rocker arm shafts

[Glenwood]

I'm planning to replace the worn out stock rocker arms with crane ductile type. I thought the shafts should also be replaced, but I'm not sure what are good replacements to use with the new rockers. Summit and Jegs have limited options, with none from crane. Are there any variations in diameter, etc., from different manufacturers like Mopar performance or sealed power for example?
I see some guys slot them for better oil distribution. Is this necessary for ductile arms?
Also, is some type of locktite used on the adjustment screws?

 

[gkent]

Try TRW - they used to make an awesome inexpensive stock replacement

 

[khryslerkid]

I found these on Ebay and I'm useing Crane ductal rockers. I know, China, but they measured good and we're very clean inside and out. I like the thicker wall. (No distorting when tightening these down) I believe there are others out there like these.

 

[5.7 hemi]

440SOURCE, I’m using them with my Erson ductile rockers.

 

[wyrmrider]

rocker arm rebuiders/ specialists redding ca
Industrial hard chrome
bananna groves
can bronze bush your rockers
how much spring pressure
nice rockers too

 

[Glenwood]

thanks for the replies. I looked at ebay, but you never know what you're getting there. The 440 source shafts say theirs are designed for their rollers and not to use with stock rockers due to the oil hole locations. Not sure how that applies to other rockers like crane ductiles.

The current springs are comp 911s rated at 373 lb/in. These will be replaced with dual springs from Lunati rated at 333 lbs/in when I replace the 906 heads with alum.

Do these new rockers need to be bushed? I looked at their website and I couldn't see anywhere to order shafts. Do they normally sell parts or just rebuild/prep rocker assemblies?

 

[threewood]

rocker arm rebuiders/ specialists redding ca
Industrial hard chrome
bananna groves
can bronze bush your rockers
how much spring pressure
nice rockers too

Price? When I last looked they wanted near $600 to bush a set of Cranes.

 

[Glenwood]

Price? When I last looked they wanted near $600 to bush a set of Cranes.

ouch!

 

[threewood]

Glen, I ordered mine from Mancini. They are thicker walled and hardened. I added the oiling grooves myself as they don't come with them. I'm running about 430 lbs open on my Crane ductile with no issues, non bushed. Oils like a champ.

 

[threewood]

ouch!

Haha, right?
Their website was hard to navigate and when I called I did not get a warm and fuzzy feeling.

 

[Glenwood]

Thanks Mark. I read & reread that part of your thread, along with kk's head work. What did you use to cut them? I see you marked the shafts with a marker, so i assume you assembled them on the heads to place them?
I was wondering if you had to shim the shafts or were they accurate on the stems?

 

[5.7 hemi]

440SOURCE says that because the factory rockers are open. I’m using them and don’t have any complaints.

 

[threewood]

Thanks Mark. I read & reread that part of your thread, along with kk's head work. What did you use to cut them? I see you marked the shafts with a marker, so i assume you assembled them on the heads to place them?
I was wondering if you had to shim the shafts or were they accurate on the stems?

I set them up on the heads, centered tips over valves and marked the outside of the rockers. Removed them and made the cuts with a cutoff wheel between the lines. I didn't take the cut to the very edge but left them 3/16" or so short. Dressed the cuts with a fine stone. As for the angle of the cuts I guestimated from the pictures I looked at.

No shims needed. The swipe across the valve tip was centered, but wide. I posted my results and was told that was normal for the iron rockers so I put it together as is.

 

[wyrmrider]

http://www.rockerarms.com/pages/about.html
never paid anywhere near that much
bush if high load springs or long duration reliable build or if your rockers are galled
you chrome for bush and deep heat treat without chrome for needle bearings
I would not ever run shafts that are just flash chromed (no brass layer - no nickel layer)
I dealt with them back when they were in harbor city/ palos verdes/ willmington area of Los Angeles
they do know their stuff
if you have high lift cam or long valves- well I'd check my mid lift geometry- should not be wide
I've used lash caps when lift gets to the 550 area with stock length valves
2" valve gear is a whole new ball game
shims/ spacers and longer pushrods are required with roller tip rockers as the center of the tip roller is way higher than with the Iron or stock rockers
good write up on the banana groveling threewood

 

[Glenwood]

received the new crane rockers today...wow, summit is pretty quick to deliver stocked items.
I ordered shafts from Mancini as the delivery charges from 440 source was the most expensive. Hoping they will be here for the weekend. I could have bought sealed power shafts locally, which would have saved about half the cost including free shipping ($100CAD), but I wan't sure if they are good quality, so I stuck with Mancini's.

Do these iron rockers need honing or some other prep work? Is loctite used on the adjusters?

Do these need honing or some other prep work?

 

[5.7 hemi]

Clean them up and no lock tite on the adjuster.

 

[Mike67]

Hughes sells the banana groove shafts, I just happened to call them yesterday about it. $135 for the set, .875 dia but my promags measure .872 so I would have to hone the bushing...

 

[Glenwood]

Hughes sells the banana groove shafts, I just happened to call them yesterday about it. $135 for the set, .875 dia but my promags measure .872 so I would have to hone the bushing...

I saw that on Hughes website (of course after I ordered them from Mancini). I guess they are thicker for their own brand of rockers?

 

[wyrmrider]

where do you think Mancini gets his?
lightly hone then inspect honing holds the oil then try a trial fit
OD should be stock unless they call out a special OD in the specs no end of problems if they do not
as said - no loctite
banana groves are good- DIY

 

[Glenwood]

where do you think Mancini gets his?
lightly hone then inspect honing holds the oil then try a trial fit
OD should be stock unless they call out a special OD in the specs no end of problems if they do not
as said - no loctite
banana groves are good- DIY

Haven't got the foggiest where Mancini or anyone else gets them from. Just looking for good recommendations.

What is used to hone them or should these go to a shop to be done? They make these flex-hones in 7/8" from 120-600 grit but not sure which grit is correct.