My search-fu isn't strong today (or all last week) so I haven't been able to find much on either of these questions.

Has anyone messed about with using rocker arms from some other engine? Say the SBM or an FE series Ford? Just curious if there's an interchange that would put us into a roller tip rocker.


I've seen mention of a couple people having them, but I wonder about a fabricated style of rocker cover. Has any mfg made them in the past? (No interest in the Offy or Clifford covers.) Been thinking to talk to Jeff @ Billet Fab about making some if there's a market.

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Thom

Cross-threaded is tighter than Lock-tite

I would definitely be interested in the fabricated valve cover! I've been thinking about those a lot recently too! (I assume by fab you mean sheet aluminium)

Aluminum is all that Billet Fab does, so if they were to build them they would be AL. However with only one responder so far I'm doubting that would happen.

No comments on the rockers?

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Thom

Cross-threaded is tighter than Lock-tite

There really is nothing else that works for rockers.

As far as the fabbed cover, they are really cool, but few guys want to spend the kind of money Jeff will want, and if you ever get them out of him.

Jim Cox got some late style ones done years ago by a guy in Australia. His cost was $275 then.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I have the one from Jim and EVERYBODY asks about it. I have even though of pulling it off because it gets too many comments (distracting from other cool things about the car)! It would depend on price on how many you would sell, as Dennis says...

Rockers are tough due to the somewhat odd dimensions on our engines. T&D has patterns to make them and will do sets in 1.6 and maybe 1.5 for around $550-700/set.

Best,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Are you wanting rollers for a street motor or a race car?

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

A set of roller rockers would be nice to have, along with some roller lifters! Im sure the slants can use all the reduced friction you can get... Too bad nothing is available without having a pro-mod price tag and one-off manufactured parts

No way would I EVER pay some of the prices of the valve covers out there! If it doesnt improve my vehicle in some way other than cosmetics, its not worth what people want to charge! I get wanting to be different but some of the prices for slant parts are just off the wall.

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"if it aint broke, fix it till it is"
78 Plymouth Volare Super Six wagon
89 Volkswagen Golf GTI 16v
92 Chevrolet K1500 5.7
98 Ford Escort ZX2 zetech

And there you have it in a nutshell why Slant parts availability is so limited. The market is small to begin with and 90% of the Slant guys want someone to make a super part but then give it away.

As far as roller rockers, you really have to be running some high spring pressures before there is even a slight advantage to them.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

My thought on the rockers was a more exact rocker ratio, so each cylinder is more consistent with it's neighbors. Strikes me as odd that Mopar made something so simple totally unique to this engine when they borrowed other parts from their other engines.

Mostly what I want in a fabricated valve cover is a thick gasket flange that won't warp. If it had an o-ring groove in it for a 3/32 or 1/8 cross-section o-ring I'd be all the happier.
Seriously tempted to have a local water-jet cutter cut out the gasket shape from 5-16"-3/8" steel and weld the OE cover to it.

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Thom

Cross-threaded is tighter than Lock-tite

Realistically, a Slant is so crude that unless you are trying for every last .001 of ET rocker ratio is irrelevant.

Cool idea on the waterjet cutout deal.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Id simply like the rollers for the fact that every bit of reduced friction is increased life and accuracy out of your engine. Doesnt matter if its a bone stock daily, or a full-blown custom, friction is friction and is unwanted on any level... Like I said, roller lifters would be nice too!

The valvecovers, while yes they would look cool, the cost of such an item would not be worth it to me unless it had a functional purpose... I have found that mixing the small valve cover tabs, and the long tabs (listed for SBC) on the slant cover it is completely leak free. Gives a nice tight seal! I am all about function over form.

Unfortunately as mentioned before, there is no demand for the supply. Parts cost too much to make, the demand for a high dollar part is too low, so no manufature will feel its worth while to go full production. However Im sure that IF a company out there that already has tooling to make the parts takes a leap, and make them affordable to the general public there would be alot more people interested in buying and installing the parts. Just like all your basic v-8 parts, readily available, low cost and everyone can afford to install them.

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"if it aint broke, fix it till it is"
78 Plymouth Volare Super Six wagon
89 Volkswagen Golf GTI 16v
92 Chevrolet K1500 5.7
98 Ford Escort ZX2 zetech

Roller lifters are easy, use big block/Hemi units.

Ceej has a deal going on now on roller cams.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.