FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: R-WEST on July 15, 2014, 01:54:10 PM
-
Still trying to come up with adjustable rocker arms/shafts.
Ken at Oregon Cams has a good setup at a decent price (relatively speaking), but a month or so out, waiting on rockers;
Doug at P.O.P. has them, good price (relatively speaking..) but waiting a couple weeks for the shafts.
I can get Comp's kit right now.
From many years in the construction industry, I always worry when someone is 'waiting for something', because it often turns into a lot longer wait.. :(
What to do??? :-\
In case it matters, cam is Comp 282S...
-
There are others out there like Harland Sharp and T+D you might consider.
-
I just installed a set of Harland Sharps on my 445. The ones I purchased are Summit part CSP S4006B, bronze bushed with roller tips. They also carry full rollers and complete rocker/shaft assemblies, usually in stock with most parts. What I bought worked well on my OEM shafts which were in good condition. You'll want to consider end stands too if you don't have them. Nosing around on Summit's site will let you know what's out there, available right now.
-
And nothing says that you have to purchase a complete set-up from the same supplier. Oregon Cams does have a nice support set-up, but if they don't have rockers then get a set someplace else. The Oregon Cam support set-up with Harland Sharps rockers and HD shafts make a nice combo, and that's what I currently have. That's the nice thing about the FE system, most all are designed around the same shaft diameter, so all it takes is some spacers to match any set to just about any head, except for the obvious HighRiser head which uses the short stands. Complete system or bought separately, they all need to be fitted and checked for proper clearances/spacing anyway.
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cjshaker/IMAG4978.jpg) (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cjshaker/media/IMAG4978.jpg.html)
-
Excellent advice, guys, as usual - what a great resource this place is!! 8)
I was worried about compatibility issues with one guy's parts and another guy's rockers or shafts. Wasn't that something that happened with Erson's stuff before?
I'll keep digging.
BTW - once I get this particular engine together, it's going in this:
(http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac19/RLWEST/1976%20Ford%20F100/76F1006-6-14Resized.jpg)
Then, hopefully, it'll get an aluminum 482 after the rest of it's complete (I may have to take out a 2nd mortgage just for LMC Truck :) ) . I'm overkilling the 390 now, hoping to re-use some of the parts on the big engine later.. ;D 8)
-
You cant go wrong spending money on your valve train , if plan on high end build at some point listen to all these guy s , pick and choose your parts and enjoy the building of your f e , take a look at the t @ d setup jmo Bud
-
I've found that if you start trying to piece together good parts, you end up with more money in the setup than a new set of T&D's. If you buy individual parts, including rocker bodies, spacers, shims, shafts, stands, studs, etc., it will add up very quickly.
-
What about a factory set, with Doug's end-stands?
-
Not a bad idea at all if you have a complete factory set and it's all in good shape.
I just finished a 428CJ build and had full intention of reusing the factory non-adjustables in the build, but after I got into the part inspection process, I found a bent shaft and some other issues....plus I still had to order end stands and spacers.
-
What about a factory set, with Doug's end-stands?
I second jimeast's point. In my opinion almost any available shafts are fine to .600" lift with POP end supports.
-
I would also look into Oregon Cams as well. Ken makes a nice set up too. T&D's I feel are over kill for most guys but that are my personal thoughts... JMHO
http://www.oregoncamshaft.com/428-FE.html
-
Harland Sharp set up
http://www.jegs.com/i/Harland-Sharp/851/S4006BK/10002/-1?parentProductId=#moreDetails
-
No one ever mentions crane camshafts setup #34790-16 I have this on my edelbrock headed 452 in my 66 comet it has been trouble free for several years .It is similar to the Harland sharp with aluminum rockers steel stands and end stands .It also comes with arp studs aluminum spacers for the rockers and an assortment of shims .I had one of the first production runs of this rocker system .I had to have my rocker shaft stands milled to get my valve train geometry correct but from my knowledge crane has corrected all that .Like others have said maybe find a used set of factory rockers and upgrade those with end stands .On the used stuff be careful sometimes the threads for the adjusters are lose you can buy oversized if that is the case .FE valve train parts are sometimes the most expensive part of the engine .But I don't want to be bending or breaking shafts and rockers either .Good luck to you Doug :D
-
No one ever mentions crane camshafts setup #34790-16 I have this on my edelbrock headed 452 in my 66 comet it has been trouble free for several years .It is similar to the Harland sharp with aluminum rockers steel stands and end stands .It also comes with arp studs aluminum spacers for the rockers and an assortment of shims .I had one of the first production runs of this rocker system .I had to have my rocker shaft stands milled to get my valve train geometry correct but from my knowledge crane has corrected all that .Like others have said maybe find a used set of factory rockers and upgrade those with end stands .On the used stuff be careful sometimes the threads for the adjusters are lose you can buy oversized if that is the case .FE valve train parts are sometimes the most expensive part of the engine .But I don't want to be bending or breaking shafts and rockers either .Good luck to you Doug :D
In the days of yore Crane made a set of alum rockers that did not work out well.
