Wow Charlie, I'm sorry. I was thinking this weekend of posting that it's about time for you to start your trip to Columbus so you make it in time.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

I was thinking that I might put together a spare engine, bring it and the hoist so I can do a road side engine swap.


Lawrenceville, GA

charlie, i,m guessingf you,ve had a long carefull look at the other rockers for any signs of fatigue?

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

It’s a given that most of the aluminum rockers are used in low mileage or race orientated performance vehicles.  But I’ve been involved with several FE’s with 50K+ street driven miles on the aluminum shaft mounted rockers that have ran without issue and these are engines that get run hard when being driven.  As far as wear at the shaft goes in a street driven application, gut feel says that the aluminum on steel would wear out very quickly but that hasn’t proved to be the case either.  As long as oil is adequate at the shafts, wear is minimal although still more than what you’d see with iron rockers.  I’ll add that fatigue with any aluminum rocker arm is still a problem after a given number of years but in your case I’d rule that out as yours are not quite that old yet.  Your particular break is unique in that the tip area is broken out on the bottom side where it’s being stressed in the opposite direction.

 

With all that’s happened in your case in regards to valve train issues, this looks to actually be your first instance of a failure with the rocker arm body itself.  I recall you having some rocker adjuster issues in the past as well as pushrod problems but nothing up till now regarding the rocker arm body.

 

I’m assuming this was a right offset rocker?  If so, then just give me a shout and I’ll get another heading your way.  If this works for you, then I would like to have your broken rocker so I can examine it more closely.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

This is the first time that a rocker broke. The only other issue has been that they eat up pushrods, and the one screw that wore. I had none of these issues before switching to the doves. I had over 10000 miles on the set of pushrods with original rockers and screws before switching to the Dove rocker arms and never had a problem. Switch to dove and suddenly they're getting chewed up.



I'll take you up on your offer for a replacement rocker arm. I forgot to call the Rocker arm specialist. If they're a couple weeks out, then at least with a new arm I'll be able to use the truck because I still have stuff to move out of a friend's house. I'm not sure which offset it is. It's the second valve from the front on the passenger side, so, lack of coffee this morning, I believe that's #1 intake.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie,

Is this one that has had a ball or pushrod problem before? if so it could have jammed and started a slight crack before that was un-noticable and after running some time since, finally failed from fatigue.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

I don't recall. I'll have to see if I can find it in my notes... if I can find my notes.



I just got off the phone with Gary at rockerarms.com. He says they're about a month out. I'll just find my old rockers, assemble them before the trip to Columbus and bring the pair along just in case.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie, I have a set of 1.53's assembled on new shafts that I will loan you if needed. Just let me know.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

#5 intake broke on Friday, in the same way as #1 intake about 3 years ago.  I'm done with the Dove rocker arms.  Trying another brand.  Should have done that before.



Lawrenceville, GA

You sure have had a bad run on  those rockers. Seems like you are the test mule for them! Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire