I'm still in the planning(for like two decades now) stages of my 455 build. I do a lot of reading on this site about what is out there and what can be done on a budget. In this thread at reply #34 the 68-69 430 rocker arms are pointed out as a budget way to do this. http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/500-hp-edelbrock-b4b-what-happens-to-low-end.318740/page-2 Mr Weise stated that he has two engines that showed the pattern of rockers having difficulty and that was a pattern. I have set out to find "cheap" used 68-69 430 rockers and i Guess they are different from the 67 rockers. I found these in a search, but they are listed for a 67. https://www.ebay.com/itm/112624942908?_trksid=p2062857.m570.l5999&_trkparms=gh1g=I112624942908.N36.S2.R3.TR9 This leads to my question. What are the part number(s) I need to be looking for? Mentioned in this thread http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?th...er-arm-for-a-1969-gs-400.322616/#post-2709922 the part numbers for left and right are different. post #13 Is there a way to identify the different rockers? Casting number or general appearance? I think I have some that came with the 430 heads I have but I will have to locate them. I might have time for that as it looks like I will be laid off on the 12th. But I went to an interview on Thursday and they already made an offer. Not a perfect fit but a job none the less. Enough of my personal struggles, I have a BBB to plan out.
Just a side note just remember to get hybrid pushrods with the 455 lifters to oil through the pushrods.
casting numbers may vary, but what you are looking for are 67-69 rockers. Should you get those e-bay rockers, there are still other parts you need--springs, hold downs. etc. You shouldn't have much trouble finding a complete set of 67-69 rockers and shafts.
you were right about easy to find. I thought about it and went digging in the garage(seemingly endless crap) and low and behold I dug this set up. popped the VC off and wallah. gotta do a little search for this casting . I pulled em from the wrecking yard as a young lad back in the eighties when stuff like this could be found in a yard. They have made a move or five since. I hope they check out after carting them around all these years I hate to admit we are hoarders. The wife and I have a deal. She doesn't throw out my stuff and I don't throw out hers. Works for us.
for those keeping track there are two different numbers on this head. and also have the hold downs mentioned in other threads I have read. goon need a valve job. I guess these sat in the yard a while with the valves open. I am pretty excited with this discovery. Way better than laying down some cash for some more.
Whose hybrid rods? TA I am guessing? JW/trishield? Forgive my ignorance. 430 pushrods Drilled for oil thru? Or do they have different ball ends? Thanks for any info.
The pre-1970 pushrods were all solid as the rockers were oiled through the shafts, not through the lifters and pushrods. There is also a difference in the balls on the end of the rods, earlier pushrods had larger balls. The hybrid pushrods have the small ball on the bottom for the oil-style lifters are drilled through the center and have the large ball on the top to work with the cup in the early style rockers. As far as I know most people buy them from TA
There are some naysayers about the adjustable rods. My experience is they are good. I guess with extreme valve springs pressure there can be issues.
http://www.taperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=TA_1428B these are the ones I searched up. Kinda pricey but I figured id keep an eye on the used parts section and see if I can score a used set.
