bushed or bearing rockers?

[galaxastang]

Bushed are usually suited for the street-strip and bearing racing applications. I have a chance to get a set that are bearing for cheap, he says they're comp cams. I'm not sure if he is the real deal. Any way, my car is more street-strip, so maybe I don't need bearing rockers. 

[jayb]

I assume you are talking about the bushing that rides on the rocker shaft?  As far as I know, Comp only makes bushed rockers.  T&D and Erson are the only ones making a rocker with a roller bearing on the shaft, and both of those use smaller diameter shafts to accomodate the bearing.  Also, Erson is out of production on their rockers, so T&D is the only game in town for a true FE roller rocker.

[afret]

The bushed ones like HS should be fine for flat tappet and most hydraulic roller cams.  The good thing about them is you can run tight shaft to bushing clearances and probably get less oil leaking out past the rockers.

[thatdarncat]

I have a set of Dove rockers, who I understand makes the rockers for Comp Cams. They do not have a bushing, the aluminum rocker rides on the steel shaft, maybe they've changed? I also have a set of Harland Sharp, they do have a bushing. I use mine in a Drag Racing application and have never had an issue as far as the rocker & shaft, but I don't rack up any street miles.

[galaxastang]

Yes, I'm talking about rocker riding on the shaft. It turns out they are pro comp NOT comp cams. I hear pro comp is garbage, so I'll keep looking. Unless someone has had good feedback, don't want to take any chances.        Thanks guys

[Barry_R]

Harland Sharp also offers a roller fulcrum rocker set.  I have one on order for comparison....

[jayb]

Is that a new offering from them, Barry?  I wasn't aware that Harland Sharp was making a rocker like that...

[jayb]

I have a set of Dove rockers, who I understand makes the rockers for Comp Cams. They do not have a bushing, the aluminum rocker rides on the steel shaft, maybe they've changed? I also have a set of Harlan Sharp, they do have a bushing. I use mine in a Drag Racing application and have never had an issue as far as the rocker & shaft, but I don't rack up any street miles.

Oops, you are correct and my Comp Cams rockers also ride on the aluminum, and don't have a bushing.  I was thinking of Precision Oil Pump's rockers...

[afret]

HS has been offering a needle bearing FE rocker for a long time.  Seems like nobody get them though for some reason.

http://www.harlandsharp.com/ford_nb.htm

[jayb]

Thanks for that link, Earl, I have never seen those.  Maybe Barry will give us a performance report when he gets a set.

[amdscooter]

Those look interesting. My first question after reading the link is "what is gained by using needle bearings"? Rocker arms usually offer little resistance and have a limited range of motion anyway. While these would probably move more easily, you are also distributing the load over a smaller space (the contact point of the needle bearing to the shaft) at the same time. I'm new to the game.. so please excuse the newbish type questions if this is old hat stuffs to the rest of the crowd. 

[galaxastang]

Those look interesting. My first question after reading the link is "what is gained by using needle bearings"? Rocker arms usually offer little resistance and have a limited range of motion anyway. While these would probably move more easily, you are also distributing the load over a smaller space (the contact point of the needle bearing to the shaft) at the same time. I'm new to the game.. so please excuse the newbish type questions if this is old hat stuffs to the rest of the crowd. 

I ask the same, the bushing would seem to be sturdier with more contact surface. With limited motion, what is to gain with needle bearing?  Maybe more suited for higher rpm engines? I understand why you would rollerize a transmission, but not something with such limited motion.

How do the non bushed rockers hold up? Must be a very high grade aluminum.

[machoneman]

Although Barry or Jay may be able to answer more fully, just think of the open spring pressure of say 500-900 lbs. in full race FE's and the incredible force imparted on a plain bushed rocker and shaft! This HS setup is mighty cool but not for run-of-the mill street FE's for sure.

I wonder if Bill Connelly, our resident FE rocker arm guru, has run any tests on the hp impact of the above with his testing machinery? 

[plovett]

It's interesting because high end roller lifters have gone the opposite direction.   From needles to bushings.  The lifters used with extreme valve spring pressure use bushings. 

paulie

[KMcCullah]

Curiosity is killing me!

http://jomarperformance.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=50&osCsid=bfad3b23123c212714a3ab5244bd61d2

Would somebody please pony up and report back.