Rocker arms- Clem others

[John N.]

I need a set of stock type rocker arms for 58. Need brand and part number for good quality set.
Regards

[Jim L.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

John,

I use ordinary NAPA/Clevite 214-2081 (1.5:1 ratio) and 214-2129 (1.6:1 ratio) on my vintage racer. Never had a problem. From sampling a hundred or more rockers, I'd say most are made by Pioneer, for what that's worth.

My spreadsheet indicates that I also bought grooved rocker balls as a separate line item, so the above part numbers may be just the rockers. The rocker balls are Clevite 214-1038.

All of the above are for 3/8 rocker studs (and I use ARP 300-8241, if that's of any value).

Jim

[John N.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

John,

I use ordinary NAPA/Clevite 214-2081 (1.5:1 ratio) and 214-2129 (1.6:1 ratio) on my vintage racer. Never had a problem. From sampling a hundred or more rockers, I'd say most are made by Pioneer, for what that's worth.

My spreadsheet indicates that I also bought grooved rocker balls as a separate line item, so the above part numbers may be just the rockers. The rocker balls are Clevite 214-1038.

All of the above are for 3/8 rocker studs (and I use ARP 300-8241, if that's of any value).

Jim

Jim
Thanks for the part numbers. Can you use !.6 rockers on 50s motors if you don't have guide plates and have not done a slight enlargement of the pushrod holes in the heads. Camshaft is the 097.
Thanks

[Jim L.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

I've never tried that, John, so I can't say for sure. It would be an inexpensive experiment to put one 1.6 rocker on and then rotate the engine through one compleat valve cycle, looking for pushrod interference.

Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

I need a set of stock type rocker arms for 58. Need brand and part number for good quality set.
Regards

John-----


The absolute best quality, most durable STOCK-TYPE rocker arms out there were the Crane Nitro-Carb rockers. If I were using stock-type rockers these are THE ONES I'd want to use. Unfortunately, availability of these "went away" with the Crane Cams shut-down and liquidation. However, with the S&S purchase of Crane assets and inventory, they may "come back" with a "resurrected" Crane. If you don't need them right away, I think I'd be inclined to wait and see.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

i was told by a GM engineer the durability problem came because the manufacturer went from a 7 step stamping to a 4 step stamping.

[Joe L.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

i was told by a GM engineer the durability problem came because the manufacturer went from a 7 step stamping to a 4 step stamping.

clem-----


Which rocker arms are you referring to here?

[Clem Z.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

clem-----


Which rocker arms are you referring to here?

GM small bock chevy sold by GM. we had problems with them in race engines where the rules said you had to run production type rocker arms. we ended up hunting up old used GM rockers from junk yard engines to solve the problem. we tried using olds rockers with ball bearing trunnions for ford rockers but the tech inspectors said no go !!

[Joe L.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

GM small bock chevy sold by GM. we had problems with them in race engines where the rules said you had to run production type rocker arms. we ended up hunting up old used GM rockers from junk yard engines to solve the problem. we tried using olds rockers with ball bearing trunnions for ford rockers but the tech inspectors said no go !!

clem-----


I assume you mean the non-guided, stock GM rockers. These rockers, last available under GM #3974290, were discontinued from SERVICE in July, 1989 and replaced by GM #10089648. The latter are the guided type rockers and these remain the only available rockers from GM for Gen I and Gen II small blocks.

The 3974290 rockers were first used in PRODUCTION in 1969 and were used in PRODUCTION and all 55+ SERVICE until they were replaced by the guided rockers. The previous rocker arm was GM #3843359 used in PRODUCTION for 1963-68 and earlier SERVICE.

By the way, 1958-62 originally used rocker GM #3746241 and 55-57 originally used GM #3837175 (yes, that number IS the correct, original number).

All of the above are, of course, functionally interchangeable.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

clem-----


I assume you mean the non-guided, stock GM rockers. These rockers, last available under GM #3974290, were discontinued from SERVICE in July, 1989 and replaced by GM #10089648. The latter are the guided type rockers and these remain the only available rockers from GM for Gen I and Gen II small blocks.

The 3974290 rockers were first used in PRODUCTION in 1969 and were used in PRODUCTION and all 55+ SERVICE until they were replaced by the guided rockers. The previous rocker arm was GM #3843359 used in PRODUCTION for 1963-68 and earlier SERVICE.

By the way, 1958-62 originally used rocker GM #3746241 and 55-57 originally used GM #3837175 (yes, that number IS the correct, original number).

All of the above are, of course, functionally interchangeable.

this all happened more than 15 years ago as i have been retired that long

[Jerry G.]

Re: Rocker arms- Clem others

i've been doing a LOT of work on "stock" rockers for the race car and i agree the nitrated, nitro carb units last the best. They made it one whole weekend. If you are will to go with stock replacement the crane roller tip rockers are much better. and will bolt right in.