Hey Cylinder heads guys- advice needed

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I ran the Mopar long valves on W2 race heads successfully as did several others I know on both W2 and W5 heads with the Mopar iron and roller rockers. A common alternative valve is the 11/32 stem 5.300” valve.
 
You can run as long of a valve as you want, but it doesn't mean you should. With the valve lift the OP is running, and most springs available today, a .100" shorter valve would be a good move. No performance/race head should be running .200"+ coil bind clearance. The rocker shaft can be put wherever it needs to be.
 
Here are the valves I am running.

Ferreas...
1243423E-32DE-4AA8-8C3B-6051FFA41358.png
 
So, you can open your current valves the amount of the difference in OAL to those Ferrea valve lengths, and see if that solves anything or not with regards to the rocker/tip contact.
 
Thanks for the pics......

That’s a pretty noticeable difference in length between the rocker for the std head vs the W2 head.

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Here’s another person who ended up with the uneven tip heights on some w2’s:
max seat spring pressure with hydraulic roller lifter?

I’ve never heard of guys getting away with running a standard rocker on a W2 Head. I wouldn’t even think about trying that.

I have pretty limited hands on w2 experience.

I’ve done maybe 6 sets of them through the years, and only installed one set onto a motor myself.
As mentioned previously, those were short valve econo heads that I put a single shaft T&D system on.

I don’t know if I ever really gave any thought to whether the rockers were the same length as stock heads(before looking through this thread), since I would have figured one would be buying a “set” of rockers for the heads anyway, and that they’d (theoretically) be the correct length.

Through the years I’ve serviced many many heads that had been running fine with the tip heights varying by as much as the OP’s heads.
The one head where they vary .015-.030........it’s not great, but also not worth spending a pile of $$$ on correcting it either imo.
I’d work on getting the other head with the bigger tip height discrepancy so it’s in that same .015-.030 range and call it good.
Then I’d find some exhaust rockers that are longer than the 273 rockers(as in, correct length w2 ex rockers).
 
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I did.
Isn’t that the core of hot rodding? Trying stuff that hasn’t been tried?


I probably have 8-10 sets of Harland Sharp rockers I’ve bought over the years but when I bought my old W2 heads I went searching out W2 rockers. I ended up with a set of Cranes and a set of Direct Connection. Every engine book I ever read always stated W2 rockers this W2 rockers that so I kinda figured there was more differences than just the intake rocker offset. Hey it never hurts to try
 
Through the years I’ve serviced many many heads that had been running fine with the tip heights varying by as much as the OP’s heads.
The one head where they vary .015-.030........it’s not great, but also not worth spending a pile of $$$ on correcting it either imo.
I’d work on getting the other head with the bigger tip height discrepancy so it’s in that same .015-.030 range and call it good.
Then I’d find some exhaust rockers that are longer than the 273 rockers(as in, correct length w2 ex rockers).
That’s sound advice. I appreciate everyone’s input to this point.
I think my first step is going to be removing a couple valve springs and lowering the valve about .100-.150” and see how the valve to rocker contact looks. If the relationship improves I may have the valve job touched up to even out the heights and have 11/32 liners installed to run a shorter common Chevy valve.
As for rockers, I’m searching for some W2 specific exhaust rockers and will likely shelf the fancy 273 rockers that I just put $160 into for bushings and adjusters. **** happens when you party naked.
 
I see he HS stands/shafts are listed as .180 offset, so .080 more than what your current ones are.

If you decide to go the 11/32” valve route...... do that before anything else.

Personally, I’d fix up what you have, buy some rockers that fit better and run it.
It’s pretty easy to get caught up in trying for “perfection”....... and the next thing you know you’ve spent another pile of cash.

Those MP w2 ex rockers are still on eBag.
 
If you decide to go the 11/32” valve route...... do that before anything else.
I think this may be more cost effective than having new custom stands machined to put the shaft where it needs to be.
It’s pretty easy to get caught up in trying for “perfection”..
Guilty as charged.
Those MP w2 ex rockers are still on eBag.
The blue roller rockers?
 
Here are some interesting pictures from a member here.
1.6 PRW rollers look awfully close to same length as the W2 exhaust rocker.

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B1927563-8DD7-441F-918F-05C94280DB7A.jpeg
 
To do the 11/32 valve thing right, you’ll have to redo the valve seats to ensure seat and guide concentricity.
I can’t imagine how 16 guides, 16 valves, and a valve job is going to be cheaper than new stands.
Not to mention, the stands might be fine as is with longer rockers.

The blue roller rockers?
Yeh, just verify the part number first.
I believe you’re looking for P4876345.

I also see there is a single for sale for $40.
Might be worth grabbing it as a way to get things measured up before buying a “set” of anything.
 
On the head with the big tip height variance, I’d recut the intake seats to move the valve about .010-.012”-ish, then reface about .012-.015” off the valve(looks like the margin is very thick on those, so no issues), and you should end up with the tips within about .015-.020”.
 
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Even if the length were correct(which I doubt is the case), the problem with the PRW rockers is the way the struts are shaped they run right into the retainer.

Imo, that’s just asking for more headaches.

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I don’t know if you know Jack Moore from the Columbus Ohio area but he used to advertise W2 rockers on Moparts for sale once or twice a year. I’ve known Jack for years and is s great guy to deal with. His were always the blue rockers. I don’t watch the sale ads like I used to so I don’t know if he listed any recently.
 
Yes ... my HS rockers came with stands. I shimmed them around .060 (IIRC) as per Mike @ B3 .
The stands are offset so you can change them around to suit your needs.
 
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