what makes self aligning rockers and pushrod guideplates not able to be run together? i have guide plates and self aligning rockers and was planning on installing them tomorrow, but i will have to send one or the other back if they will not work together

 

You just dont need the guide plates if you have S/A rockers.

They help keep the pushrod inplace for Non-Self alligning rockers.

 

what makes a self aligning rocker self aligning? what exactly does it align?

 

pick up one of those self aligning rockers, you will see 2 little "lips" on the pushrod side of the rocker body. those lips keep the pushrod in alignment unerneath the rocker
EDIT; without those lips (or guideplates), the pushrod would come off the lifter and hit the valvecover or something and bend or do some other abnormal act causing a problem with the motor in more ways then one sometimes

nonSA rockers do not have those lips, so guide plates are used instead

from what i have gathered from some people, the SA rockers are a tiny bit louder....(?) probably not very noticeable tho

EDIT again lol; or if the pushrod doesnt have something too hold it in place under the rocker, the rocker can rotate freely in a circular motion which doesnt do much good when you want it too rotate up and down. can lead too premature valve guide wear because of side loading the guide if the rocker isnt "centered" on the valve stem

 

do you have pictures of non self aligning rockers or know where i can get a picture of a non self aligning rocker so i can compare to mine just to see the difference

 

now that i think about it, it might be on the valve side (roller tip) and the valve goes in the lips...**** i cant remember

actually, i think thats right...the lips are there too hold the rocker over the valve stem. they serve the same purpose as guideplates for NSA rockers

sorry

 

ok that makes more sense now. i see the lips on the valve side of the rocker.

what is better off? using non self aligning rockers and guideplates or using self aligning rockers?

Plus doesnt it take aftermarket valve covers to use non self aligning rockers? the ones i bought are from scorpion they are narrow body self aligning i did not see any that were narrow body non self aligning.

 

no, it doesnt take aftermarket valve covers. if they arent the narrow body rockers, it will usually take some bending of the supports under the cover....nothing big, pliers work good here

i dont know the details between the 2 styles as far as what is a better design (it could be all personal preference for all i know...)
i'd say too use what you have and not worry about it too much ($IMO)

 

cool thanks for the help! i appreciate it.



Greg

 

Well the standard rockers that use a guideplate come in 7/16 stud sizes and that's what makes them better.

Bret

 

why is a 7/16 stud better than a 3/8 stud? just because it is bigger? are there any other pluses?

 

it's stiffer, so it deflects less and you get more accurate control of the valve which means more lift and less valve float or toss.

Bret