call Dennis tomorrow and talk to him about this. I,ll get back on here after I start it up and let you know but I think it will be fine now, Thanks every one, Charles

 

Started it up and set the timing. Idled good and took it out for a drive. 1st 5 miles every thing was good at 55mph. Kicked it up to 70 and every thing was fine for a few minutes and then a developed a miss. Vacum gauge went nuts bouncing from 5 to 25 real fast. I,ll pull the valve covers in the morning and check them. If its what I think I,ll just install the stock valve train and go again. Thanks every one Charles

 

I have had some valve train problems lately with recently installed adjustable rockers.So I sympathize with your agravation,and will follow this thread with interest.

 

I guess I'm just lucky or something but #1 adjuster nuts had backed off allowing the adjuster screw to move. Not much but enough to miss. Took both valve covers off and installed my half valve covers and reset them all again and every thing is fine. I dont know if they backed off or more than likely I didnt tighten em down good enough. Anyway Its all good now and no damage done. Just wanted to let ya know. Thanks again every one. Charles

 

Seetwisted, What brand/ kind of adjustables did you get? What kind of pushrods? Let us know and what kind of problems your having.

 

charles, on those Dove roller tip rockers the thread is 3/8 x 24 tpi.
For your preload adjustment range of .0208" will be 1/2 turn after the pushrod gets resistance on rotation. For the upper end of preload .0625" will be 1 1/2 turns. For .0416" use 1 full turn, to be in the middle of the lifter preload range of .03125" use 3/4 turn preload. I have a brand new Dove rocker given to me after a friend running Dove rockers had a rocker failures on a 427 Cobra that destroyed a motor. Later he built a 454 and ran FPP roller rockers like I have that can be rebushed.
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I started my simple upgrade with finding a set of Crane rockers on eBay. I didn't have pushrods so I looked again on eBay and found some pushrods from a high performance store by the name Mad Dog.The cups had grooves in them that caused me to look twice but I used them any way.After the install I was very pleased but was noticing ticking that was getting worse,after re-adjusting it was starting to tick badly again so I took another look to find that the "grooves" had worn the ***** on the adjusters down.S-o-o-o...I ordered a new set of adjusters from Crane.And decided that the cups were never finished on the pushrods.I took a 3/8" round carbide burr and cleaned out the cups.Now we start again...I started noticing a tick getting worse again,After re-adjusting again and it ticking again I had two push rods drop out/bend on the free way. I opened it up and found that one of the adjusters had broken off at the lock-nut,and another was cracked the same, and broke off while trying to adjust again.I "mickeyed" everything together again,and ordered a set of Barry Anderson adjusters...Again with the ticking, Again I open it up,and two more adjusters have cracked. I put the new adjusters in and they look and feel good when adjusting but I'd like them a little longer, so I only put tham on one side for now. My conclusions: I screwed up with the push-rods so now I'm looking for a better set. And the second set of Crane adjusters were over hardened and made brittle.And the Barry Anderson adjusters seem nice but short,so I've decided to make my own adjusters.Now if my truck will keep running until I'm ready to do this dance again...

 

Thanks Beemer, I got it close with out knowing this. I adjusted them 1/2 turn after resistance on rotation and when they tightened down they went about another 1/8 to 3/16 of a turn more. I would say I am 5/8 to 11/16 turns. This sounds ok according to your specifications. I hate to hear about your friends 427 Cobra and I hate to here it was Dove rockers on it that failed. Yea I wish mine had bronze bushings like yours but I have to have something to do after I finsh this engine so I'll put that on my list of wants in the next year and hope Santa brings me some. I dont know if Santa will have room for those FPP rockers in his sleigh with that cammer I asked for. lol Thanks I appreciate it Beemer

 

Question I have is FPP still around and their rockers as I purchased mine 19 years ago and rockers were cheaper back then? They are 1" wide with two 7/16" wide brass bushings, I had oil flooding problems in the top end as the bushing were worn egg shape between .011" and .014" at 473K. Pressed out the old and installed 1" wide oillite bushings, reamed for nice tight clearance, that was 254K miles ago and they're still the same clearance, shafts look like new. The advantage of FPP rockers was because of the bushings should they need (did) replacement as well i'm not a fan of aluminum as a bearing surface like Dove's rockers. With your new Dove rockers I would use new shafts only.
By the way, the broken Dove rocker piece went between another rocker and spring retainer, keepers came out piston ate valve as well the bore, head, and rod, this happend around 74 to 7,600 rpm's.
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