I am really concerned that something is really wrong with my setup. It is a zz4 build. I have an 87 350, 60 over, zz4 cam, 113 aluminum casting heads (zz4), etc. I bought the comp pro mags 1.52 ratio rockers. I also got the comp cams hardened flat guide plates 5/16". My pushrods are also 5/16" and are the comp cams #7808-16. Oh, and the screw-in studs are 3/8"

It really appears that the tips of the roller rockers are not aligning properly. I have very little play side to side, and there isn't any play in the guide plates to adjust the plates.


Here are some pictures. Can anyone please tell me what is wrong and what I need to do to correct this?



Thanks,

Pat

 

Couldn't figure out how to post the pics. Hopefully this will work as an attachment.

 

they shouldnt be centered unless the valve is depressed half way then after the half way point they should start to go off center again... but wether they are off to the correct side on yours... i have not a clue

 

Well, I just checked and even on the way down they stay in the same alignment. They just don't seem to be centered on top of the valve stem. For each cylinder, one appears to be centered and the other one not, and its that way for each cylinder on both heads. I've checked that the pushrods are aligned properly and I reset the valve lash again too. Maybe this is the way it's supposed to be, but it sure seems strange. I've never used roller rockers before, so maybe I am over-reacting.

 

they arent going to be centered on the valve head unless the valve is about half way open.... when the valve opens the rocker should swing to the other side then back again as the valve closes

 

I apologize for not stating this correctly, but I checked several of them and when the valve is opening and closing, the alignment stays the same. I'm wondering if it may have something to do with the lifters. I bought the stock GM roller lifters soaked them in oil overnight hoping they would fill with oil. Could it be that since there isn't any oil pressure yet, that the valves aren't opening fully and that is why I'm not seeing the tip move from side to side?

Thanks,

Pat

 

i dont see how that could affect this but as you dont have the intake on you could pull a set of lifters and use a oil can to pump oil into the hole in the side of the lifters till it comes out the top

 

The rockers will move side to side. That's normal.

Don't worry about where the rocker touches the stem, worry about how far it moves back and forth across the stem as the valve opens and closes. You want to choose a pushrod length that has the rocker moving as little as possible, so that as much of the cam's motion as possible is moving the valve open, instead of just wiping the rocker back and forth across the stem. You can't do this with the valvesprings installed, you need light checking springs, and an adjustable pushrod.

 

...IF you are talking about movement left to right (as in your pictures). Then they will not move if the push rods are hitting the guide plates. Agian ..IF.. this bothers you take the guide plates off and file the insides too give the pushrods some movement side to side and the rockers should center themsleves. Just my 2 cents.

 

Ok, that is great. If it's not an issue, then I won't file down the guide plates. I appreciate all the reply's.

Thanks,

Pat

 

Thats just how they line up on those heads. Totally normal. Regularily ran my setup past 6k with no issues.

 

Thats even better news! Thanks everyone for all the advice and all the replies!

Pat

 

GET A SET OF SELF-ALIGN it will stop

 

good point you dont want to run self aligning rockers of any type with guide plates they can bind and cause havoc

 

I believe those heads have a modified valveguide centerline spacing same as 305 heads do. The valve centers are closer together. Comps guide plates are designed to align the rocker tip over the valves on the old style 350SBC heads where the valves are spaced a little further apart. Loosen the rocker studs and move the guide plates side to side, best you can to split the difference.
Absolute perfect alignment is not nessessary.
Isky makes a adjustable two piece interlocking adjustable guide plate that will allow better rocker arm tip positioning over the valve tip.
Isky pn 200-AGP. If you have a valvetrain problem, Isky has the cure. www.iskycams.com

 

True, you don't need them perfectly centered for a typical street performance built up. If you DO want them perfectly centered I have 3 words for you.... Isky Adjustable Guideplates. You can adjust intake and exhaust side individually. The instructions say to tack-weld them in place after final adjustment but I've found that the torque on the rocker studs is enough to hold the adjustment from moving.

 

Ok, that is probably something I will look into then. I am concerned that it is so close the edge of the roller. I don't want it to move any and start riding on the arm of the tip rather than the roller. The Comp Cams guide plates have no side to side movement as the holes were the perfect size for the bolt ends of the screw-in studs.

I will take a look at the Isky's and see what goes. Thanks for all the info and help!

Thanks,


Pat

 

It can't move. That's the whole point of the guide plates.

 

That's a good point! I don't have any side to side movement and I guess I was more worried about it wearing down and then start wearing on the arm holding the bearing. But if I stop and think about it all, if that happened, there would have to be something more seriously wrong with the setup!

I'm just wanting to make sure I've got all my bases covered, and this is the first time I've ever used roller rockers!

Thanks everyone for all your help and everyone's input. Its all been well-received!

Pat