what things should be taken into consideration when deciding to go with self-aliging or non-self aligning.... I know that with non-self aligning it is necessary to use guide plates... but thats not a problem.. sooo what else should be considered?

 

Thats really about it, on a stock-near stock motor there is no real advantage to using guidplates.

But you will need to use studs designed for use with guideplates, the stock ones will work with them, but you will have less stud in the head with them , the studs designed for them will be longer the thickness of the gideplate (into the head).

The real noticable advantage is the pocket book and selection, most non-selfaligning rockers are quite a bit cheaper!!(but you also have to figure in the price of studs, guidplates, and hardened pushrods)

 

If you use the run of the mill NSA rockers, you will run into valve cover clearance problems. The best thing to do is buy SA rockers specifically for center bolt valve covers. Some will call them "narrow" rockers because they are not near as wide to eliminate clearance problems with the vavle cover studs. While these will cost more, you won't have to buy pushrods and guideplates.