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How do i know if i need the self aligning ones or non self aligning? I have a 4 bolt 350 with a flat tappet cam and oem chevy heads. cam is very mild. looking to get some roller tip rockers arms.
__________________ 1991 Formula -14.2@97 mph
Current mods: rebuilt 350 .030 over, edelbrock performer rpm intake manifold, edelbrock performer 4brl 750cfm carb, edelbrock intake filter, slp 1 3/4 headers and y pipe, flowmaster american thunder catback, holley FPR, holley external fuel pump, MSD 8.5mm wires, all new brakes, KYB GR2 shocks, lakewood lower control arms, new kickdown cable,new throttle cable, and B&M shift improvement kit.
pull a valve cover off and check the hole which the pushrods go through. if they barely fit side to side then non self aligning but if its a big hole then youll need either self aligners rockers or guide plates.
ok, so really this is a matter of keeping the pushrod aligned correctly with little play.. So the hole in which the pushrod feeds through on the head is the one i need to look at correct? And if the pushrod looks like it is snug with no room to play then i don't need self aligning. righ tso far?
If you feel like it, you can get a pushrod length checking tool and use that, then get custom made ones that are EXACTLY the right length. But if you've got a normal (non-custom) shortblock then normal pushrods should be "right".
Uhh, yea, that's right. Ok, well most of the time the slots were used with normal non SA rockers.
And if you have giant gaping holes, you CAN'T use non-SA rockers. That's the gist of it.
Uhh, yea, that's right. Ok, well most of the time the slots were used with normal non SA rockers.
Not from 87 and later. Here's a pic of 350 TPI 083 heads with the slots. You can see from the pic that they are narrower than the studs. i believe these heads also came with SA rockers.
so the first pic was an example of a tight slot pushrod hole that doesn't need self aligning rockers? anyone have an example of the two.. just to make it perfectly clear..
Both pictures are examples of the tight pushrod slot.
The other one is.... picture a 1/2" drill bit going through the center of that slot. That's what it would look like. It's REALLY easy to tell the difference, one is a giant ROUND hole, the other is a SLOT.
Ok, so like I said earlier:
pre 1987 - non-SA rockers
Post 1987 - SA rockers
Right?
Yes, but is there any reason to say pre 1987 heads with the slots use non SA rockers? Its true they didn't come with them, but GM didn't have any prior to 87. I don't see any reason to make a distintion. Are you aware of any reason to say "pre 1987 - non-SA rockers" other than they weren't available at that time?
Oh, I see what you're driving at. I suppose not. Typically self aligning is more expensive, and if they didn't need them from the factory, then I wouldn't go out of my way to get them.
If you need self alligning rockers, you can also use guideplates with normal rockers instead. Guideplates mean you should use hardened pushrods, though. So keep that in mind.
