Non-Self aliging rockers vs Self aligning

[chevman24]

I bought Crane Gold race rockers a long time ago(probobly 10 years ago) and have used them on my 305 and with the 350 i currently have. This is what i think they are, i havent seen the paperwork on these for a while, so i dont know if they are in fact the same ones:http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRN-10751-16/
Should i just say screw it and get non-self aligning because of their age? Ive inspected each rocker and all of them are in working order, no excessive wear on the tip for the pushrod or on the bearings. I know it is ultimately up to me but i cant help but ask for info from people that spend many hours in the business.

What is the difference between the two rockers?
What kinds of issues would I have if I used self-aligning rockers with guideplates?

Thanks

[underdog]

If you go with guide plates you will need hardened push rods.

[chevman24]

That i knew

[ComaxRacing]

Near as I can tell the self aligning one you must run a guide plate because that is what holds the pushrod in its place. The non self aligning ones you can get away without guide plates. Personally you should run guide plate on either. I think the self aligning ones you can get away with a slightly larger slot in the guide plate for head clearance if needed. IMO run the ones you have and put a good guide plate on the head, no need to spend money where its not needed.

Take this info with a grain of salt because I have been running the shaft stuff for so long I reallt can't remember.

Corey

[chevman24]

Near as I can tell the self aligning one you must run a guide plate because that is what holds the pushrod in its place. The non self aligning ones you can get away without guide plates. Personally you should run guide plate on either. I think the self aligning ones you can get away with a slightly larger slot in the guide plate for head clearance if needed. IMO run the ones you have and put a good guide plate on the head, no need to spend money where its not needed.

Take this info with a grain of salt because I have been running the shaft stuff for so long I reallt can't remember.

Corey

Thats why i asked the question. I really cant see much harm in it. I would think that for them to be self aligning there would be a little more play in the bearings to make it that way. Im assuming that with a hardened pushrod and guide plate the rocker would just be forced to stay aligned and not have to align itself. Id rather not put washers on the bottoms of the rocker studs to make up for the clearance that a guideplate normally takes up.

Thanks for the input!!:)

[rskrause]

That picture is of a non-self aligning rocker arm. Self aligning rockers have two little "nubs", like so:

http://image.vetteweb.com/f/9008280/vemp_0703_11_z+corvette_rocker_arms+roller_tip_com parison.jpg

On ther left is the self aligning rocker arm. No guide plates are needed. The right is non-self aligning and guiddeplates are needed.

Richard

[Awesome Bill]

I bought Crane Gold race rockers a long time ago(probobly 10 years ago) and have used them on my 305 and with the 350 i currently have. This is what i think they are, i havent seen the paperwork on these for a while, so i dont know if they are in fact the same ones:http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRN-10751-16/
Should i just say screw it and get non-self aligning because of their age? Ive inspected each rocker and all of them are in working order, no excessive wear on the tip for the pushrod or on the bearings. I know it is ultimately up to me but i cant help but ask for info from people that spend many hours in the business.

What is the difference between the two rockers?
What kinds of issues would I have if I used self-aligning rockers with guideplates?

Thanks

A self aligning rocker arm does not need any guide plates @ all. They have 2 small guides that ride on the tip of the valve and keep their place buy riding that area, not good for high rpm where valve float could happen, but these rockers are only designed for high performance street stuff. Yes you can do anything you want with them but, they have been known to jump off and unload the retainer with high rpms and bad valve train. Not really the rockers fault.

The non self aligning rocker needs a guide plate. Nothing trick here about that. You should not run these rockers without the guide plate or the stock 5/16 hole or 3/8 hole in the head. I never liked guide plates when the head already had the push rod holes anyway. Now a days, the holes are so big you have to have a guide plate, but the push rod hole in the head worked actually better. FYI all small block chevy push rods are hardened, but to check just run a small file across them, if it cuts it, it is not hardened and don't use it.

[chevman24]

I know for sure i dont have hardened pushrods. Here is a pic of my rockers. Based off of your pics i have non-self aligning rockers because they dont have the tabs. Right?
http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b413/chevman24/101_0641.jpg

Note:Ive been running these on stock heads without guideplates. I wondered why I bent a pushrod. It only bent a pushrod once though. OOPS

[rskrause]

I know for sure i dont have hardened pushrods. Here is a pic of my rockers. Based off of your pics i have non-self aligning rockers because they dont have the tabs. Right?
http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b413/chevman24/101_0641.jpg

Note:Ive been running these on stock heads without guideplates. I wondered why I bent a pushrod. It only bent a pushrod once though. OOPS

Those are NSA rockers and you need hardened pushrods with guideplates!

Richard

[chevman24]

That means i dont need to buy new rockers!!!!! I can just get hardened pushrods and finally put this thing together because i already have studs and guideplates. Saves me 350 bucks to use for something else!!:eek::D

[want-a-be]

That means i dont need to buy new rockers!!!!! I can just get hardened pushrods and finally put this thing together because i already have studs and guideplates. Saves me 350 bucks to use for something else!!:eek::D

Yep.

[Awesome Bill]

That means i dont need to buy new rockers!!!!! I can just get hardened pushrods and finally put this thing together because i already have studs and guideplates. Saves me 350 bucks to use for something else!!:eek::D

All SBC pushrods are hardened, what you need is a good set of Manley chrome moly racing .080" wall 5/16" pushrods, they are cheap. Guide plates are only needed if your push rod guide holes are larger than 5/16". Yes go ahead and run them.