Best rocker arms ?

-
D

djwhog

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
1,600
Reaction score
9
What is the best adjustable rocker arm out there? Are the crane iron 1.5s good or is there a better one to use? I know I want to stay with the 1.5 ratio, and I have heard some reliability issues with some of the aluminum roller rocker models.

Also is there any HP to be gained in this area?

This is going on a 416 stroker with a mech cam. I'm at a 1.7 installed height with spring seats, dual springs and .100 longer valves.

Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 248
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 258
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 248 int./258 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 284
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 294
Advertised Duration: 284 int./294 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.540 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.560 in.


Thanks!
 
I have always wondered about the longevity of aluminum rocker arms. I saw a letter recently (don't remember where) where a person in charge of maintenance on a fleet of trucks asked about using aluminum rocker arms with a higher than stock ratio. I think he was asking if the extra power & possible mileage increases would pay for the rocker arms. If I remember right, the answer he was given was that the aluminum rocker arms were only good for about 20,000 miles. That might be fine for a race or limited use street engine, but I would think it's just a problem waiting to happen for a daily driver. I plan to stick with steel rocker arms.
 
I've been happy with my Harland Sharpes. I haven't had a single problem with them and they have about 8K miles on them.
 
A lot of people like the aluminum rockers, but i personally prefer the cast iton ones. The factory used them in all of the mechanical cam engines and expected them to last the life of the engine. For the price I think you can't go wrong with the Crane rockers. I am presently using an old set of Isky's that i bought on ebag. Paid $120 with shafts and pushrods. I'm totally satisfied with them. The roller bearings that some alum rockers use just don't last and who wants a bunch of those little rollers bouncing around in their engine?
 
LOL @ Don. Your right when it fails, IT FAILS!
Every part has a place I say. The Ductile arms should be basicly, just about a forever part.
Crane makes excellent parts. So does Comp and Harland Sharp.
 
Thanks all! I think I will go with the cranes in Iron. good enough for this street/striper! :coffee2:
 
I've run 40,000+ miles on an engine that I built with aluminum crane roller rockers with no breakage or undue wear. This was on a 400M ford with stud mount rockers and open spring pressures were under 350#. I sold the car and last I heard the guy had to replace the crank and bearings (I told him he would need to due to a crappy rebuilt PAW crank that I used when I built the engine) and was still cruising strong with the original valvetrain. This may not apply to shaft mounted rockers as the stud mount rockers rotated on a captive roller bearing. This is just my personal experience, and your mileage may vary, but I was impressed enough by these rockers that I again used Crane rollers in my 360 build, which I just dropped into the truck this past weekend. Once this thing is on the road and I rack up the miles, I'll keep everyone updated.

I have no personal experience with the stainless steel rockers from Comp Cams or other manufacturers, but Hughes Engines has an article on their web site regarding severe galling problems due to the effect of steel on steel wear properties on non-bushed SS rockers. Here's the link: http://www.hughesengines.com/general/techArticleDetail.asp?articleID=1000007
They also have an interesting rocker arm tech article here too: http://www.hughesengines.com/general/techArticleDetail.asp?articleID=1000046

These guys are obviously trying to make some money selling their own rockers, but it's interesting reading nevertheless, so I'll let you all make your own informed decisions.
 
nice article from hughes engines,,,did any one get confused??? or am i reading it wrong?? they say how roller tip rockers are problematic,,and that the factory will stop using them,,,then they wanna sell ya aluminum rocker with roller tips????

i use factory steel 273 adjustable rockers,and i have for 20 plus years,on the street with no problems,,,ide like to switch to a more modern rocker that is more ratio correct,,,but every one seems to say how bad they other guys rockers are,,,guess ill be running factory forged rockers for another 20 years,,,since hughes says there no gooood,,
 
did any one get confused??? or am i reading it wrong?? they say how roller tip rockers are problematic,,and that the factory will stop using them,,,then they wanna sell ya aluminum rocker with roller tips????
Click to expand...
There reffing the point of the roller tip with needle bearings and the possible problems there with in. They believe the roller tip days are numbered.
They believe the factory will stop making use of them.
The say stainless steel is stronger in one article and bad in another, but both times make a mention to the use of aluminum rockers in NHRA etc....compotion.
Aluminum is not stronger than stainless steel, but can be designed (In a shape) to be stronger, more durable than the heavier stainless rockers.
The stainless rockers are heavier and on weight alone, they'll perform worse.
Then again, you wouldn't notice it on a low rpm engine. A race engine should show something on a dyno. Seat of the pants?????? Forget. Or your butt would be worth a billion bucks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top