Interesting Rocker Discovery

[TobyB]

10 years ago, oem and febi had identical void problems.

I broke both, in identical ways.

Resurfacing rockers works, too, if they are in decent shape.

t

[digger]

make sure you check the sweep pattern with HD as the older ones have issues when you talk very big cam lobes the lobe runs off the rocker pad (OEM no issue) due to the pad seemingly being designed/positioned for reground cams negating the use of o/s eccentrics.

i think this has been rectified though

another option is MM peened and inspected rockers. more $$$ though

[ForcedFirebird]

OK, well you are splitting hairs at $120 to NOT ruin a new cam :p

...and good choice on the rockers. We have been beating the crap out of them on the track ad they are holding so far. If one fails, Andrew and I will get reacquainted over the phone lol.

[jeffnhiscars]

I paid $14.62@ for the Febis. I'll let you do the math :)

Again I agree...new cam new rockers. I stepped up by buying an IE 272 (tips hat to Andrew) cause I needed a cam and will sleep ok even with the risk of incongruous wear patterns. I still think the cam will outlast me so it will be someone else's problem :)

[ForcedFirebird]

HD=$25ea
Febi = ~$20ea

Total savings on a complete set is ~$60

I also don't hesitate to use OEM used rockers upon inspection. Realistically you should use the same rocker on the same lobe once they have been in a running engine. They do break in "together" for sure, and your new cam will ted to wear to the current state of the rockers.

When rebuilding I keep the rocker matched to the lobes if the used cam is going back in.

[jeffnhiscars]

Of course I agree with both of you. Nothing is perfect, everything has a value and it's all about what makes sense to each of us in our world. I had one vendor offer me Lazo rockers...German company but made in China. He's sold "hundreds" and never had a compliant. I passed on those even though they could very well have lasted long enough and they were cheap.

I took the Febis and the rockers that came on the head to my machine shop. He did say the placement of the eccentric bolt hole was no big deal since the real stress on a rocker is up not down but he agreed that the variation in quality was hard to ignore.

he also said my OE rockers were in excellent shape and that he wouldn't hesitate to reuse them even with a ne cam. I'll look at the ones that come off the eta (w it's 126k and one 87yo owner) and choose the best of the lot.

The Febis have been RMA'ed....and the difference between what I paid and HD's is $125. Net saving...$300. I'm ok with it

[ForcedFirebird]

I have literally had dozens of guys and a couple competent race shops have plenty of bad feedback there too. If you look hard enough there are "issues" with everything.

Interesting note, gentleman from bmw classic was over last week picking up another batch of IE HD's for the factory cars. Take that as you will.

Yup. The only time I use Febi is if one rocker broke in a client car and we need one right now...I can get those locally ;)

[ForcedFirebird]

HD rockers are only a few dollars more than Febi, ~$60 for a full set is cheap insurance.

[SkiFree]

The only option that has never had any bad feedback is OE but the cost makes no sense. .

I have literally had dozens of guys and a couple competent race shops have plenty of bad feedback there too. If you look hard enough there are "issues" with everything.

Interesting note, gentleman from bmw classic was over last week picking up another batch of IE HD's for the factory cars. Take that as you will.

[jeffnhiscars]

If you look at the top pic, the rocker on the right has a #2 which is probably the mold number since I have 4x#1; 4x3; 2x4 and 2x2 and all the ones with low clearance to the edge are in group 3. Clearly the boring machine for that batch needed adjusting that day since there's a pattern.

I'm still not thrilled about the casting quality but if my machinist clears them I may just replace the 4 #3s

[jeffnhiscars]

how crappy the casting is, how it leaks over, and how it cools as it's leaking...
the pad doesn't even look seated into one of the castings.

Shit, those look terrible compared to what was coming out of Febi even 5 years ago.

The hole would only worry me if the geometry was wrong, i.e. the hole is moved
relative to the lash pad and rocker hole. The aluminum metallurgy would worry me
significantly, given how many voids were in the much better looking rockers.
Better break a few and see how they look inside!

I wouldn't use them. They DON'T look Febi, they DO look counterfeit, and for not much
more (and less than oem,) you could get Ireland HD, or even KD Cams steel rockers.

Blech!

t

This reflects my current sentiment. I have too much effort and cash invested in this head which I'm already having reservations about simply because the car runs flawlessly. If I do it at all I don't want to introduce any issues which these rockers have real the potential to be.

The only option that has never had any bad feedback is OE but the cost makes no sense. As much of a best practice as new rockers to go with a new cam is, the ones in the engine now may be a better bet than what I'm seeing.

Jury is out.

[TobyB]

how crappy the casting is, how it leaks over, and how it cools as it's leaking...
the pad doesn't even look seated into one of the castings.

Shit, those look terrible compared to what was coming out of Febi even 5 years ago.

The hole would only worry me if the geometry was wrong, i.e. the hole is moved
relative to the lash pad and rocker hole. The aluminum metallurgy would worry me
significantly, given how many voids were in the much better looking rockers.
Better break a few and see how they look inside!

I wouldn't use them. They DON'T look Febi, they DO look counterfeit, and for not much
more (and less than oem,) you could get Ireland HD, or even KD Cams steel rockers.

Blech!

t

[AndrewBird]

What is that picture supposed to show?

[jeffnhiscars]

Here's another shot. Feels more like China tha. Germany. I'll see what my machinist says

[AndrewBird]

They might be made from original factory molds and as they wear, the flashing will increase because the edges of the mold halves wear and don't provide as good of a seal.