455 Roller Rocker arms

I am looking for a set , Now this may be just me But Why is it you can Buy a set of Roller rocker arms for any other GM Chevy Pontiac Olds And most other Makes for between $200.00 to $300.00 And the BBB are $700 range ?
Does anyone make a set for the buick 455 that are reasonable ,
Other Question Is it possible to mount Olds Or A Pontiac roller on to a Buick Shaft Has this been done ?

Just Thinking out loud
Dave

 

Supply and Demand

When a manufacturer tools up to make SBC or BBC parts (not just rockers) he knows he is going to make them in much larger volumes than he would a Buick part or even a Pontiac part for that matter. So, the initial cost is lower because he gets to amortize all his setup costs against a couple hundred sets versus say, ten sets.

There just isn't enough Buick Hot Rodders around, the manufacturer's costs are higher and they will charge us higher prices accordingly for our low volume Buick parts. (And from a Sales and Marketing perspective they know there aren't many options out there for us, so we are somewhat trapped).
o No:

 

Shaft mount style roller rockers are expensive no matter what they fit. I believe a better comparison might be Big Block Mopar, rather than a Chevy.

 

Chevy rockers and Buick set ups are completely different by design. And the supply and demand thing.

 

Dave,

KB roller rockers pop up here and on evilbay from time to time for sale. Pricing has been $380-525 for a set of shafts and 16 rockers. Keep your eyes open and you might score a set.

Regards

:TU:

 

I got a set for $279.00 on E-bay. Maybe the owner didn't know what he had .

Keep your eyes open

 

Apples and oranges, TA rockers are far better than the KB I've seen. 7/16" keepers as opposed to 3/8", and then the TA have torrington bearings on the rocker... it all adds up.

 

If I remember right, the old KB's simply have a pressed in babbit bearing for the rocker/shaft interface. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, I remember TA saying they have a very limited stock of replacement pieces should a KB rocker fail...once they're gone, it's down to scrounging for used parts I'd suspect.

Devon

 

The KB rockers have a bronze bushing in them. They will break, I have broken 2 in 9 years racing. One cost me a block, the other I got lucky with and no damage. I bought 2 from TA (KBs) this summer to have for spares. They were not cheap but he has bought all that Bell had so I needed spares. I'm going to TAs or possibly Harlin Sharpe as he is sponsor for some of our races. Either way it is $700+.
Jim N.