Guest Mike Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I recently pulled the heads on my 350 SBC. Before torquing the 3/8 rocker studs, I noticed that the guide plates have a bit of play... they move around a bit before torquing down the studs. Is this normal? After I tightened the studs, some of the guide plates are pressing against the pushrods. I can adjust the plates to allow free pushrod movement but maybe I have the wrong ones? Maybe the guide plates are for 7/16 studs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Some movement is normal. Adjust the guideplates so the rocker tips are centered on the valves. It takes a little trial and error. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Thanks John. How then will I torque the studs to spec with the rockers installed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 You don't, you check for pushrod clearance and then snug them by hand and try a rocker arm on them and get proper alignment while retaining pushrod clearance. Use a scribe to mark the right position in case it moves when you torque it. Manley makes and adjustable set of guideplates if worse comes to worse, although I've never had a problem in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Sheesh... what a PITA:ugg: It seems like they could come up with something better, don't you think? Okay, I'm off to buy a Sharpie marker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Tools, can't get enough and never seem to have the right one. Get some modeling clay while your at it, you'll need that too one of these days and they are in the same section of walmart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Is the modelling clay for psychotherapeutic exercises inducing stress relief between guide plate adjustments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I'm going to try to find roller rockers with built-in pushrod guides. There must be something like that out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Is the modelling clay for psychotherapeutic exercises inducing stress relief between guide plate adjustments? checking quench and piston to valve clearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Oh... and I thought it was for something fun:confused2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Okay... I'm going to price some shaft-mounted roller rockers. Those require no frickin' guide plates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Holy $#IT... $800-$1200 per set!! It looks like I'll be adjusting my guide plates after all:confused2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jap tin Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 What heads are you running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 JAP TIN... Sorry for the belated reply. I currently have Edelbrock Performer RPM heads unmodifed except for some rudimentary port matching... no polishing. Eventually I'll have AFR heads.. probably 200cc intake runners on a SBC 406 with forged pistons. Total HP/Torque on the new engine will be ~500/500 at the wheels including 100HP N2O. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jap tin Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 Jesel KSS 335050 will fit the Edelbrock and AFR heads. $795 at Jesel, probably cheaper through Summit or Jegs. Once you go shaft you will never go back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 Yeah... it's just the initial expense that hurts. I can always transfer them to the new SBC when I get it though. I'm thinking about this and biting my nails........ damn, I have other things I want to do too...... biting to the quick now...... choices.... decisions..... bleeding nails...... ARGH!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 Use the blood to mark the guideplates, that will save money on the Sharpie. If the pushrods clear and the rocker tips are centered with the guideplates centered (usually this is the case), slide the plate down as far as it will go on the studs. Then tighten the left hand stud first, and the right hand stud resists the turning movement and it's a lot easier to keep the plate straight. If you have to move a plate to the side, you just have to snug, check, tighten a little, check, and finally torque and check again. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 Yeah... it's just the initial expense that hurts. I can always transfer them to the new SBC when I get it though. I'm thinking about this and biting my nails........ damn, I have other things I want to do too...... biting to the quick now...... choices.... decisions..... bleeding nails...... ARGH!! Not necessarily, if you go AFR's depending on what head, they have different valve spacing. Jap Tin says and it's true, shaft rockers are the most dependable system available! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 I guess I'll look for a set of shaft rockers then. It seems that I'll be shelling out about 800 bucks unless I can find some cheaper. Any ideas? DOC... as you know, I'm wanting to have a 406 or 434 stroker built and $800 slows me down a bit. However, if they're really worth the expense, I'm in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 Hey DOC... so it's possible that the shaft-mount rockers I buy for the Performer RPM heads won't fit the AFR's I buy soon? EDIT: Okay... did a little research. I guess rockers with differeing offsets are needed for various brands of heads. So I suppose it's better to buy the heads at the same time. DOC... I'm going to wait and do this all at one time. ...if you go AFR's depending on what head, they have different valve spacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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