Cast 273 rockers or factory steel rockers budget 360?

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Ol'forest

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Whats anyone's experience on using 273 rockers on a 360, with hydraulic lifters. I ask because that's what I have and I'm trying to keep costs down. But am I better sticking with the pressed steel rockers. Has anyone broken the 273 rockers?
 
Whats anyone's experience on using 273 rockers on a 360, with hydraulic lifters. I ask because that's what I have and I'm trying to keep costs down. But am I better sticking with the pressed steel rockers. Has anyone broken the 273 rockers?


I’d use a 273 rocker long before I would use a stamped rocker.
 
^^ get your preload right the first time with no custom pushrods, just use the T/A pushrod part number^^^
Also get you a more consistent ratio.
 
I've used those a lot!
They're as cast ratio is very close to 1.5:1.
Most of the time a bit over.
The biggest draw-back I've encountered is the OE adjusters coming loose..
I have even re-ratio'd them to a whopping 1.64:1 using a 7/16 adjuster :)
20181130_143405.jpg
 
if you use cup adjusters and ball & ball pushrods you can go more
use cup adj anyway and stiff pushrods even with a mild cam
but below .525 stamped rockers can save some money
not for stiff springs or cams that require stiff springs (unless rules force you)
done it lots of times with dc and Engle
crane mopar lobes & similar
have not tried with the new howard or comp HL
still have to check pushrod length
voodoo should work
 
Unless you're running solid lifters, I don't see any advantage of running the 273 adjustable rockers on a hydraulic cam. If your shafts are good, just buy new rockers to go on them and new push rods.
 
@Ol'forest
Unless you're running solid lifters, I don't see any advantage of running the 273 adjustable rockers on a hydraulic cam. If your shafts are good, just buy new rockers to go on them and new push rods.
The advantage is a better rocker & less flex with a more accurate ratio and a longer service life potential with bigger cams.

The OE stamped rockers are notorious for having less than a 1.5 ratio. With stiffer springs they tend to wear out in the pushrods cup area. They are fine for low lift mild spring cams.
 
I never tried to run the 273 rockers with hydraulic lifters. I have successfully ran stamp steel rockers with a hydraulic cam in my drag car for almost a decade without an issue. I used 2 camshafts during the time period. The Mopar Performance .533 and a Comps .519/.524. Shifted the engine at 6,000 and trapped at 6400. Made prob close to 2,000 passes during that time period without an issue. Was using Eledbrock heads with the springs they come with. Did change them out once for the exact same thing. I have now since swapped to a solid cam and use 273 rockers without an issue. I wouldn't hesitate to use stamped rockers on a mild budget build, just inspect and make sure they aren't worn out and you will be okay.
 
if you use cup adjusters and ball & ball pushrods you can go more
use cup adj anyway and stiff pushrods even with a mild cam
but below .525 stamped rockers can save some money
not for stiff springs or cams that require stiff springs (unless rules force you)
done it lots of times with dc and Engle
crane mopar lobes & similar
have not tried with the new howard or comp HL
still have to check pushrod length
voodoo should work

Duely noted!
Do you think its because the contact point is closer to the fulcrum?
Looks like I will digging around for some more stashed rockers.. lol
 
Unless you are running a lot of spring pressure the hydraulic rockers are stone axe simple, work for 100,000 + miles, and are still good to go. Just bolt on the shaft and good to go, no complications.
 
@Ol'forest

The advantage is a better rocker & less flex with a more accurate ratio and a longer service life potential with bigger cams.

The OE stamped rockers are notorious for having less than a 1.5 ratio. With stiffer springs they tend to wear out in the pushrods cup area. They are fine for low lift mild spring cams.

Thanks Rob. I guess I worded what I wrote kinda wrong...lol. I should have put that if I was running a hydraulic cam small enough to need nothing more than a stock J converter, the stock stamped rockers should be good. Personally, if I was gonna step up from those...it would be straight to good, reputable roller rockers and be done with it. :)
 
Thanks Rob. I guess I worded what I wrote kinda wrong...lol. I should have put that if I was running a hydraulic cam small enough to need nothing more than a stock J converter, the stock stamped rockers should be good. Personally, if I was gonna step up from those...it would be straight to good, reputable roller rockers and be done with it. :)

A “Stock J?” You mean super stock I converter from MP?
:lol:
I get what your saying. The factory adjustable units are very strong and will last a very long time even if they go under a bit of stress. Being adjustable, you could very well get a better geometry set up from them. The OE stamped aren’t great in this area ether. It makes you wonder why the factory used them on the TA/AAR cars?

Think about it for a while. Even though your not using cams like the teams did in the Trans Am Racing circuit.
 
Okay good info, so I shouldn't worry about them breaking esp with the spring pressures I'm likely to generate.
Now where will I find some cupped adjusters?
 
Okay good info, so I shouldn't worry about them breaking esp with the spring pressures I'm likely to generate.
Now where will I find some cupped adjusters?


There is no reason to use cup adjusters. You can’t just screw them in and go.

I’m baffled that people still advocate for stamped rockers.
 
There is no reason to use cup adjusters. You can’t just screw them in and go.

I’m baffled that people still advocate for stamped rockers.
I have loads of NOS lifters, a set of stock hydraulic push rods, what should I do to use the 273 rockers? Replace the rods or adjusters? Also I'm assuming standard rocker shaft is ok, but what about oiling to the top end of the push rods? how does oil get in through the adjusters?
 
I have loads of NOS lifters, a set of stock hydraulic push rods, what should I do to use the 273 rockers? Replace the rods or adjusters? Also I'm assuming standard rocker shaft is ok, but what about oiling to the top end of the push rods? how does oil get in through the adjusters?


You use ball and cup pushrods that are the correct length for hydraulic lifters.

The oil to the adjuster gets through the rocker via a hole in the rocker. The shafts need a banana groove across the hole in the bottom of the shaft.

There really should be a hole in the shaft that lines up with the hole in the rocker, but millions of miles have been put on this stuff without that hole.
 
cup rockers allow a larger longer pushrod and the cup does not hit the rocker
what's not to like
you can use oil through the pushrods to lube your balls
or line up the squirt holes the way yr has shown
 
It takes a little work to get the 273 adjustable rockers to real performance status. All you need to do is get the good Crane adjusters with the lock nut. You need to face the top of the adjuster holes in the rockers so the nuts will tighten down evenly. Once you do that, they will not back off. With good oiling, those little rockers are good to .600 lift and can take solid roller spring pressures......but the oiling has to be good.
 
It takes a little work to get the 273 adjustable rockers to real performance status. All you need to do is get the good Crane adjusters with the lock nut. You need to face the top of the adjuster holes in the rockers so the nuts will tighten down evenly. Once you do that, they will not back off. With good oiling, those little rockers are good to .600 lift and can take solid roller spring pressures......but the oiling has to be good.
Yep, 273 rockers are strong and work well. It's always a crap shoot discussion as to whether they are needed or necessary for a stock or mild hydraulic cam. I say no.
 
Yep, 273 rockers are strong and work well. It's always a crap shoot discussion as to whether they are needed or necessary for a stock or mild hydraulic cam. I say no.

Me too. Get close to or surpass .500 lift and they become beneficial.
 
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