A technical question for those who know

[zyzzyx]

I have a set of Crower Iron adjustable rocker arms that I'm going to put on my engine
in a couple of weeks. My cam is a .509/.509 lift unit and I've been reading about the different
options. My question for me AND for everyone else is, At what point do you have to throw
away the stock stamped rockers and buy a set of Harland Sharps for big money? I'm just
wondering how many people have gone out and spent a big chunk of change for rocker arms
that they didn't need? I've tried to find some kind of criteria for this subject but have'nt been
able to find anything. What say you?

 

[WileE]

At what point do you have to throw
away the stock stamped rockers and buy a set of Harland Sharps for big money? I'm just
wondering how many people have gone out and spent a big chunk of change for rocker arms
that they didn't need?

First, the stock rockers are fine for your cam. Been there, done that. To answer your second question: many, it's called ... overkill. Just like over-carburetion, seen that over-and-over.

 

[RemCharger]

Ignition system is another area of frivolous money wasting.

 

[Sahara]

Ehrenberg says that stock stamped rockers are fine, and in fact preferred for lifts up to .525. And that there’s no horsepower in ignition. Good enough for Rick, good enough for the rest of us.

 

[snakeoil24]

The value of Iron Rockers is durability. Adding adjustability to iron rockers makes them more valuable. Aluminum rockers provide no value for your purpose. Make sure your oil grooves are in good shape and the rocker bronze bushings are in good order. Ignition system that are stable very important. Capacitive discharge units are very valuable. Bearing and springs in distributors in good working order and no bent shafts and or bad reluctors on solid state ignitions are important.

 

[joe smith]

I am in the middle of a rebuild of a Mustang ( I know I know).. I inherited it...
I rebuilt a more modern 302 for it ( Roller cam) and it will be a very mild build for a 302, 5speed, convertible... If I am going to replace some items with new, I like to keep an open mind to " whats out there" without making it poor street engine...
Did alot of research on Roller Rockers and the biggest advantage to a roller rocker I found were roller tips.. The roller tips help to reduce most of the " push" on the valve stem which wears out the valve guides...
Roller assembly's are ONLY good for that 1/100 of a second faster trap with a very high hp engine.... Thats what many articles stated that I researched.
I used these roller tip rockers from Lunati......
Alot of interesting discussions on thicker walled pushrods too for what its worth

 

[Virg464]

I have a set of Crower Iron adjustable rocker arms that I'm going to put on my engine
in a couple of weeks. My cam is a .509/.509 lift unit and I've been reading about the different
options. My question for me AND for everyone else is, At what point do you have to throw
away the stock stamped rockers and buy a set of Harland Sharps for big money? I'm just
wondering how many people have gone out and spent a big chunk of change for rocker arms
that they didn't need? I've tried to find some kind of criteria for this subject but have'nt been
able to find anything. What say you?

I'm one of them, I bought a set of full roller rockers (440 Source) for my motor. Did I need them, nope! Did I want them, yep! I wanted to reduce friction in the valve train and that seemed to be a good option along with the roller lifters. I feel safe using the 440 source rockers since my motor isn't a monster that requires Harland Sharps level equip. The cam I'm running is close to your numbers, I-.549" and E-.544". I would like to think that I will get some added longevity from them as well, but only time will tell.

 

[chtampa]

Wouldn't running a roller cam be an answer to oil choices with zinc?

 

[snakeoil24]

Zinc and Molybdenum lubricate and prevent corrosion on cylinder walls. Still very important as well as helping rollers in older motors.

 

[zyzzyx]

The roller lifters i'm not so sure about. What i'm worried about is one lifter scattering and now the whole engine is contaminated! I'll take my chances with a low tech flat tappet. I just have to make sure I use the right oil and a zinc additive.

 

[Darter6]

It's long been said that Mopar Stamped Rockers are good for engines running up to 6,000 rpm.