Hey Brunelle ( comp magnum rocker problem )
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Hey Brunelle ( comp magnum rocker problem )
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ctrp-07 ... omparison/
“On the dyno, the high spring pressures combined with the large amount of lobe lift burned up the fulcrum area of the rockers. We had to kill both runs quite quickly, and as a result, we have very little information regarding these rockers.” Sure, Jan.
A little bit of searching shows a number of SBCs burning these things up under a variety of conditions. I did read a post about circle track guys having luck saving them by changing out the rocker ball.
I have the 1.6s and just noticed a bit of clatter on startup. I’ll report back after I work up the time and motivation to open up the valvecovers.
“On the dyno, the high spring pressures combined with the large amount of lobe lift burned up the fulcrum area of the rockers. We had to kill both runs quite quickly, and as a result, we have very little information regarding these rockers.” Sure, Jan.
A little bit of searching shows a number of SBCs burning these things up under a variety of conditions. I did read a post about circle track guys having luck saving them by changing out the rocker ball.
I have the 1.6s and just noticed a bit of clatter on startup. I’ll report back after I work up the time and motivation to open up the valvecovers.
Last edited by Honest Don on Thu Aug 27, 2020 12:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Hey Brunelle
I didn't know about Sure, Jan:Honest Don wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:41 am “On the dyno, the high spring pressures combined with the large amount of lobe lift burned up the fulcrum area of the rockers. We had to kill both runs quite quickly, and as a result, we have very little information regarding these rockers.” Sure, Jan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JTSAKFDSVw
That was funny.
When I initially selected those rockers, this is what went through my mind:Honest Don wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:41 am A little bit of searching shows a number of SBCs burning these things up under a variety of conditions. I did read a post about circle track guys having luck saving them by changing out the rocker ball.
1. The Fiero Store sells them for Fieros, so they must be good for Fieros.
2. Lots of folks on Old Europe seem to have them without issues.
3. A guy I met locally had them on his Fiero.
4. The Comp Cams Magnum rockers superficially appear to be "good-quality", having straight sides vs. the waviness of the stamped stuff.
5. I did read about stories of failures on SBCs online.
6. I had my doubts, which I expressed in the middle of this post here: http://www.fiero.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/139574.html#p4
Well, I decided to disregard points 5 & 6, and focus on points 1 through 4.
This was about an $800 CAD mistake, counting two scrapped sets of Comp Cams rockers, top-end gaskets, rocker arm studs, extra oil+filter changes to flush out the bits of ground metal.
There are folks who do good projects on a shoestring; the way I practice the auto modification hobby, it turns out fairly* expensive...
*expensive is a relative term
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Re: Hey Brunelle
Development is expensive. Learning is expensive.
You can put something cheap together cheap... and then what did you learn?
You can put something cheap together cheap... and then what did you learn?
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Re: Hey Brunelle
Well this is interesting. Notice what’s missing?
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Re: Hey Brunelle
This was the worst rocker as far as HAZ signs. I’m glad you posted your issue!
I picked up and installed a set of Ooosuh made pivots from Melling. Maybe I’ll get lucky? Even if it stays quiet, I’ll open it up over winter and inspect.
I picked up and installed a set of Ooosuh made pivots from Melling. Maybe I’ll get lucky? Even if it stays quiet, I’ll open it up over winter and inspect.
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Re: Hey Brunelle
Wow, your used parts look almost brand-new.
Especially the pivot balls; normally they're supposed to become uniformly shiny/polished as they wear in; yours haven't even progressed to the uniform amount of shininess from a normal amount of wear-in.
I don't think you needed to change your pivots, especially as they have proven themselves good in your engine. Maybe simply re-adjusting the lifters without changing anything would have done the trick?
Ideally, to demonstrate the effect of a parameter (such as smooth/grooved), it is best to do back-to-back tests on the same car. Unfortunately, I am too stingy to buy a 3rd set of Comp Cams rockers to try this out (for now). I also don't like the idea of potentially putting more steel filings into my engine's oil.
