Adjustable rockers for the late Rover (rollers?)

[BlownMGB-V8]

I'm just getting ready to machine the base plates for the paired rocker sets to go on my TA heads and was wondering if it might make sense to try and adapt those to the Rover heads as well. I know Volvo rockers have been used in the past as well as the Harland Sharp rockers and have been watching the discussion about the Olds heads but don't know how the rocker shaft sizes stack up. What's the latest thinking on this?

Jim

[mgb260]

JIm, set the rocker height at 1/2 lift for smaller wipe on the valve stem. Should be level with retainer so if you drew a line from center of roller through center of trunion. Rocker stand height determines this.

[roverman]

Closer to edge at start of lift ? Well maybe... Load on rocker/ push rod, is quite low compared to full lift.
                                                                                   Art.

[mgb260]

Art, Mid lift gives less wipe on the valve tip.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Looked at the heads again, the rocker pairs are a no-go. The TA head has twice the number of bolts to hold the base plate down and the locations are better. The bolts would fail, it's been attempted before. Guess the full shaft rockers are the only option. Haven't looked at the Rover rockers yet to see if adjusters could be substituted for the hardened tips.

Jim

[mgb260]

Jim, Maybe you could bore the rockers to fit original shafts?

[BlownMGB-V8]

It's an interesting idea but those use a 9/16" shaft so that's going up something like 1/4"? Might be enough metal left, I'll have to look. Also have to get some suitable caged roller bearings but a good thought.

Jim

[mgb260]

Jim, a lot of roller tip rockers just have a bronze bushing. I'd be tempted to just use the rocker itself and lube with Moly grease when installed.

[BlownMGB-V8]

That's worth considering. Looks like the bearing OD is about 3/4" which means  bored/reamed to the shaft diameter would take out another .050-1/16" which would be acceptable. That means using the aluminum of the rocker as the bushing but these heads do have the pressure shaft oiling port and so do the 300 and 340 blocks so it's just a matter of making sure the head gaskets have the hole. Lots of engines used an aluminum or light alloy rocker with no bushing. It'll eventually wear out the rocker but will continue to work. So that would be one option, to modify a set of the paired rockers.

Another option would be to find individual rockers (right and left) for a larger shaft. It seems like there would be something out there that would work without too much fiddling.

Jim

[mgb260]

Maybe big block Mopar. May be too wide and shaft is bigger at .875".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203799801700?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D243940%26meid%3D252a141ef1b744838f6706b6653f155c%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D291747783501%26itm%3D203799801700%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuAspectsV202110NoVariantSeedKnnRecallV1%26brand%3DSpeedmaster&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A203799801700252a141ef1b744838f6706b6653f155c%7Cenc%3AAQAHAAABMMFr2e4EmAnM%252ByHZkULYKDIJ4L66fOjNL0iupgt%252BzO1%252F3AE1t3mNirUYB96NktMCicMagiS6mbeTl0xquGODv9lxM3MNNZGQdS3t%252BD4PMdscuBHnCsDyNf7A0g6zeP84rIU31igMSAMO4xrcypOAhXxZ%252FEjZ4Id%252F595%252FePdI%252F9TMHbbbYwgA9aJka2yidFl8no06EHUxsqwb36HeFa82%252F3JJd6jPmiQenfWJMuwizsHK8TEp3MphE3BU4JOUEHfeB8F6Lg%252Byevr34uJ9PIJlQ4bZjMDIgLBdBnn8ODkiFK5OYmdHcx3Rn8ccadMgXyG5pYUL8DN9yO%252B1ODBC8IKz55YRXjGw2S7JGoqT5Qlpl%252FDJ3kHLjB94fMPvwI8Pc3UDh2NMV773Q1JjP1%252F1xYCwjKA%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675&epid=15024466867

[DiDueColpi]

BB Mopar sadly won't work.
The body is far too wide at 1.560 inches.
You might get away with thinning them down but it would be sketchy for sure.
I have a good sized selection of roller tipped rockers from my quest for the perfect Rover replacement. Haven't found anything that makes me happy yet. None of the later performance rockers that I've seen use a needle bearing anymore. They all use a bushing or ride on the base metal that they are made from.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Good to know Fred. I just checked the shafts on these heads and they are the .805" diameter mentioned earlier. I guess a plain bearing makes sense, from an oil pressure standpoint anyway.

