Roller Rockers in Stock

[Barry Polley]

Are the mfg's behind this? Or? Like I was told; this will run off a bunch of good racers.

[Jeff Lee]

I was pushing for this 5+ years ago. It was a hot topic then, same as today. Same story, ruining Stock, go to SS, etc. The stamped steel rocker on my AMC was the achilles heel of my engine. And I had over 440#'s of open spring pressure but with the spring pressure went the decrease in ET's.
I was told it was an AMC or Jeff Lee problem and nobody else had a problem. Bunk. I've heard about the issue on many other makes. And I know of racers that race Stock with roller rockers hoping they don't get caught! The idea that NHRA forces one to buy $800+ BBC rockers and studs, or $800+ lifters in order to remain competitive has always been BS to me. I proposed replacement roller rockers in OEM ratio and OEM mounting configuration with the idea anybody could have a reliable rocker for $279 @ Jegs or Summit. Looks like that is what NHRA implemented.

Like Dwight Southerland just mentioned, why force a guy to buy a $500 to $800 set of lifters so he can have a "hydraulic" lifter (that really is a solid lifter with the NHRA mandated .015" plunger spec), when you can buy a solid lifter set for $89 or so with an EDM hole in the bottom for extra lubrication. That would eliminate the need or desire for composite lifters or tool steel lifters. And I've lost two engines thanks to Schubecks R&D on customer engines. The first was a composite body that shattered, the second was a steel body with composite puck that lost the puck. When a puck gets between the block and the cam, it breaks the cam. Which takes out pistons and rods and...

Now if NHRA would have allowed roller rockers, I could argue that there would have been better valve train stability and the lifters may not have crashed. I suppose it's a chicken or egg problem. But I know this, when I switched to SS and put T&D shaft rockers on, I never once found the lash off the original setting. And nothing broke.

I say good job NHRA.

[Alan Roehrich]

Like I said. Now, something else will break. You took at 10 amp fuse out in one location, and replaced it with a 30 amp fuse. Now, the 10 amp fuse in another location will blow.

Constant escalation. Just what we need with falling car counts and an economy in the crapper.

More money, more breakage, more cheating, more RPM. Great move NHRA. How will you screw it up next?

I'm glad you're happy, Jeff. Especially since you're NOT racing Super Stock, while we ARE racing Stock and Super Stock. Now I need to spend more money on Stock, when I haven't had a valvetrain failure in over 5 years.

[jmcarter]

Agree with Alan, I spent $2400 to have two sets of Rocker Arm Specialist rockers to remove a weak link and now I'll just be behind guys with a $250 set of rollers. understand that's just racing but the RPM escalation will just expose another weak link. Those that can afford an engine getting close to Super Stock levels will ultimately have the advantage and anybody hoping to keep up will end up spending a heck of a lot more than the cost of roller rockers.

Now, spending $$ for some well anchored racing seats is an enhancement I can get behind.

[Adam Strang]

I heard the same rumor at the Etown points race this year,"it`s a done deal and it`s going to happen".

I asked the div.1 tech director at the Dutch and he told me it`s not happening.The good old rumor mill stirring **** up as usual.

As for the date stamped rocker arms that you have to change every two years like seatbelts,that one really cracks me up!

[Jim Kaekel]

Why can't people deal with problems rather than crying for rule changes. I used to break rockers as well, but made changes including using a two-step in the water and bought some good rockers. NHRA must think we have bank accounts like the guys on their board.

[danny waters sr]

I would think that all the NEW cars have them ,so now they will even up the playing field for the older non-roller rocker cars by allowing them.
Just one more less complaint about the new car advantage over the older cars.

If you can't beat em ,,,join em..

I'll just keep mine the way it is til i hit the lottery or something ,then i can upgrade to a "modern" stocker ..lol

[Alan Roehrich]

If they are going to be stupid and do this, here is how it should be done:

1. Aftermarket roller rocker arms allowed, must retain OEM ratio and OEM mounting configuration. Stud girdles allowed on stud mounted rocker arms.

2. Tech inspection will now require lift to be checked at the cam and the valve.

3. Incorrect lift and/or rocker ratio will result in immediate DQ, and a 2 year suspension.

Follow it up with a 5 year moratorium on engine rule changes. No engine rule changes in Stock Eliminator for 5 years.

We've had enough rule changes. We've had enough escalation. They recently opened up the valve spring rule. Again. They recently opened up the valve job rule. Again. What's next? Titanium retainers? Another valve spring rule? Legalize porting and polishing? When they don't police the new rocker arm rule, is "any rocker ratio" next?

People keep opening Pandora's Box, and then they keep wondering what the Hell happened, and how did things get screwed up like they are. It seems they never learn, and the tech department doesn't want to do tech inspections, so they become a willing accomplice.

[eddie c]

I have not raced in stock elim.for several years(1975),however when I raced I always tried to play by the rules. Since I have started reading
this forum,it has made me think of the posibility of dusting the old car off and
getting back into the sport. Rules changes like this would probably
hinder my return to the stocker ranks,it just makes things more costly and possibly less reliable..
I agree with the guys that have stated; improving the rocker arm situation,will just create another problem down stream.Currently Stock eliminator is far from stock,dont make it worse. ed

[Tom keedle]

semi-automatic trans' next? (clutchless manuals )