PRW rockers, opinions?

[Joey120373]

Does anyone have an opinion on these rockers?


http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/prw-3239022-ford-fe-shaft-mount-stainless-steel-rocker-arms.html

To me they look similar to the cheep fleabay Chinese stuff that sells for about half the price. Hard to know if these are the real deal and the chineese stuff are just knock offs, or if these are just rebranded versions of the same.

[drdano]

PRW = cheap junk. 

[turbohunter]

It took me a while to think about if I even wanted to answer and start the same old China debate.
However the OP asked for opinions and I have some experience with these rockers.
I own a set of the steel PRWs. I have had them on my 441 in my truck for quite a while now with a lot of good off road beating.
I chose the steel set because I wanted them for the long haul and didn't want to think about aluminum fatigue. Could I have chosen stock rockers? Yes but I also spend time in traffic in 100+ degree weather in LA traffic so I wanted a head to toe roller motor to cut out any unnecessary friction/heat. Call it experimentation.
The motor works extremely well and stays 180-190 no matter how I beat on it.
Back to the rockers.
Would I buy them to race with or for a hot street car? No. However for a truck that has rarely seen 5k rpm they work fine.

[fekbmax]

I k own of two sets of the stainless steel rockers in use on street stuff. A 4x4 truck and a 66 galaxie.  No issues on the street. I think your better off with those than the aluminum ones. The biggest problem I have seen with the PRW/pro comp stuff is the shafts. Have seen several broken shafts. Seen no less that 3 at this year's fe reunion alone. It was always the shafts that were breaking.

[Joey120373]

I was specifically looking at the steel units, for the same reasons mentioned, I want to just put a set in for the long haul and not worry about aluminumn fatigue. Motor I'm planning will rarely see the far side of 5500rpm. But I want to stay away from the "cheep" stuff.
So, does anyone make a quality steel roller rocker, or am a stuck with aluminum ?

Thanks
Joe

[Joey120373]

It was always the shafts that were breaking.

So I'm wondering if just getting better shafts from the start might be the way to go...

Dunno, putting a lot of money in this motor, seems like a bad idea to put questionable rockers on it to save a few hundred bucks. I really like the look of those steel rockers though.

[Joey120373]

Ok, forget those,
How about the Shelby rockers, I had always assumed that anything Shelby was twice the price plus a tip, but these don't look all that bad:

http://www.shelbyengines.com/products/shelby-fe-rocker-arms

[fekbmax]

Why not a set of Dove or TnD street for that price.

[1967 XR7 GT]

If you don't want to go roller and you don't want stock there are these:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/thread/1303089960/graham+FE++steel+rockers

[Joey120373]

Why not a set of Dove or TnD street for that price.

Worried about long term fatigue,

Did a little digging, the Shelby units are rebrands from another company.
So that particular rocker set can be had for cheeper.

I've nothing at all against the stock units, may well end up using just stock rockers with HD shafts and end supports. I've read a few posts from guys who seem to know their stuff, claiming the rollers are really not needed under 6500rpm or .600 lift. I'm not planning on getting anywhere near that rpm, but I might well be over .600 lift.

It's a badge of honor thing I guess, every since I can remember, you weren't a true gear head unless you had a set of roller rockers. Bone stock heads, smog pump, egr, and a worn out 2bbl carb, but it's got roller rockers so it's still cool......my inner teenager just won't die I guess.

Now if I had a set of those cool clear valve covers like Jay has, well then I would have to go full tilt flashy custom anodized "race" rockers with multicolored LED backlighting, a disco ball and probably throw in a stripper pole for good measure.

[e philpott]

I thought PRW is different than Pro Comp ??..... employee has a set of PRW's in a SBC been working great for 6 years or more , car see's 7000 rpm , looks similar to the FE shaft design on a SBC , roller tip stays dead center with a tiny contact pattern , sure worked good in his car with a stout solid mechanical cam

[Nightmist66]

If you don't want to go the roller route, FOMOCO factory adjustables were pretty reliable rockers. The Isky rockers are extremely durable. I just bought a set of the Crane ductile iron rockers. Very stout pieces. These were replacing some factory replacement rockers that I just had one break.

On the roller side, the POP rockers and the Harland Sharps are good bang for the buck. We have had pretty good luck with Harland Sharp over the years, both styles- bushed and needle bearing.

[drdano]

I have a set of Dove narrow aluminum rollers, I wont use them again.  I'm not convinced they are a quality product and have already had to replace the adjusters with very little use on a .644 lift cam in my Galaxie.

[turbohunter]

Oh you brought up a good point drdano.
I forgot to mention that when I first installed mine the very first thing I did was replace the adjusters with a set from Manton. I didn't like what I saw/felt upon initial inspection.
That might be a key.
So in all fairness, they became more expensive. Are they worth it? Only the years will tell.
I do like the idea of a stainless set of rockers for a low rev long haul type motor.

[fekbmax]

I think there's gonna be pros and cons with most all of them. I ran Dove rockers for many many years in my drag cars, lots of spring pressure and lots of rpm and had good results with them. Ofcourse  I was constantly setting lash but that's a common and normal practice with a race engine.  I can't say how they would hold up to thousands of street miles.
I did have two Harland Sharp rockers (on separate occasions) loose the rollers right out of them on a street engine though.