I am having my 5.7L TPI engine rebuilt, and I'm putting in a new cam, 1.6 rockers and AFR 190cc heads. Do I need self aligning rockers or non-self aligning rockers with the new heads? I've read that if you have guide plates, then you need non-self aligning rockers, but then I also read the opposite, so now I'm confused. Can some one answer this simple question for me? Thanks.

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--Aaron
'89 Trans Am GTA 5.7

 

In general, if you DO have guideplates, you do NOT need self-aligning rockers because the guideplates do the aligning for you, get it?

Of course, you can use self-aligning rockers with guideplates but the excess cost is a waste.

 

if you're up gradeing to the guide plates you should need new push rods. the stock ones aren't hardened and you'll need hardened push rods for guide plates. you can check for hardened push rods with a file. a hardened one will not cut, or not cut easily.

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-=ICON MOTORSPORTS=-
1st & 3rd

 

The guys are right...BTW, those AFRs come with guideplates so use non-self aligning rockers and hardened push rods.

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1989 IROC-Z, ZZ3 shortblock with some bolt-ons.
13.20 @ 108.69, 2.2 60'

 

Thanks guys...that's the way I thought it worked...Whew, I ordered the right stuff afterall! I did get new, hardened pushrods and non-self aligning rockers to go with the afr heads...thanks again.

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--Aaron
'89 Trans Am GTA 5.7

 

Some cylinder heads have integral pushrod slots (allows negligible side to side movement) which you can use non self-aligning rocker arms w/o using guideplates.
Later
Matt