These Procomp rockers I got in that paired chevy kit are .900" wide

Jim

[mgb260]

Jim, how wide are the stock rockers?

[BlownMGB-V8]

.840"
These are .060" wider so .030" removed from the side of the pedestal should put it in the same position, might not even need to do that much. Here's one that might be worth trying with the stock rocker shafts:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/291950967582?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D243456%26meid%3D621320a3a5c44d29ba3bcf8ca018a314%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D302145890374%26itm%3D291950967582%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuAspectsV202110NoVariantSeedKnnRecallV1&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A291950967582621320a3a5c44d29ba3bcf8ca018a314%7Cenc%3AAQAHAAABIMFr2e4EmAnM%252ByHZkULYKDIJ4L66fOjNL0iupgt%252BzO1%252F3AE1t3mNirUYB96NktMCicMagiS6mbeTl0xquGODv9kqsZwPsUX3kUAsdmE%252BsVoh6oh4BPzPIvt3JmPzMzGGZX%252FcxprEbYmokvYnuElyN7wawtX%252Fae9tjvlrWbsNwE%252FWx5s4r2IO%252BElKcqWhT%252Bk0%252Fm0LzIQ8T8HC6Mm6c11TrcZkd1%252FdjdiFLl%252B%252BNPuXrFbk%252F1R6HZ8uq%252B2WbZ7n1DHNt83Dwv%252FPlSvhw%252FbETF6HIdnFfuliaBpqn%252FpWNE5vuGjeoqJRSHecVX7c24iJGZF%252Fsdu%252Bfb58Szc1Q68aOaRya8f4LoLgmqlGwCwAHM8RjlqoU0wPuMXPSFbwyF53roFXFQ%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675&epid=13035389890

They look similar to the kit I bought but you wouldn't be paying for the extra hardware that you wouldn't be using. A little hard to tell but it looks like they probably do have the left/right offset.

I think I might use the procomps I have on the Rover heads. The shaft bearings and clip were the cause of the reported failures and that would get rid of that. The TA heads have 1 stud per valve like chevy so this might be a better choice for them:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/301939904971?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D243456%26meid%3Dbc3aa05c012f454cb1993e40c74cf4e1%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D291950967582%26itm%3D301939904971%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuAspectsV202110NoVariantSeedKnnRecallV1&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A301939904971bc3aa05c012f454cb1993e40c74cf4e1%7Cenc%3AAQAHAAABIMFr2e4EmAnM%252ByHZkULYKDIJ4L66fOjNL0iupgt%252BzO1%252F3AE1t3mNirUYB96NktMCicMagiS6mbeTl0xquGODv9mKDOxcEoI2WVBRqdRRH%252FcatUJgR62oSCG2I5PH%252F0k%252Bswml6ememZiAO6Jx18tmTWWkeEgWfgSKT1%252FDCbCTc9KDp69LokqoIgR0d2TiAtKSDzClWcpUABnRBHNfbcewgoi%252F3lO6rTTki2ntpsjI4dUTPNJGcVenYYWg6yzy2%252F7d7OJgINRX7rhJfJoqcpZjjQ4eEgasgINUCmmVX9AYS4KM%252BidhcdB%252FuIcA4izxr02A1%252FGSltCZfMq3mGW3TkGrqxQVkoY55f%252FO4y6sBU4owwceRj%252FbPo6B7b62vjsO%252BVOf2w%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675&epid=20035393154

Jim

[mgb260]

Jim, First link, one rocker is straight and one offset. In the second link you don't want 3/8" stud you want 7/16". Pushrod oiling is recommended for roller rockers anyway.

[mgb260]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401935235057?hash=item5d9534f7f1:g:JdAAAOSwhfNds-0M&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8By8XWLkmC2t0s5Md5rTkSf1ZRgeHvbspbfPpGW%2Bd5YZezD%2Fvrzl5ksyY%2BC4lHn4B35inWQJqCGYdX4HWm1gDfGz8beJYRWtmhEXZJGRFTmzxAYtxRLGO3nGEA8PXTz5nLRSsBT9lE5FhKpNnUbdzJ5mzOxXvc%2Bi8rIKcLPhK49XaxuAUzjsKTRoRFb1bmtRtBPGnhG9oUP2sg7UAhlvbHBfLKuz2W%2FFeNL78dzOq%2B%2FsAPqC%2FePuFa%2FLlIqsJT%2FWISp%2FN48%2FXUKfBhxNqm19xKi6ioVaBG9fChZ1IIua%2Bxg7W7sg1Co%2FzEBLT4zv8uE7Zw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM9JGJqqBh


