Trashed rocker assembly?

[kaj750]

This is bullshit! What do you mean the "ends are larger diameter" ? How do you suppose they got the rockers on ?!?!?

What I "think" you have are pieces of **** stock rockers that have been overtightened to the point they are now oval. Cut the shafts in half, remove the rockers and get a new, decent set of shafts !!

As for adjustment, you can use the attached chart to adjust them. "Zero" lash is determined by spinning the pushrod with your thumb and forefinger as you tighten the adjuster. When it won't spin its at "zero", now tighten 1/4 turn more and tighten the locknut.

View attachment 1807038

Okay, okay. I didn't mean to get you so fired up, just reporting on what I found. That’s *kinda* what I thought was going on, but I didn’t see that happening at 25ftlbs or whatever the torque specs is. They aren’t exactly thin. Assuming that’s what wrong with them, then holy crap someone must have went at them with an impact gun or something LOL. I’ll double check them tomorrow night.
At this point I’m thinking to just swap everything out anyway. At the very least, I’ll know what’s in the car and the status/history of the parts.

Caution here - todays lifter you may not feel any resistance to spinning the pushrod. I prefer to both watch the lifter plunger (factory head) and lightly pull up and down on either the pushrod or rocker while turning the adjuster between your fingers.

The instructions for the lifters call to tighten until there is no more up/down movement. They seem to spin relatively free, so not sure I’d know exactly when it’s at zero by turning them. I tried both methods and I felt the up/down method was a bit more definitive. I otherwise have no preference.

The Cranes had wear issues back in the mid-seventies. That was the first bad set I'd seen on a buddy's '70 440 RR. It has nothing to do with age, you get a good set or you don't - simple as that! The few the OP has look just fine. Knock of the scare tactics and conspiracy theories !!

These are perfect, so far. I have no idea how many miles are on the build. It may have as few as 2000 miles on it.


So... then. If I want to swap out my rocker assembly, then I need to figure out the ratio of what's on the car, so I can get a set that matches. Bullocks. Looks like pretty much all rockers are roller so I guess that's an upgrade.

 

[GTX JOHN]

Your rockers are not roller.
I do not think they are even bushed from
what I can tell.
I believe they will almost for sure be 1.5 ratio which
is the most common back when your rockers were made.
I do not see any pictures of the inside of the rocker where
it rides on the shaft.
They may not need to be replaced.
Detailed pics of the pads and inside of rockers would be needed
for a definitive answer at least from me.

 

[gkent]

Buddy, stick with what you have. If they aren't worn on the pads then there is no reason to waste money on a swap.

As far as the shafts being overtightened, it honestly does not take much with stock shafts. In fact, just taking them on and off a couple times will do the trick. And besides, when's the last time you saw a mechanic use a torque wrench !!! Its also worth noting that stock stamped rockers were by no means a precision part ... those shafts could have been crushed flat and the rockers would have still slid on and off (well, not quite - but you get my drift !!).

Its worth noting that people on here love spending other people's money !!!

 

[Geoff 2]

Are the instructions that come with Crane rockers....for hyd or...sol lifters?? Both adjust differently. Crane might have assumed that adj rockers were going to be used with a sol lifter cam....

 

[kaj750]

Buddy, stick with what you have. If they aren't worn on the pads then there is no reason to waste money on a swap.

As far as the shafts being overtightened, it honestly does not take much with stock shafts. In fact, just taking them on and off a couple times will do the trick. And besides, when's the last time you saw a mechanic use a torque wrench !!! Its also worth noting that stock stamped rockers were by no means a precision part ... those shafts could have been crushed flat and the rockers would have still slid on and off (well, not quite - but you get my drift !!).

Its worth noting that people on here love spending other people's money !!!

They spin perfectly fine until I slide them towards the mounting holes. They move about a rockers with in either direction.
Every forum has the "I'd replace everything and upgrade so I'm future-proofed" group. I post/read quite a bit before taking advice. That's one of the reasons.

Are the instructions that come with Crane rockers....for hyd or...sol lifters?? Both adjust differently. Crane might have assumed that adj rockers were going to be used with a sol lifter cam....

I read from the"hydraulic" portion of the instructions. I always measure three times and cut once, so will be checking again before setting the preload

 

[gkent]

They spin perfectly fine until I slide them towards the mounting holes.

Duh !! Of course ... they only get pinched around the mounting bolts.

Anyway, you got my 2 cents, I'm outta here !