Posted By: drew72
Roller Rockers - 02/07/14 02:50 AM
Need opinions on rockers...steel vs. aluminum.
Just a mild street motor. Hydraulic roller cam. Why one over the other? Thanks
Posted By: dogdays
Re: Roller Rockers - 02/07/14 06:58 PM
First of all, duck! here come the "you don't need them" posts.
Second will come the material posts, steel is better because it has a fatigue limit and aluminum just keeps getting weaker until it breaks. That's true, but there are hundreds of thousands of aluminum roller rockers on the street and breakage isn't a big problem until you start to get to solid roller cam spring levels.
Third is the real issue, and that is cost. The sad fact is that if your roller rockers don't cost a lot they will probably be crap. The number one issue with rockers that I have noticed for the last six years or so is if you try to cheap out on a rocker set it will fail and you will be hurt.
So spend the $400 and up and buy the decent rockers the first time. At that price level material doesn't matter. Harland Sharp has a huge following on the board, and Hughes has many satisfied customers as well. Then there are Crane and Comp. There are others as well, but none of them have "pro" in their name.
R.
Posted By: Thumperdart
Re: Roller Rockers - 02/07/14 07:24 PM
I run the H-S`s but you could get away w/the Comp stainless which are very nice and durable at your level and ran em years ago w/a 590-605 solid Isky cam, sold em and they`re still goin strong.
Posted By: drew72
Re: Roller Rockers - 02/07/14 07:51 PM
I guess "cheap" is all relative here. I was going to use either the PRW's or Comp iron rollers. I like
the lack of fatigue issue with steel over aluminum.
Posted By: drew72
Re: Roller Rockers - 02/07/14 08:11 PM
So should I consider PRW's cheap? You're right, with low spring pressure I don't need the best, but I don't want garbage either. I'm only looking at 375# open and 155# closed pressures.
Posted By: polyspheric
Re: Roller Rockers - 02/07/14 11:33 PM
Don't assume that any rocker is a bolt-on.
Everything should be checked for geo and corrections made where indicated.
I've been using these for the past few years with no issues. I run relatively low spring pressures @ 355 lbs open. They are bushed at the shaft. Personally, for a street motor, I'd stay away from Aluminum or needle bearings at the shafts.
http://store.speedmaster79.com/p-2477-mo...set-shafts.aspx
Posted By: mshred
Re: Roller Rockers - 02/08/14 04:28 PM
I ran my Hughes 1.6 rockers for 3 seasons- they have seen probably close to 10k street miles and atleast 150 passes.
In my opinion there is nothing to be afraid of using aluminum rockers in a street motor- you just need to be sure you spend the money on the good ones.
When I bought my Hughes rockers, my spring pressure was only around #375 opened, and the motor was a junkyard heap- I spent my money on rockers though as I knew a failure there would cost a whole lot more then just a rocker.
What he said is right on....don't buy cheap quality rockers. The only pretty low cost rocker I would even consider would be a set of ductile iron ISKY or Crane rockers.
