Question for Greg Ward or others

[rockerarm]

Hey folks,I am using Bugpack HD single springs with a Web Cam stock regrind. Using Scat courier swivels and have shimmed side play on shafts to .004-.010". Am using stock rocker shafts with OEM clips. Heard Greg runs stock shafts and lots of rpm's. Should I be ok with this combo or be doomed? Combo is a budget 1600 in '71 bus with small upgrades and bolt-ons. Son suggested reverse clips and clip would bottom out on head. Thx in advance.

[Ohio Tom (DdK)]

You are better off spending the $30 for a set of solid rocker shafts to have piece of mind.
The clips will break in 2. Some guys will wrap a safety wire around the open ends of the clips to hold them fast, but it's alot of work to save $30.

[rockerarm]

I thought about the safety wire idea but the area of the clip that the wire will be is flush against the shim used to eliminate end play. Who makes bolt together shafts for 30 dollars. Pls do not say EMPI. I had also hand grooved the OEM shafts(Hoover mod) to go along with groove between rings on lifters. Thx.

[rockerarm]

And do the bolt-together shafts have grooves to allow more oil out to the swivel adjusters? I have a BERG appetite on an EMPI budget(can I say that??)

[Ohio Tom (DdK)]

Autocraft, bugpak, CB all make good enough ones for your application.

Some have the grooves and others don't.
Be careful adding them yourself as you may weaking the shaft to the point of breakage.

I have never had issues with enough oil getting to the adjusters no matter what shaft I used.

To me, it's all about the proper way to warm up a VW engine to get the oil moving quickly as possible.
That means 1,500rpm for the first min to get oil out to the ends before you start really pushing the motor and scuff up the shafts or guides.

[Greg Ward]

Hi,
I have used stock shafts, rockers, and clips for years with no problems to 8000rpm.

That's no ratio rockers or weird rocker geometry etc, otherwise I don't think it would have worked.

Especially on a stock 1600 with stock cam and rockers, you wouldn't be revving it past 5K, so I wouldn't see you having a problem at all, if I never have.


Having said that, as Tom says, $30 is $30, and put together properly, a bolt together setup works fine too.

I say put together properly, as I've seen sets on other people's cars years ago that have an allen screw to locate the middle spacer on the shaft, the allen screw undoes and falls out, then the spacer thrusts against the shim washers and binds the rocker, which in turn holds the valve open nicely for the piston to come and smack it, resulting in a bent valve and a little bit more! 

[John P]

Similar experience to Greg in my combo, running original EMPI 1.4:1 ratio rockers with dual springs and an Engle K8, with no problems to date.

Is it the best set-up? Probably not, but it has worked well for me and I didn't want to modify the original rockers (aside from safety wiring).

As Greg notes, I can't imagine much side load on a stock 1600 with stock cam and stock rockers. Save the $30 for gas for your bus 

My 1.5 cents.

JP

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

...Heard Greg runs stock shafts and lots of rpm's...

I heard that Greg Ward has been getting lots of large boxes in the mail from all over the World lately...

[rockerarm]

Thx for all the tips and suggestions. In the past I knew that when I up'd the cam I got the full package(pushrods,springs,retainers,shims,elephant feet). With the Web Cam regrind I decided to use HD single springs I got from Brothers Machine in So Cal. Supposed to be Bugpack. So stiff that I could not use that KD hand held compresser. Had to borrow a large "C" clamp type. Thought these springs will increase noise of rockers banging sideways so I shimmed 'em down to .010". Running Scat courier swivels.
OhioTom- my grooves are only .010" deep and .010" wide. RIP Bob Hoover.
Greg- thx 8k! WOW
JohnP- nice parts
EricEllis- lots of boxes?

[Greg Ward]

Don't know what Eric is on about 

I'd like to hear more about your car John, and some more pics.

Rockerarm, didja get your engine sorted?

Greg

[rockerarm]

Greg, yes but still in progress. Started on ground to break-in cam (using Shell Rotella 30wt). Oberg screen looks ok. Installed in Bus. Fab'd a dual oil filter plate to hold two oil filters, Purolator L39001 for the full flow filter and next to it a Baldwin B164 as the by-pass filter. Tapped into top of F/F adapter, thru B/P filter, and returned oil to oil cap, but being also the breather, oil was leaking down road draft tube. Now hastily returned oil to sump plate. Don't like this and at the next oil change will r/r sump and tap for oil return. Kadrons need work as they are old and sat for a year. Valve train holding together. Have put about 500 miles on it so far.