rocker shafts

I have 2 sets of al rockers. One set is from my 70 SF motor that had 35,000 on it. The other set is from 72, unknown milage. The 72's were more or less disassembled, and I finished the rest today. One shaft shows significant wear (I can feel the ridges) while the other shows very little. With the 70 set, one of the buttons is broken off. Under the rocker the wear is pretty deep as well.

Questions: Should I put a new button in the 70 set and run it? Or should I disassemble the 70 set and just use the two best shafts and best rockers between the two sets?

 

IMO, I would NEVER use any shaft or rockers that has any wear. If you can feel a ridge that is too much to me!

Those stock shafts are garbage IMO, and should be replaced with the aftermarket style chrome-moly shaft and stamped steel style rockers.ou:

I don't know whether or not you want to buy new or not, but you should IMOo No:

 

Actually, in my case, both (70 and 72) are aluminum. It may have been a factory fluke or something. The 70 motor is low miles and wasn't really touched. The 72 (a low miler also) was partially disassembled by a chevy guy who just put the small stuff in a bucket.

I do have a set of steel rockers, but they are currently on my 76 electra. I have another set of steels somewhere (???). I just wanted to put my original aluminum set back on my motor. But if they're junk they're junk. No two ways about it. But I don't know if they're junk.

 

Just got back from searching Ta's website. They have steel rocker arm kits for $139. Not bad considering what could happen with worn out stuff. The kit includes steel rockers, polished chrome shaft and new buttons.

They also rebuild the steel and aluminum assemblies. The aluminum rebuild costs the same as the kit I mentioned earlier. I think I'll go steel.

Thanks fellas

 

The 70 to 72 rockers were alum. These early rockers had a bad problem of wearing the shafts. I would only use good shafts, none with wear on them. It is true the 70 to 72 alum rockers are a slightly better ratio than the later model steel rockers, but the steel rockers are more likely to not be worn. Jim Burek P.A.E. ENTERPRISES

 

That's not a bad price as carparts.com has the Federal-Mogul assembly listed at $133.22 (cheaper to buy 1 ea L and R individual assembly than to buy their complete assemblies together? $142).

 

The UPS guy dropped off my package yesterday. One problem though, I didn't find any instructions on how to assemble them. I'm no dummy, don't get me wrong, but it would've helped. I have an R and a L on the tip of the arms (valve side) so that's self explainitory. However, which side should I face to determine which is left or right?? I looks as if the valve side of the arms would be right, as the letters are correct (not upside down). Any thoughts? I'll probably just "dry" assemble them and compare with the old Aluminum set, or maybe set them on the head with the pushrods.

 

With the valve end of the rocker facing towards you, They go ,
Starting from the left, LR LR LR LR.
The only problem I have seen on the aftermarket shafts , is that they are much thinner than the stock shafts, someone needs to contact federal mogal or whoever actually makes those things and have them make the shafts thicker than stock , not thinner. Jim Burek P.A.E. ENTERPRISES