Shaft Mounted Rockers - Jesel vs. Crower vs. T&D?

[Dave95Z28]

I am looking for a set of Shaft Mounted Rockers to install on my AFR LT1/LT4 227s. I have been strongly considering some Crower Stainless Steel Shaft Mounts or T&Ds Aluminum Shaft Mounts. I wasn't considering Jesels because I had heard of some quality problems with them. Well now I have the opportunity to pick up some Competition Series Jesels that are supposed to only have an hour of dyno time on them for around $800 (saving of a little over $300).

Should I buy them or just go ahead and spend the $250 more and go ahead and pick up the Crowers?

Dave

[Lowend]

IMHO the Crowers are the best out there.
Strong, they fit properly, and are very lightweight.
Not to say the R&Ds or Jesels are bad.

[Neil B]

I had heard the same thing about the Jesels. However, they have a specific part number for my heads so I gave them a try. I went the with SS series rockers, and I was very pleased with the quality. They were a direct bolt-on. And, I have never received a performance part that had been packaged as well as the Jesel kit. The kit even came with a pushrod length checker and measuring chart.

[rocketman]

My 710 and 396 lt1 have Jesel's.Every big hp motor I build has Jesels and have never had any problems.T&D's are also very good.You can't go wrong with eihter.I would stay away from Crower I am not a fan of there stuff.

[aonghus]

I would stay away from Crower I am not a fan of there stuff.

Care to share why?

[justanova]

we have a circle track motor with jesel sportsmans on it and haven't had any trouble yet, The crower stainless stuff is real nice, should last longer than aluminum.

[rocketman]

Care to share why?

I was having problems with the roller tips breaking the shaft and the bearings going out and coming apart.

I switched to jesel and solved the problem

[Lowend]

I believe you rocketman, but this is the first complaint I have heard about the Crowers... ever. Were you running aluminum or steel?

[USAZR1]

Just curious but what's the advantage in running shaft rockers on a hp street engine with .600 lift or less?

[chicane67]

Stability, ridigity, guaranteed ratio, reduced operating frequency and its ability to 'keep lash' are the ones off the top of the head.

[USAZR1]

Valvetrain stability - check (no stud girdle needed)
Valvetrain rigidity - check (no stud girdle needed)
Guaranteed ratio - most quality roller rockers offer this,also
Reduced operating frequency - you lost me there (did you mean reduced harmonics?)
Ability to keep consistent lash - only a big plus if running a solid cam
Cost - big bucks

Question: would shaft rockers allow you to run a 1:7 ratio?

[chicane67]

The ratio is effected by the stability of the mount. If the mount moves, the geometry changes. Very common of stud type rockers.

The valve train 'system' has an operating frequency. It also has a resonant frequency where harmonics play a part. The more solid the system, the lower the frequency and it is also obviously material dependant.

When you add up the cost between running a 7/16" stud mounted (which I will state and mandate as a minimum requirement for stud type systems) rocker system to even the minimum Jesel SS system..... the total involved cost is within 75-100 bucks. With the clear benifits going towards the shaft system.

Yeah, I know one could go out a purchase a set of 'rollers' for next to dirt...... but then again...... that is about what you are getting. Dirt cheap. My comparison is between 'comparible' systems in ratio, rigidity, durability and quality.

Most shaft systems will allow you to run any ratio you want and have the ability to change the ratio on the spot. In the past we did some development and found that we made more power with 1.35's on the four corners and 1.5's on the inners. Not to forget to mention, you can pull the shaft and rockers off and then remount them without having to re-adjust the lash.

[SStrokerAce]

Most shaft systems will allow you to run any ratio you want and have the ability to change the ratio on the spot. In the past we did some development and found that we made more power with 1.35's on the four corners and 1.5's on the inners. Not to forget to mention, you can pull the shaft and rockers off and then remount them without having to re-adjust the lash.

What was the motor in question? Hell what was the whole combo?

I agree with you on this it's just to help the guys understand WHY you did this.

Bret