Roller Rocker for a "Mild" Street Stroked 427?

[ACHiPo]

I'd assumed that using a set of roller rockers on an Edelbrock RPM would be the best and most reliable top end for a mild stroked 427 street motor using a BBM block.  I've been seeing things that suggesting T&D doesn't recommend their roller rockers for the street (not sure whether that is current information).  They recommend inspecting every 2000 miles for fatique cracks, which doesn't give me confidence that it's a good solution for my application?

Thoughts?

[blykins]

Absolutely no worries about using T&D rockers on the street. 

However, if you're looking for something more economical, we have access to "new" non-adjustable factory style rocker setups that work extremely well with milder hydraulic roller applications.

[turbohunter]

I called them (T&D) when I was looking for a system for my truck.
Their words to me were something like, aluminum has a fatigue/failure lifetime.
So I'm sure they don't want folks running them everyday on the street, then wanting replacements if/when they fail. That would be a PITA.

[CaptCobrajet]

I like to use the non-adjustable OEM style with good shafts, studs, and end supports, if we are .600 lift or less.  The end supports are not a requirement if you are "mild" enough.  It requires the effort to set them up one time, then bolt them down and forget about it.

[blykins]

I don't think T&D meant that to dissuade you from buying their rockers.  They do have "street" rockers and "race" rockers and if aluminum caused that much fuss, then no other rocker manufacturer would offer aluminum bodied rockers.   Pretty sure Comp's Ultra Gold and Ultra XD rockers are both aluminum and they offer a lifetime warranty on them...

[ACHiPo]

I called them (T&D) when I was looking for a system for my truck.
Their words to me were something like, aluminum has a fatigue/failure lifetime.
So I'm sure they don't want folks running them everyday on the street, then wanting replacements if/when they fail. That would be a PITA.

Turbo,
T&D's fatigue statement is what I read that made me skeptical.  I'm ok with the initial cost if it makes for a reliable, fun car.  If I need to rebuild the motor every 20k miles (even if that's only every 10 years so not every day on the street, but whenever I want), I'd like a better solution.
AC

[ACHiPo]

I like to use the non-adjustable OEM style with good shafts, studs, and end supports, if we are .600 lift or less.  The end supports are not a requirement if you are "mild" enough.  It requires the effort to set them up one time, then bolt them down and forget about it.

This might be a good way to go for me.  The idea of using rollers makes a lot of sense compared to sliding surfaces, but there are an awful lot of motors with 100k or more miles with traditional rockers so it's got a good track record.

[ACHiPo]

I don't think T&D meant that to dissuade you from buying their rockers.  They do have "street" rockers and "race" rockers and if aluminum caused that much fuss, then no other rocker manufacturer would offer aluminum bodied rockers.   Pretty sure Comp's Ultra Gold and Ultra XD rockers are both aluminum and they offer a lifetime warranty on them...

Brent,
Thanks.  I was wondering about their "Street" rockers and whether the comment I read applied to them.  I suspect they meant that race motors may only have a few hundred hours on them before rebuild, as opposed to a street motor that sees (hopefully) a couple thousand before needing a rebuild.  Everything fatigues, but steel is better than aluminum for a given design, which is not to say you can't use Al to make reliable parts.  Guess I can contact them and ask.

AC

[turbohunter]

I don't think T&D meant that to dissuade you from buying their rockers.  They do have "street" rockers and "race" rockers and if aluminum caused that much fuss, then no other rocker manufacturer would offer aluminum bodied rockers.   Pretty sure Comp's Ultra Gold and Ultra XD rockers are both aluminum and they offer a lifetime warranty on them...

I agree with you. But for me it was something to think about as I am often out in the middle of nowhere in my truck after many cycles in the city.

[CaptCobrajet]

Less things to fail=less chance of failure.  If you had lash to deal with, the street T&D is probably the highest quality option right now.  Same rocker quality as the paired shafts.  The weak link being the traditional mounting vs. the HD paired shaft design.   We use beehives and non-adjustables for hydraulic streeters to reduce the chance of a failure in the middle of nowhere, like Turbohunter described.

[turbohunter]

After seeing you build a few of those Blair I would go that way if I had to do it again.

[blykins]

I wouldn't hesitate to take off and drive to California with the T&D rockers, then turn around and drive back.   An aluminum bodied rocker arm just isn't something that I would consider a higher failure rate part, unless we were talking about Procomp parts.  If you wanted absolute simplicity, then it needs to be a flat tappet camshaft and a factory rocker. 

With that being said, sometimes it comes down to budget and a less expensive part being able to handle the job.   If you compare a $1000 set of T&D rockers to a $450 set of "new" non-adjustable rockers with end stands and studs, then you're saving a lot of money and still ending up with new parts that will handle a hydraulic roller camshaft with ease.

I'm on my 3rd build with new factory non-adjustables in the past few months and I must say that I prefer the simplicity.  It would be a little more challenging for the DIY'er to measure for accurate pushrod length, but other than that, I see no drawbacks.   I do find that the non-adjustables will let a hydraulic roller FE rpm a little higher with the same parts.  I pair them up with a set of end stands from POP. 

[turbohunter]

I'm on my 3rd build with new factory non-adjustables in the past few months and I must say that I prefer the simplicity.

"New factory non adjustables"
I didn't know there was such a thing?

[blykins]

Yeah, there are a couple of companies now offering complete setups with new rockers, shafts, springs, etc.   It's a great offering.

[FERoadster]

New non-adjustable  1.72 or 1.76 ratio?

Richard