Somebody Please explain Self Aligning Rockers

[Mart]

I have an early 86, (Iron Heads) no guide plates, Please explain the difference between SA rockers and other.

I'm confused by what I have read on other threads.:confused

Mart

 

[Vettelt193]

self aligning refers to roller rockers. the tip has a roller on them, and wants to twist off the top of the valve. Self aligning rockers have two mini 'guides' (don't mix up these guides with valve guides) on the side of the roller tip, so it sorta seats up on to the top of the valve, to stop it from twisting off. there is a raised portion on top of the valve, that the rocker seats to with self aligning.

you really gotta see it to understand... if you look at the rocker head in, right at the roller tip, it will look like l-l the dash being the roller, and the l 's being the guides. a standard roller tip looks like l_l so ther is nothing hanging over to 'grab' the valve.

 

[Mart]

Thanks,

Now I understand what they look like and how the work.

I'm thinking about ordering new roller tip rockers and wondering what I need.

Mart

 

[Moonunit 451]

Thanks,

Now I understand what they look like and how the work.

I'm thinking about ordering new roller tip rockers and wondering what I need.

Mart

Without guide plates, use self aligning RR's. With guideplates use non alighning RR's. DO NOT EMPLOY BOTH GUDEPLATES AND SELF ALIGNING RR'S TOGETHER.

 

[Vettelt193]

Thanks,

Now I understand what they look like and how the work.

I'm thinking about ordering new roller tip rockers and wondering what I need.

Mart

glad i could assist. from an installation standpoint, just get the self aligning rockers... then you don't need any extra stuff. --other than valve covers if you don't grind the drip tabs of the stock covers.... the drip tabs hang down to drip oil directly on the stock stamped rocker, and roller rockers are too big to be used with them... and they don't need it anyway, because the friction is practically eliminated with the roller fulcrum (the fulcrum is most of the savings, don't get just roller tipped rockers, they are a waste of money, get FULL roller rockers).

Are you keeping the stock 1.5's, or going for 1.6s? i like the 1.6 / 1.5 mixed set (intake / exhaust), but it depends on where you want your power to be, and other mods.

 

[Mart]

Thanks guys this is great info, I still have not decided on the 1.52 -1.6 mix thing or just 1.52's.

I would like to keep things looking stock so not sure if I can keep the VC's with the 1.6's.

Mart

 

[Vettelt193]

Thanks guys this is great info, I still have not decided on the 1.52 -1.6 mix thing or just 1.52's.

I would like to keep things looking stock so not sure if I can keep the VC's with the 1.6's.

Mart

can't keep em anyway, even with the 1.5's, unless you grind the drip tabs off.

 

[noel]

i talked to summit a min ago they said that the 1.6 rockers (summit brand look like crane energizer) would not fit under my 91 alum VC but you are saying if I grind out the inside of the VC I should have no problems??? I did some grinding on some 454 vc & had all kinds of oiling problems with oil coming out breather things deld me a fit I hope this mod be ok

noel

 

[Vettelt193]

i talked to summit a min ago they said that the 1.6 rockers (summit brand look like crane energizer) would not fit under my 91 alum VC but you are saying if I grind out the inside of the VC I should have no problems??? I did some grinding on some 454 vc & had all kinds of oiling problems with oil coming out breather things deld me a fit I hope this mod be ok

noel

are you going for the stock look? It is a pain to grind the tabs off, and you can never go back to stock if you do... you should be able to get a nice set of covers for cheap.

I have seen L98's with the stock covers and roller rockers, after the tabs are ground off. I have not personally done it though, so tough to vouch on that one. I have personally cut the tabs off LT1 covers for rollers... that worked fine