Composite Rockers

[Heo]

A friend sent me a note about "Forged" Composite rockers from a company
by the name of AWA
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=804358958369462&set=a.488848879920473

[GerryP]

No reason it wouldn't work.  As long as there is engineering behind it and it has had some stress analysis.  But for my money, it's hard to beat the Crane ductile iron rocker.  Simple as an anvil and just as strong.  Too bad they don't make them anymore.

[machoneman]

IIRC, long ago we put Norris (?) ductile iron rockers on his 327 SBC in a 1969 'Vette. Nice looking pieces and they were indestructible. I wonder today if some other firm bought them out.

[MeanGene]

The Isky rockers are also pretty much indestructable, and have a hardened tip

[e philpott]

That rocker won some kind of a award at the PRI . supposed to be lighter and stronger than anything currently available

[Rory428]

The Isky rockers are also pretty much indestructable, and have a hardened tip

Yeah, I really like the iron FE rockers, I have had a few sets, ran them on the Fairmont for years, and currently have a set of Iskys (with POP stands and end supports), on my 59s 428. Only problem is at higher valve lifts, a roller tip won`t tend to push against the valve guides so much.

[Barry_R]

A solution looking for a problem...

[katink]

Barry R is on to something here. Composite EVERYTHING. Nope.

[shady]

everybody said that about intakes 20 years ago but try and find an OEM that isn't. Time will tell.

[1968galaxie]

A composite intake manifold does not have near the same loading/stress levels that a rocker arm, push rod, or connecting rod experience. Big difference.

[e philpott]

The big difference is that these have already been tested for strength so that part is a done deal , out in the field testing is next I assume

[1968galaxie]

These AWA Composite parts have been around before 2018!
How many of these race parts have you seen successfully used?
Does NASCAR use these parts? F1? INDYCar?
They have nearly unlimited budgets.
For any type of street strip performance these parts are a solution for a problem that does not exist. (As Barry correctly said)

[e philpott]

I'm not for or against , the article said stronger and lighter than any other rocker system so I'm sure if rules allow someone will start playing with them at some point

[cammerfe]

Last I knew, Roush was using his own design and manufacture rocker arms in NASCAR. I would suppose others in NASCAR do, as well. I don't believe there's much call for rocker arms in F1, and other venues which use a 4-cam design. MOST designs place the cam lobes directly over the valve and use a bucket over the spring to hold shims to achieve desired lash.

There have been real advances in the use of carbon fiber for such things as connecting rods within the last couple of years. It's necessary to re-orient the layout of the strands to get strength in some complex highly-loaded areas. Rockers are another focused-on area of experimentation.

(It's an area I'm researching.)

KS

[Mark Bliss]

Interesting, (but I am not Facebook subscriber, and didn't pursue further research.)
 
I tend to agree that unless you really need stronger/lighter...
It would be far more interesting to me if it was about an FE application, strong and light enough, and...
Economical and readily available.

For the applications that composite part is likely marketed for, there is an abundance of options that work pretty well.

[1968galaxie]

From an old Yellow Bullet post several years ago regarding AWA composites:

"I sent them an email and the response: $1200 per con rod, $1500 per piston, $315 per pushrod, $595 per lifter pair and $500 per rocker.... Definently a solution for someone with deep pockets and or max effort build goals."

Not quite cost effective for most folks.

[482supersnake]

▶️ Watch this reel
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/2qeYo1Sn6Ju9p5SU/?mibextid=JlhMmq

[Gregwill16]

Using their $19.99 Harbor Freight scale 

[Urgefor]

While flashing his Super Bowl ring to the crowd. 

[Dr Mabuse]

"Currently in Development":
COMPOSITE ROCKERS

[hbstang]

From an old Yellow Bullet post several years ago regarding AWA composites:

"I sent them an email and the response: $1200 per con rod, $1500 per piston, $315 per pushrod, $595 per lifter pair and $500 per rocker.... Definently a solution for someone with deep pockets and or max effort build goals."

Not quite cost effective for most folks.

funny,i remember ford tried compost rods in there 4 cyl race engine,in the 80s and as you can guess it didnt go well! deep pockets are a must here

[cammerfe]

When the idea is to simply duplicate what has already been done, what's readily available is likely 'good enough.' When one is interested in moving boundaries, experimentation is demanded.

KS

[WConley]

I remember around 1990 at Ford hearing about Polimotor  https://polimotor.com/ 

They were building a complete composite four cylinder race engine.  I remember seeing impressive pictures of engine explosions!  Usually all that was left of a failed crank was cotton candy in the block 

If you look at the website, they seem to have mostly given up on composite engine parts.  They are focusing more on metal 3D printing now.

[TimeWarpF100]

photo from facebook

[machoneman]

Any notes on the weight savings?

[cammerfe]

I remember around 1990 at Ford hearing about Polimotor  https://polimotor.com/ 

They were building a complete composite four cylinder race engine.  I remember seeing impressive pictures of engine explosions!  Usually all that was left of a failed crank was cotton candy in the block 

If you look at the website, they seem to have mostly given up on composite engine parts.  They are focusing more on metal 3D printing now.

I knew the guy pretty well who was the Ford end on the Polimotor project. He had personal demons and did not play well with others. When Polimotor finally delivered a functioning engine, FoMoCo said, in effect, "Thanks." He wasn't satisfied and raised such a ruckus he was ultimately terminated.

The engine ran just fine, and because the parts were so light weight, it would turn 13-14 K although relatively mild as far as cams-design etc.

KS

[427stang]

1982 Popular Science

[4twennyAint]

The term composite is used too loosely.  A component that handles a substantial load (rods, rockers, etc) will have carbon fiber.  These are costly at the moment.    Intake manifolds, radiators, etc. will have glass or hemp fiber.  They are cheap.  The type of resin is selected based on temperature and tolerance requirements.