Who makes a good stamped steel rocker arm?

Mike Taylor 3601 · 04-22-2009, 06:24 PM

The aftermarket like crane's(probaly some left in stock somewhere)or comp's etc.will be closer to correct
ratio.Stock sbc I checked 5 gallon bucket full come up .035-.065 short on lift aftermarkets were alot more
consistent& closer to correct ratio.You can use soft check springs to see if have deflection in rockers I could be wrong but I don't think you'll see much deflection in stamped rockers turning engine by hand,
buy the best stud ARPhas ( Pro Series)cause usaully see studs deflecting cranking engine by hand,you could measure stud deflection w/dial indicator.
We changed to 7/16 studs (Elgin makes 7/16 stamped steel for sbc) and pro series arp studs on 3 stockers all 3 picked up .05 in 1/8 mile we didn't gain any lift we already had that maxed we just eliminated some deflection(we did gain lift we were losing @ high rpm by getting rid of some deflection).I think somebody use to have 1/2 studs and rockers for pontiac?,maybe Schubeck had rocker balls for1/2 studs? Maybe check Smith Machine that took over the Schubeck stuff?Like everyone else said get pushrod length,etc. all correct then get pushrods,studs etc. as stiff as possible eliminate all deflection possible.Check lift with rockers going to use then if you're short have cam ground to bring it to where lift should be i know Bullet will do this for you or anyone else who has cnc camgrinder with cnc grinder they can make those changes easily. I'll give you another example I had to see to believe,working on BBC big chief heads about12 years guy told me he changed to manton tapered pushrods picked 65HP on dyno,so couple years later built my first big chief style engine for good friend\customer we used 7/16 1pc. pushrods thought that was fine had in door car running 5.05 on motor we had to remove intake for something,can't remember why?Discovered we had problem, pushrods had polished the block from rubbing it they were flexing aleast .250"-.300"(you could put index finger between block\pushrod) so we knew they had to be bent,that was wrong.Remembered story about Manton's ordered set with no other changes car picked up to 4.95 then after jet change 4.90 That made those $450.00pushrods(@that time) worth every penny,plus Terry Manton is super nice guy to deal with.
PS if don't know leave lift .002-.005 to be safe.
Mike Taylor3601

04-22-2009, 06:24 PM	#9
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,349 Likes: 298 Liked 248 Times in 87 Posts	Re: Who makes a good stamped steel rocker arm? The aftermarket like crane's(probaly some left in stock somewhere)or comp's etc.will be closer to correct ratio.Stock sbc I checked 5 gallon bucket full come up .035-.065 short on lift aftermarkets were alot more consistent& closer to correct ratio.You can use soft check springs to see if have deflection in rockers I could be wrong but I don't think you'll see much deflection in stamped rockers turning engine by hand, buy the best stud ARPhas ( Pro Series)cause usaully see studs deflecting cranking engine by hand,you could measure stud deflection w/dial indicator. We changed to 7/16 studs (Elgin makes 7/16 stamped steel for sbc) and pro series arp studs on 3 stockers all 3 picked up .05 in 1/8 mile we didn't gain any lift we already had that maxed we just eliminated some deflection(we did gain lift we were losing @ high rpm by getting rid of some deflection).I think somebody use to have 1/2 studs and rockers for pontiac?,maybe Schubeck had rocker balls for1/2 studs? Maybe check Smith Machine that took over the Schubeck stuff?Like everyone else said get pushrod length,etc. all correct then get pushrods,studs etc. as stiff as possible eliminate all deflection possible.Check lift with rockers going to use then if you're short have cam ground to bring it to where lift should be i know Bullet will do this for you or anyone else who has cnc camgrinder with cnc grinder they can make those changes easily. I'll give you another example I had to see to believe,working on BBC big chief heads about12 years guy told me he changed to manton tapered pushrods picked 65HP on dyno,so couple years later built my first big chief style engine for good friend\customer we used 7/16 1pc. pushrods thought that was fine had in door car running 5.05 on motor we had to remove intake for something,can't remember why?Discovered we had problem, pushrods had polished the block from rubbing it they were flexing aleast .250"-.300"(you could put index finger between block\pushrod) so we knew they had to be bent,that was wrong.Remembered story about Manton's ordered set with no other changes car picked up to 4.95 then after jet change 4.90 That made those $450.00pushrods(@that time) worth every penny,plus Terry Manton is super nice guy to deal with. PS if don't know leave lift .002-.005 to be safe. Mike Taylor3601 Last edited by Mike Taylor 3601; 04-22-2009 at 06:32 PM.