https://www.ebay.com/itm/363830579212?hash=item54b5fe100c:g:yhMAAOSwAoFhCViS&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsCOFFUEJitK443RXqpguKUNy1yMoi4VNy9sgimD4WD5PMNDuuVkiaUk22jBQN3K%2BNWtDCN2u0bkCSGbX%2BusEGaYq%2BmIiQzGzNO4QmI%2FFe%2F9W802Yg%2BYSWKmcOMWOWx9XQMmsE4PUnZgxvvrVJvjqUYEmnIHdpRfWahkLjp0EDhKMtVrRa7yFyHb2lGFbQkewyIGgT5uwPw%2ForMgMqqedly%2B9RT1CLdEdkCJXwOxnQYvc%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7z9naqgYQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/194380805618?hash=item2d41ffb5f2:g:F74AAOSwqIBhJ6E-&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsBCWUsgOsM8nQ1U4qRx8gQkrnK%2FDlv%2FBjvXK2YFhyEGLBZW0vtQRsq1ykhx13%2F3sHbpF%2Fm9sgJbQP3Ci%2FG3fsDm37vhBeZolRxs%2BE4HBycPXJ97PuazfTfQ7A4PxUG18gffIJy8CAHDt8EGiOd6FD7KkJPz4V8Oj%2Ft7pgLf1yzrxEuCOcWTuK8WLcXCTfGdKF8FZPDoU0u%2FDhD9rUWXwz%2FC861QmM6zR8LIGdClP6%2Fjx%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8qh8tKgYQ

[MGBV8]

Thirty years ago. I put a big solid lift cam in my 350.  Switched to 7/16" screw in rocker studs & Harlan Sharp roller rockers.  Figured with the 7/16" studs that I could forego the stud girdles.  Did fine.

[BlownMGB-V8]

What exactly is the purpose of the guide plates? Can't be to center the pushrods in the holes. Is it to center the rollers over the valve tips?

Jim

[mgb260]

Jim, Rocker alignment.

[BlownMGB-V8]

OK if I go that route then I just need to find the stud set. Shouldn't be hard. Sounds like about $200 in rockers, studs and guide plates. Then bore out the procomp rockers to fit the shafts for the Rover heads. Cool. Means I don't have to machine up the new base plates for the rocker pairs.

Jim

[mgb260]

Jim, studs are in link above. You need hardened pushrods with guide plates. .005 minimum pushrod clearance with the guide plate.

[BlownMGB-V8]

I'll be ordering the pushrods from Smith Bros. I like that the stud type rockers are easy to adjust. I will wait until after assembling the parts to order the pushrods in order to get the height right.

Jim

[BlownMGB-V8]

OK I placed the order. So SBC type individual roller rockers for the TA heads and modified Procomp rollers for the Rover heads bored to the rocker shaft size. Works for me and not terribly expensive. Having to resize the rockers would bump the price up of course if you had to hire it out but I don't know where you'd find rockers that size any cheaper.

Jim

[turbodave]

I have a set of the Volvo rockers as used on the SD1 Vitesse (twin throttle plenum) models.
Very interesting - they are apparently the Volvo B-series (based on every single person who heard it from someone else), but they look different from every B rocker I've ever come across.

The shaft is larger than the Rover shafts, and the posts are stainless steel.  Obviously the pushrods are also different.

They also have a small tack of weld on the adjusters, to make them "un-adjustable".

[BlownMGB-V8]

OK, I have the plates, studs and rockers on one of the heads and had some pushrods that are really close but probably just a little long. It's a challenge to figure out what the ideal length would be since nothing is square to the deck. I have some adjustable pushrods but will have to turn then down where they go through the guide plates. I can figure this out but any hot tips here would help.

On the Rover heads though I've decided to bore or ream the Procomp rockers out to fit the Rover shafts. Some have suggested bushing them and if I had a correctly sized bushing at a reasonable cost I'd consider that but if the bushings cost $10 each that ends up being not far from the cost of a full set of the Procomp rockers so why bother with the extra labor? I think the aluminum will hold up OK.

Jim