'66 Hemi Charger rocker arms advice

[zekenator]

Hello all, very new to these forums. My brother and I are giving my Dad a dream rebuild on the 426 Hemi in his '66 Charger for his 80th birthday. It is an original Hemi 4-speed car, he fully restored it himself except for paint and body. It was black when he bought it in 1988 and when taking it apart many years later, he found the original Dark Green Metallic paint and when it came time he put it back to the original color. At MCACN (car has been there twice) he was asked by Auto World if they could make a die-cast model of his car and of course he said yes. So the Dark Green Metallic 1966 Hemi Charger die cast from Auto World is my Dad's car. Pretty awesome.

Anyways, he rebuilt the 426 himself (he's built more engines than I can even count). After about I don't know maybe 4000 miles (he built the car to drive and enjoy so even though it's basically perfect he drives it as much as he can), it started leaking oil from the back of the heads. As everyone here I'm sure knows, one thing turned into another and now we're doing a full rebuild of the engine.

Does anyone have experience with aftermarket rocker arm assemblies for the Gen II Hemi? We are going with hydraulic roller stuff, and the cam we are putting in is hotter than the '68 Hemi cam he put in it before. We need to upgrade the factory rocker arms to roller tip rockers and are trying to find options that are not cheap crap but also do not want to spend $6500 for the Manton Racing ones which look to be about the best there is. Any info/advice/experiences with this issue is appreciated.

 

[gtx6970]

Talk to Tim Banning at FHO in Florida

For Hemis Only

 

[Bird 426]

If you are doing a stock rebuild with a slight cam, recondition your stock rockers if they need it. They were good enough for racing back in the day. Make sure that they get centered on the valve stems. They will be just fine.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Not gonna touch the rocker arm debate... Both posters above have legitimate answers...

But... On the oil leak... I've seen three Hemis that leaked from the oil return passage area of the head gasket... A smear of 518 anaerobic sealer solves the problem..

The other issue is the intake gasket.... Those small bolts & low torque spec create problems, it's good practice to recheck the torque regularly....

 

[R413]

And it's difficult to see and work on, but make sure the oil sender and or oil gauge line is not leaking at the back of the block.

 

[rickseeman]

If you want roller rocker arms the easiest way is the old Stage V rockers now made by Manton. I asked a few months ago and they were around $3,250.

 

[hemifiedbird]

if your rebuilding it for your Dad that is 80, I’d freshen up the rockers, re gasket, leave the cam he chose. If he drives it all the time why change the cam and make it less dependable

 

[64BEL]

I have that diecast - cool car and a great color!

 

[INTMD8]

I'll throw in my .02 cents. My 426 hemi started out as a 90's mopar performance/cummins "crate" engine which was a complete pos.

I rebuilt it at stock stroke, overbore to 438ci. Solid roller, morel black mamba roller lifters, cam motion low lift solid roller cam to my spec. PSi springs, ti retainers/locks.

I shift it at 7800. It's been together 5 years now. I used the stock reproduction rocker arms. Checked the valve lash once and it was out a couple thou.

Do as you wish but in my opinion I would 100% not use hydraulic roller lifters in a gen 2 hemi due to pushrod angularity and would only move from stock type rockers to aftermarket if over .700 lift. (again, just my opinion)

 

[Hemirunner]

I'll throw in my .02 cents. My 426 hemi started out as a 90's mopar performance/cummins "crate" engine which was a complete pos.

I rebuilt it at stock stroke, overbore to 438ci. Solid roller, morel black mamba roller lifters, cam motion low lift solid roller cam to my spec. PSi springs, ti retainers/locks.

I shift it at 7800. It's been together 5 years now. I used the stock reproduction rocker arms. Checked the valve lash once and it was out a couple thou.

Do as you wish but in my opinion I would 100% not use hydraulic roller lifters in a gen 2 hemi due to pushrod angularity and would only move from stock type rockers to aftermarket if over .700 lift. (again, just my opinion)

100% agree. Use solid roller lifters. You can run them on a hydraulic roller cam and tight lash them to keep it quiet.

 

[Geoff 2]

I would use the stock rockers. They are well made & strong. Spend the $$$ somewhere else.

 

[INTMD8]

100% agree. Use solid roller lifters. You can run them on a hydraulic roller cam and tight lash them to keep it quiet.

Yes, I meant on mine low lash not low lift (though it really isn't much lift either). My cam is made for .010 hot lash. I set it .008 cold.

262/262 .428/.421 lobe lift, measured .658/.612 at the valve