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Need a shop to reface rocker arms #3143197
05/08/23 01:34 PM
05/08/23 01:34 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,220
West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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DrCharles  Offline OP
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West Plains, MO
Caution: Non-Mopar parts involved whistle

I'm rebuilding a Ford FE (390) and the rocker arm tips are badly worn. New rockers are rather expensive nowadays.

Can anyone recommend a machine shop that can reface them? As usual, nobody 'round here does, so it's time to mail them out shruggy
What might I expect to pay for refacing all 16 rockers?

thanks for any info.

Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: DrCharles] #3143202
05/08/23 01:57 PM
05/08/23 01:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,409
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
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NITROUSN Offline
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UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
Check here. RAS

Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: DrCharles] #3143204
05/08/23 02:06 PM
05/08/23 02:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 268
Anchorage, Alaska
metallicareload Offline
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metallicareload  Offline
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Posts: 268
Anchorage, Alaska
iagree
They refaced and bushed a set of Crane ductile irons for me, worked good until I switched to roller rockers


440, 4-Speed, 3.54
1968, when Dinosaurs ruled the Earth
Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: metallicareload] #3143213
05/08/23 03:01 PM
05/08/23 03:01 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,868
Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Offline
Don't question me!
Stanton  Offline
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Ontario, Canada
I had a couple sets off of old hemis. They weren't severely worn but needed a "clean-up". I mounted a medium grit flap wheel in my drill press and did all the valve contact surfaces. A friend who owns a machine shop said they used to grind them years ago and said I had nothing to worry about doing them my way. Give it a shot. The material is pretty hard so the flap wheels conforms to the shape - unlike a grind stone.

IMG_4390.JPGIMG_4396.JPG
Last edited by Stanton; 05/08/23 03:05 PM.
Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: DrCharles] #3143216
05/08/23 03:14 PM
05/08/23 03:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,552
Rittman Ohio
fourgearsavoy Offline
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Rittman Ohio
I used RAS when I had my Iskys done but you might want to check around at farm tractor repair shops. When I was in the equipment repair business we used to surface our rockers in house.

Gus beer


64 Plymouth Savoy
493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow
5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box
Dana 60
Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: fourgearsavoy] #3143265
05/08/23 08:39 PM
05/08/23 08:39 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,220
West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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DrCharles  Offline OP
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West Plains, MO
Thanks for the tips. RAS appears to be RAU (Unlimited) now wink
I've sent some emails to several shops, too late to call today but I'll see if I get any replies.

At least one pad, possibly another, has such a deep valve-tip-sized hole in it that it will need some weld material, though. Can't regrind that with a flap wheel and drill press, although I'm tempted to try it on the other less worn rockers...

The cam is a little Crane 260-2H (204/216@.050, .501/.533 with the stock 1.73 rocker ratio) since the engine is going in a '65 dually truck. I wonder if Chinesium rockers would hold up whistling That's under $200 for two complete assemblies, probably less than the cost of rocker rework! work

Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: DrCharles] #3143270
05/08/23 08:57 PM
05/08/23 08:57 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,868
Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Offline
Don't question me!
Stanton  Offline
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S

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,868
Ontario, Canada
RAU repaired an Isky rocker for me last summer. Had to remove and replace one of the hardened tips. Service was excellent. Price was reasonable.

Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: DrCharles] #3143279
05/08/23 09:37 PM
05/08/23 09:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,129
Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
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Bend,OR USA
i had several bad experiences with both RAS and the new guys at RAU, not good down
Let the buyers be warned up twocents


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: Cab_Burge] #3143341
05/09/23 09:08 AM
05/09/23 09:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,637
Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman Offline
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Stuttgart, Arkansas
It's been 45 years since I've done it but there is an attachment on the end of a Kwik-Way valve grinder for that. I think it's on all of them. Worked fine. The ones I did were 426 Hemi, but I don't think that matters.


2011 Drag Pak Challenger
Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: rickseeman] #3143354
05/09/23 10:22 AM
05/09/23 10:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357
Marion, South Carolina [><]
There's a member here, screen name is HemiDavey. he rebuilds hemi rockers and resurfaces them.
Here's his ad from the hemi parts for sale section here in the classifieds...

Please see my post from 4-5-23 for info on my Hemi Rocker restoration.
Here is a real nice set
Aluminum stands
New Stanke shafts with removable plugs
New grade 5 bolts
Excellent original rocker arms, standard ratio, resurfaced
New springs
All parts are carefully inspected, washed and assembled correctly. Oiled and bagged for install on your engine. $2300 Sold

Please contact me by phone or text, I can text more photos to you
7 three 4 - 2 three 1- 0 seven 0 five
Thanks, Dave

Dave's Hot Rod Garage (Registered repair facility in State Of Michigan)
3851 Argentine
Howell, Mi 48855


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3143359
05/09/23 10:56 AM
05/09/23 10:56 AM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,868
Ontario, Canada
S
Stanton Offline
Don't question me!
Stanton  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,868
Ontario, Canada
NOTE that the OP is working on a FORD. As such he is enquiring about the process - not looking for reconditioned Mopar pieces !!

Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: Stanton] #3143366
05/09/23 11:42 AM
05/09/23 11:42 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357
Marion, South Carolina [><]
Note that the member, whose info I shared, resurfaces rocker arms. If he can resurface hemi rockers, he likely can resurface the ford pieces the OP is working with. I only posted his for sale ad so his contact info would be shown.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3143383
05/09/23 01:20 PM
05/09/23 01:20 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,220
West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
master
DrCharles  Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,220
West Plains, MO
Relax everyone, it's all good beer

RAU says they can do them for $7 each, or will sell me a complete assembled set for $195. I bet those are the same Chinese ones I can get on Amazon for the same price... I think I'll have them regrind my existing ones. I have more faith in the old iron than modern possibly melted coat hangers...

Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: DrCharles] #3143442
05/09/23 04:44 PM
05/09/23 04:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,504
DFW
M
mr_340 Offline
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DFW
Originally Posted by DrCharles
I have more faith in the old iron than modern possibly melted coat hangers...


Melted down coat hangars would be the high end steel in China. They save those for rods and cranks and call it 4340 (throw in an old chrome bumper in the melt).


Floyd Lippencott IV
Re: Need a shop to reface rocker arms [Re: mr_340] #3143656
05/10/23 01:48 PM
05/10/23 01:48 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,366
north of coder
moparx Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,366
north of coder
chinesium seems to be the "gold standard" of material these days........... biggrin
beer







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