It could be the sour taste, or...availability. I'm not seeing any real stock in the spider web stores.
Would you have any pictures of this new system say set up on a head?
-
No Howie I have no pictures .From my memory this came out around 2005 .The crane catalog has this rocker setup in it Other than my needing to have the stands milled It has worked great for me .Weather or not it is available is up for discussion .Here is a # for them 386 258 6167.Several years ago in hot rod magazine Joe Sherman built a fe stroker based on a 428 block and ported edelbrock heads .If my memory is correct he used the crane rocker setup I am mentioning
-
Here is the updated Crane Cams P/N 34791-1
-
Thanks a lot for all the input guys. 8)
Tried my darnedest to come up with an OEM setup, but there's not much out there, except for some questionable used stuff on e-Bay.
Ken at Oregon has everything except the rockers :(
I talked to that Graham guy - he doesn't have any. He said they're around $650 (!!) just for the rockers when he does have them. :o
Doug at P.O.P. has everything except the shafts, so I'm leaning that way, especially since I'm using his pump/driveshaft; that will be one less order to place. :) He said the shafts will be in any time, or, I can use OEM replacements. So I looked at H-S and Comp - they're around $140-150 for the set, but Sealed Powers are only $60 for the set. Dunno if H-S and Comp are a gouge, or are the S.P.'s imported junk? I don't mind paying for quality, but I don't like being gouged, either.. :( I guess I could get a pair of each and have 'em checked out, especially with Summit's easy return policy!!
[edit] Yikes!! Just checked - those Comp shafts are $140/EACH!! :-\ Must be really good steel or something.. Okay, I'll use the H-S's, at ~$205 for the pair, I guess. [/edit]
BTW - You guys are the best!! I really appreciate the wealth of FE info available here!! 8)
-
Here is the updated Crane Cams P/N 34791-1
Wow, they're $900 at Jegs..
Good grief..
-
In most cases new stock shafts should be more than adequate if you're going to use end stands. That should save some money.
If you're going to run a big solid roller cam and matching springs then the thick shafts might be better but then again at that point the race T+D setup would be the way to go.
-
Thanks afret. This will be a fairly mild effort, for now.
If the 'boss' approves the expenditure for the aluminum 482 in the future, we'll probably be looking at a more aggressive cam/springs arrangement.
I ordered both the H-S and Sealed Power shafts from Summit - we'll have a look and see if there's any glaringly obvious differences between them.
As soon as Doug gets back to me, I'll have the rest of the valvetrain setup on the way from P.O.P. Woo-hoo!! 8)
Now, to get back to trying to find the right pieces for the interior, body, etc.. Holy mackerel - the chrome trim strips for the sides are $600; chrome for the tailgate is $600; grille shell is $600, a lot of $600's... :( I'm running out of blood plasma to sell.. :'(
-
We ended up using the H-S shafts, along with the P.O.P. rockers/spacers/end supports/studs/etc..
According to Dan at Rhodes Performance:
1. The H-S shafts are a good bit heavier than the Sealed Power OEM replacements.
and,
2. "Wow, is that rocker system impressive. That is some top quality equipment right there".
This from a guy who does a lot of dirt track engines and BBC's/BBF's for truck pullers.
Plus, they'll fit under my chrome "Powered by Ford" valve covers.
Good to hear something uplifting as my project crawls along at a snail's pace.. :)
-
hey guys. precision shafts make some really nice shafts and stands with the end supports for 600.00. it is nice stuff. also i have t@d stuff on my pond 482 all aluminum motor and the t@d stuff hasnt moved at all. granted its 1300 bucks. but usually engine failure comes from top end. whats your motor worth? dont be cheap with the valve train. most important thing is the end support stands, thats where they break. have lots of friends with fe experience and i have never seen or heard of fe factory shafts breaking in the middle. its always at the end. hope this helps
-
I believe stock shafts with end supports are fine until you start to get radical. JMO