Limits of sbf pedestal mount valvetrain?

[travis]

I’m gathering parts for my next 351w build. I’ve got a Jones 218/222@.050 hrol, .544/.544 lift with 1.6 rockers on order and was on the hunt for some heads. I found a smoking deal on some AFR 165’s but they are pedestal mount, not stud mount rockers. Are pedestal mounts a concern at this point, or if I wanted to use a higher ratio rocker at some point? This is a street deal, probably 6200 absolute max rpm and more realistically spending most of its life under 5500. The 5/16” hold down bolts concern me a bit.

[Carnut1]

Screenshot_2018-06-23-15-20-39.png

If I understand your question this is the kit I had luck with. Studs are 5/16" that screw into the stock threads. The studs come with a decent foot on the stud and 3/8"-24 top threads. They worked with pretty snotty adjustable valve trains up to about 7000rpm hr cams. Thanks, Charlie

[Krooser]

I ran pedestal rockers on a 289 oval track deal running 7k without a single problem.

[bobalattie]

I have run them with stamped stock rockers 6600 rpm with .500 lift aggressive hydraulic flat tappet in circle track application. 145/340 spring pressures.. I did upgrade to arp bolts..

I also had iron gt40 heads with scorpion rockers in my f150 with .544 lift hydraulic roller, not sure abt the spring pressures, these used the cap screws that came with the rockers and I never had a problem..

I have a set of the retrofit studs 5/16-3/8 collecting dust if you choose to go that direction..

[groberts101]

I’m gathering parts for my next 351w build. I’ve got a Jones 218/222@.050 hrol, .544/.544 lift with 1.6 rockers on order and was on the hunt for some heads. I found a smoking deal on some AFR 165’s but they are pedestal mount, not stud mount rockers. Are pedestal mounts a concern at this point, or if I wanted to use a higher ratio rocker at some point? This is a street deal, probably 6200 absolute max rpm and more realistically spending most of its life under 5500. The 5/16” hold down bolts concern me a bit.

Bread and butter type stuff for all the old 5.0 guys using bolt on upgrades. If you were just a bit wilder with lift and rpm I'd say go stud mount but those will work just fine for a milder 6,000 rpm street type deal.

[cgarb]

If you don't have rockers yet, Harland Sharp makes a set that the rockers are paired together and are adjustable...a little mor expensive but would probably be piece of mind...plus you can adjust your preload as a bonus.

[travis]

If you don't have rockers yet, Harland Sharp makes a set that the rockers are paired together and are adjustable...a little mor expensive but would probably be piece of mind...plus you can adjust your preload as a bonus.

I was actually looking for some adjustable pedestal rockets and have come up with nothing yet. I vaguely remember some that had adjusters right above the pushrods that the PR seat cup was part of the adjuster, but the few places I’ve looked so far have nothing like that. I’ve never really liked adjustable pushrods but the only adjustable option I was finding from Summit is with what Charlie posted. I’ll keep looking

[Walter R. Malik]

There are all sorts of pedestal / bolt down mountings available for a small block Ford engine ... some are really good and some are simply adequate for doing a lot less.

A bolt down system with a good bolt under tension can certainly be sturdier than a stud hanging out in the wind in single shear; even when the bolt diameter is a lot smaller.

It merely depends upon what kind of bolt down, pedestal system is being used.

[Walter R. Malik]

If you don't have rockers yet, Harland Sharp makes a set that the rockers are paired together and are adjustable...a little mor expensive but would probably be piece of mind...plus you can adjust your preload as a bonus.

I was actually looking for some adjustable pedestal rockets and have come up with nothing yet. I vaguely remember some that had adjusters right above the pushrods that the PR seat cup was part of the adjuster, but the few places I’ve looked so far have nothing like that. I’ve never really liked adjustable pushrods but the only adjustable option I was finding from Summit is with what Charlie posted. I’ll keep looking

There a several rockers like that for a small block Ford Windsor, Cleveland or even a 429/460 big block.

A Harland Sharp 1.6/1 ratio set #S400076A is like that as well as a lot of others.
I use them all the time ... you have to call them and they will make them; 1.65/1 ratio also.

[Casper393W]

For what you are doing you will be fine! I had a set of Scorpion Rockers and they we're Awesome! This setup was GT40X heads that I ran up to 6500 with no problems!

[MadBill]

If you want to step it up a bit from the Crane upgrade kit, a 380" SBF road racer that I helped build (0.710"/0.670" Jones roller,~700 HP @ 7800 RPM) has had the same set of Yella Terra pedestal mount rockers in it for 5 seasons...

[travis]

After more investigation, it looks like there was 2 reasons why I couldn’t find them on Summits website. 1, the pictures they use are just generic stock photos most of the time and they are not pics of the adjustable ones, and 2, almost none of them actually say in the description whether they are adjustable or not I eventually found plenty of choices after getting part numbers from each manufacturers websites.

MadBill, thanks, but somewhat overkill for the junk I throw together!

[Walter R. Malik]

If you want to step it up a bit from the Crane upgrade kit, a 380" SBF road racer that I helped build (0.710"/0.670" Jones roller,~700 HP @ 7800 RPM) has had the same set of Yella Terra pedestal mount rockers in it for 5 seasons...

The CRANE upgrade kit is no upgrade in strength at all ... it merely allows the use of stud mounted rockers for getting valve train adjustability. OK for mild street rod type engines; using a girdle is really helpful.
It is considerably weaker than O.E.M. pedestal mountings.

The Yella Terra equipment is on the high-end of valve train assemblies and is great but, priced as so.

[cgarb]

40076.jpg

These are what I was talking about.

[Walter R. Malik]

40076.jpg

These are what I was talking about.

I have that type rocker arm made by Harland Sharp for a Cleveland , Modified and Big Block Ford engines. They have 1.73/1 or 1.8/1 ratio and work very well to way over 6,500 RPM using roller cam valve spring pressures.

If their metallurgy and bearings are OK they will work just fine.

Like racing shaft type rocker systems, the pushrod lengths need to be correct.