Rocker assembly selection?

[GoeffsGalaxie]

Hello all,
I am still new to FE engines (at least from the standpoint of actually building my own where I can pick the parts). I am building a fairly stock configuration 427 and I'm looking to pick a rocker assembly. I don't know anything about them, and I'm looking for advice.
The basic idea is the 425hp factory build from the late 60's. So parts are stock, or replacements of similar specs. The cam is the Lunati "stock replacement" (#30331001, solid lifter, .324 dur/.524 lift), springs are single type, load rate of 342lbs/inch.
I built the engine that went in GT40 P/1046 (the 1966 LeMans winning GT40...) 4 years ago, and the shop I work for has built several engines with the same configuration. It dyno'd in at 495hp, and has run a few historic race events without a hiccup (fingers crossed!). We use the original Fomoco rocker assemblies, for correctness reasons, and have not had a problem so far.
When I took apart the 427 I am building it had the comp cams (blue) roller rockers with an end support stand. I have seen two sets of these removed from FE engines with broken parts. Is this a common failure? Is it dependent on cam and spring specs? Are they safe to use?

Thanks

[jholmes217]

I have the Precision Oil Pumps (called POP's on here a lot) on my 428 with their stands, with no issues so far.  Oregon Camshafts has a rocker system that looks interesting that I would try if I have if I had to buy another set.  These are a couple of options that are not as well known because they are small businesses.  Harland Sharps are pretty popular on this forum.

[Yellow Truck]

Don't overlook T&D, they have both street and strip versions. BTW, some of them (Including the T&D) can't be used with the stock tins.

[dcm0123]

Buy adjustable.
I have Harland Sharps.
Do not use Comp Cam lifters.

[Drew Pojedinec]

The suggestions so far are all hovering in the $800-$1200 range.

You said “stock 427” and that cam that doesn’t look too hard on valvetrain.
The last set of factory adjustable rockers I bought were $50. Put some endstands on them and party on. No need to get carried away.

[Yellow Truck]

Drew is bang on - I didn't provide a complete comment. A stock rocker assembly with end stands will provide the rigidity needed for Hi-Po applications, and it will allow the use of the stock tins. You can get adjustable Ford rockers if you want to go that direction. Just re-read your post. Of course, the Ford rockers were good enough to win LeMans a few times....

If you want to go all in on a posh build, but all means go with the aftermarket rockers. I did. Can't say I got a single extra HP out of it but I love looking at them. Which leads me to confess that I have spent WAY to much time adjusting them. I'm running hydraulic rollers and it took a bunch of adjustments to get the pre-load right.

[Ranch]

In the mid 70’s I ran stock rockers assy., General Kinetics springs using the “B” cam in a 406 shifted at 6.5K and never had a problem with my rockers.  I recently rebuilt this engine and replaced my worn original shafts with P.O.P.s heavy duty shaft but still use stock adjustable rockers and no end stands.  I’ve only taken this rebuild to 6K using Comp 282s.
The Lunati cam you show looks like their version of the Ford “B” cam.  I don’t know if this cam can support power brakes, so check that.

[GoeffsGalaxie]

The Lunati cam you show looks like their version of the Ford “B” cam.  I don’t know if this cam can support power brakes, so check that.

Thanks for bringing that up. For better or worse, I'm running non-power brakes. So it won't be an issue for me.
Funny story on that. I was driving the car (a '67 Galaxie) home from NC to NH after I bought it. I was in a heavy traffic, dense shopping area with a bunch of traffic lights. There was this modern audi next to me, light went yellow. I guessed I could stop, so I got on 'em. The audi went for it, but the light went red before he made it all the way through the intersection. What he didn't see was the officer on a motorcycle, stopped to turn left at the head of a line of traffic.
The officer looks over at my car (I had the window down), and asks me if it had drum brakes... "Yep. And they are just manual brakes at that." The officer points ahead to the audi and says " He could have stopped" flips on the blues and takes off after him. I laughed my ass off!

Thanks to everyone who chimed in on my question. I've contacted my "supplier" of all things ford and secured a pair of factory rocker assemblies (I will replace the shafts with new...).

[Drew Pojedinec]

If using endstands the “sealed power” brand work fine.
If not using endstands the HD shafts mentioned above would be a good idea.

[cammerfe]

FWIW, when my '64 Custom/427 was new, it was both my daily driver and my weekend race car. With all stock components, I never had any trouble with breaking rockers or shafts. The @#$#@ rockers wore out because the interference fit on the adjusters would get loose after a few weeks of adjusting as a preliminary to going racing. (I was happy to own a P&G gizmo---it made it possible to get things right with the engine running. I ultimately got a whole bunch of Y-Block rockers from the local Boneyard and, after a bit of spot-facing, used the screw/locknut combo instead of the interference fit.

The only rocker shaft I ever broke was on my 312 Y-Block---in a snowstorm on New Years Eve---but that's another story.

KS