Especially the pivot balls; normally they're supposed to become uniformly shiny/polished as they wear in; yours haven't even progressed to the uniform amount of shininess from a normal amount of wear-in.
I don't think you needed to change your pivots, especially as they have proven themselves good in your engine. Maybe simply re-adjusting the lifters without changing anything would have done the trick?
Ideally, to demonstrate the effect of a parameter (such as smooth/grooved), it is best to do back-to-back tests on the same car. Unfortunately, I am too stingy to buy a 3rd set of Comp Cams rockers to try this out (for now). I also don't like the idea of potentially putting more steel filings into my engine's oil.
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Re: Hey Brunelle
Almost new except.....where did the grooves go?
I imagine they’re either in the filter or on the magnet.
I imagine they’re either in the filter or on the magnet.
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Re: Hey Brunelle
Yikes, since I saw ZERO groove vestiges, I assumed you were running (originally) smooth pivot balls!
The Melling balls you used are smooth? If so, well there's our back-to-back test on the same car.
The Melling balls you used are smooth? If so, well there's our back-to-back test on the same car.
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Re: Hey Brunelle
Yep, testing in progress.
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Re: Hey Brunelle
So they for sure had grooves and are now gone? Or they never have them?
FieroPhrek working on that ls4 swap for 18 years and counting now. 18 years!!!!! LOL
BEWARE OF BEN PHELPS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. WORSE THAN MILZY IMO
BEWARE OF BEN PHELPS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. WORSE THAN MILZY IMO
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Re: Hey Brunelle
They had grooves for sure and now are gone. There’s a little bit of visible remnant on a few. They haven’t been on very long either.Shaun41178(2) wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2020 11:37 pm So they for sure had grooves and are now gone? Or they never have them?
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Re: Hey Brunelle
Seeing what the originals looked like, you can kinda see a groove remnant facing the camera on the ball in the foreground:Honest Don wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2020 11:40 pmThey had grooves for sure and now are gone. There’s a little bit of visible remnant on a few. They haven’t been on very long either.Shaun41178(2) wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2020 11:37 pm So they for sure had grooves and are now gone? Or they never have them?
That's pretty F@#$ing wild.
Get an oil filter magnet on that beast...
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Re: Hey Brunelle
Oh yeah, I’m a proponent of magnets on anything with a timing chain.
Think about the guys that try to run these and still have the original (aluminum case) oil pump.
Think about the guys that try to run these and still have the original (aluminum case) oil pump.
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Re: Hey Brunelle ( comp magnum rocker problem )
I'm willing to wager that the Melling balls faire better. MADE IN USA clear on the box. Melling being a true OEM at least will have the quality department resources to keep full traceability on its parts they buy and make.
I've seen a lot of references to COMP sourcing many components from china and overseas.
Edit: removed sleep deprived rant about bad experiences with overseas suppliers.
I've seen a lot of references to COMP sourcing many components from china and overseas.
Edit: removed sleep deprived rant about bad experiences with overseas suppliers.
car.
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Re: Hey Brunelle ( comp magnum rocker problem )
With the move and everything else going on, I haven't been able to open the car back up and inspect. It still runs and seems quiet under the covers though, so fingers-crossed and all that.
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Re: Hey Brunelle ( comp magnum rocker problem )
Well, my Ford Ranger developed an exhaust leak between the exhaust manifold and the head... I ended up pulling a head to deal with a broken exhaust manifold bolt.
Anyway, notice the little oil-deflecting tab on the stamped steel rocker arm.
Anyway, notice the little oil-deflecting tab on the stamped steel rocker arm.
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Re: Hey Brunelle ( comp magnum rocker problem )
Only way to know for sure would be to run it without the covers or cut the top from one and replace with something clear.
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Re: Hey Brunelle ( comp magnum rocker problem )
at one point, I remember seeing oil deflecting tabs like that being popular on SBC's, but mainly so that oil doesn't go everywhere while adjusting valves.
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