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440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) #1995186
01/20/16 10:44 PM
01/20/16 10:44 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 444
upstate NY
batt2rm Offline OP
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batt2rm  Offline OP
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upstate NY
I was wonder if there is feedback out there on the 440 source roller rockers. Was thinking about using them on a set of Edelbrock victor heads I have. I built a 440/507 stroker motor that will see 95% street driving. Or do you recommend another brand that is comparable in price. Total will be about $400 for rockers,shafts, hold down kit and shims.
Thanks.

The motor has a hydraulic roller comp cam. Pretty mild for the 507.

Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: batt2rm] #1995190
01/20/16 10:49 PM
01/20/16 10:49 PM
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San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
1968RR Offline
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I had a set on my 440 for about three years. The quality seemed OK and I didn't have any issues with them. However, after reading a few first-hand accounts of them failing over on the Unlawfl Race & Engine Tech board, I got a little worried and ended up buying a set of Harland Sharps. You may want to post on the Unlawfl board and get some more feedback.
Good luck.


"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me." - Mookie Wilson
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: batt2rm] #1995193
01/20/16 10:55 PM
01/20/16 10:55 PM
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Wahoo Nebr
vette1986 Offline
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Wahoo Nebr
I have a low milage set of source rockers on source shafts with their hold downs I just took off my stroker 505 as I wanted to go the crane route so they would fit under my stock valve covers. They worked great for me for the couple thousand street miles I used them. PM me if you are interested in a very nice used set cheaper than new as I would do $175 for it all plus the shipping. Thanks


1969.5 A12 Bee EV2
1971 Charger RT
1973 Duster tubbed 500 low deck 10.90 monster
3 440 polara vert projects
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: vette1986] #1995273
01/21/16 12:55 AM
01/21/16 12:55 AM
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Balt. Md
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383man Offline
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I have seen a few guys with mild engines run them and be ok but I have also seen some on engines built more and give trouble. My brother has a car in garage right now that ate up the roller bearing in one rocker. Course he has not determined what caused the bearing to go bad. Ron

Last edited by 383man; 01/21/16 12:55 AM.
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: 383man] #1995296
01/21/16 01:39 AM
01/21/16 01:39 AM
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TN Hoosier
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jb500 Offline
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Originally Posted By 383man
I have seen a few guys with mild engines run them and be ok but I have also seen some on engines built more and give trouble. My brother has a car in garage right now that ate up the roller bearing in one rocker. Course he has not determined what caused the bearing to go bad. Ron


I would bet it is because the rocker shafts are undersized for roller/needle bearings.

Last edited by jb500; 01/21/16 01:40 AM.
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: batt2rm] #1995327
01/21/16 02:20 AM
01/21/16 02:20 AM
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Posts: 670
Third rock from the sun.
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busboy Offline
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Third rock from the sun.
"Rocker shafts undersized for roller/needle bearings" ?? Can you elaborate?


Oh yeah, it's a hybrid.....it burns gas and tires!
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: busboy] #1995348
01/21/16 02:53 AM
01/21/16 02:53 AM
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TN Hoosier
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jb500 Offline
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Originally Posted By busboy
"Rocker shafts undersized for roller/needle bearings" ?? Can you elaborate?


The shaft needs to be a true .8750 dia (can't recall tolerances) with a hardness in the upper 50's/lower 60's. The reason is to distribute the load evenly to all the needles (no slop) and the hardness is needed to prevent the rollers from digging into the shaft.

I found out all this info after the needles in my 440S rockers let go. Stock OEM style shafts were supplied in my kit.

To the OP: Remember....cheap parts cost less up front, but twice as much when they fail and even more to clean up the mess. Don't skimp on the rockers.

Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: batt2rm] #1995398
01/21/16 09:37 AM
01/21/16 09:37 AM
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Greer, SC
TooMany62s Offline
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Greer, SC
My experience with the 440 Source roller rockers dates back a couple of years. I removed the rockers and shafts after less than 1000 street miles for a cam change. Both shafts were already galled. I called 440 Source and the women I talked to wasn't interested in hearing my problem. I changed to Hughes stuff with no further problems. Any manufacturer can have problems with bad parts from time to time. I was more annoyed by the lack of customer service than the defective parts.

Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: batt2rm] #1995435
01/21/16 11:24 AM
01/21/16 11:24 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo Offline
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I have heard of a few of the sets letting go from members in the race section. However IIRC, they were running cams with heavy spring pressures. I wouldn't use them with a valve spring above 350lb. Crane Gold rockers are not too badly priced. Some deals from time to time on the old isky ductile irons.

Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: batt2rm] #1995657
01/21/16 05:55 PM
01/21/16 05:55 PM
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So Cal
Sinitro Offline
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Sinitro  Offline
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So Cal
Bad place to gamble to save a few $...
Valve train components do an incredible task... Use quality proven parts..
IMHO...
Why risk an engine....

Just my $0.02.... wink

Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: batt2rm] #1995849
01/21/16 09:42 PM
01/21/16 09:42 PM
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Washington
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madscientist Offline
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NEVER PUT NEEDLE BEARINGS ON A RECIPROCATING SHAFT. EVER.

Why would you want to copy the sorry crap the chevy guys had to use?

Find a rocker that has no needle bearings on the shaft.


Just because you think it won't make it true. Horsepower is KING. To dispute this is stupid. C. Alston
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: madscientist] #1995965
01/21/16 11:28 PM
01/21/16 11:28 PM
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Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
Circle Track
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Lincoln Nebraska
I have a set of Sources" offset intake rockers (& regular ex) complete rocker setup but still on the shelf (451 build w super stealth heads)


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: madscientist] #1996006
01/22/16 12:08 AM
01/22/16 12:08 AM
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Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda Offline
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Originally Posted By madscientist
NEVER PUT NEEDLE BEARINGS ON A RECIPROCATING SHAFT. EVER.


Best answer yet.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: Supercuda] #1996107
01/22/16 03:18 AM
01/22/16 03:18 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383 Offline
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I hate '2nd hand stories' of 'my buddy...'

But, I saw the damage first hand, does that count?

They failed. After not many miles. Maybe 1500? Motor was fairly mild too


**Photobucket sucks**
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: jb500] #1996110
01/22/16 03:29 AM
01/22/16 03:29 AM
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Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
3
383man Offline
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Balt. Md
Originally Posted By jb500
Originally Posted By busboy
"Rocker shafts undersized for roller/needle bearings" ?? Can you elaborate?


The shaft needs to be a true .8750 dia (can't recall tolerances) with a hardness in the upper 50's/lower 60's. The reason is to distribute the load evenly to all the needles (no slop) and the hardness is needed to prevent the rollers from digging into the shaft.

I found out all this info after the needles in my 440S rockers let go. Stock OEM style shafts were supplied in my kit.

To the OP: Remember....cheap parts cost less up front, but twice as much when they fail and even more to clean up the mess. Don't skimp on the rockers.




I agree that its not good to scimp on valvetrain parts. I really like my Hughes rockers and shafts I use. They are only roller tipped rockers no needle bearings on the shaft and they have held up very good for me. With the more horror stories about the Source roller rockers I would use the ductile iron Crane or Isky rockers first as I used them for many years on some of my older builds and always had good luck with them. Ron

Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: 383man] #1996129
01/22/16 04:34 AM
01/22/16 04:34 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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Lincoln Nebraska
I just checked my Source offset rockers & they do have needle bearings on each end of the rocker arm. I will go light on the spring psi & keep an eye on em. thanks for the heads up as I never woulda suspicioned em


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: RapidRobert] #1996164
01/22/16 09:37 AM
01/22/16 09:37 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 444
upstate NY
batt2rm Offline OP
mopar
batt2rm  Offline OP
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upstate NY
Wow getting some great help here guys, thanks! I guess I will look at the hughes rockers.

Last edited by batt2rm; 01/22/16 09:38 AM.
Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: batt2rm] #1996189
01/22/16 11:28 AM
01/22/16 11:28 AM
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Nashville, Tennessee
Tempest Offline
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Nashville, Tennessee
Comparison.


Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: Tempest] #1996205
01/22/16 12:08 PM
01/22/16 12:08 PM
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Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo Offline
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From what I've seen, most of the cheapie asian rockers have the rollers on the shafts where the more expensive ones have bushings. I wonder if the roller ones are that much cheaper to manufacture?

Re: 440 Source Roller Rocker arms (any good) [Re: Tempest] #1996213
01/22/16 12:27 PM
01/22/16 12:27 PM
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Indiana
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YO7_A66 Offline
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Indiana
Using the above picture, look at the spacing between the roller bearings on the top rocker. Now look at the spacing between the roller bearings on this attached picture. I have read that when going to a roller rocker, the more bearing count the better for the load.
I have also read that when purchasing a roller bearing rocker, you need to purchase the shaft that is compatible with that bearing. As mentioned previously, the tolerances on the shaft must be held tighter on a roller bearing rocker.

I have seen "new" roller rockers for sale without shafts. They say to use existing shafts or can be used on stock shafts. This would scare me away from purchasing that rocker set. If I was to purchase a roller rocker set, I would want the shafts included.

Good thread!!

yt 6300a (2).jpg

1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger
340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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