TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:06 pm

I have CB Performance 044 heads w/ dual rev lock valve springs. What are some good choises for rocker arms that are made for dual springs?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:13 pm

1.25 ratio rockers can be a real pain in the ass to set up...after much research i will always use 1.4 ratio rockers...there are plenty of cams avialable to run with them...Easier to set up,Easier on the lifter bores...

My $ 1.25378 corrected for the rate of inflation during this receesion/depression. Was 2 cents not that long ago.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 2:34 pm

I would get the style rocker that has the adjuster on the pushrod instead of the valve. CB has a great set of these type of rockers, as well as Bugpack/EMPI, all of which are forged. I have a set of the EMPI 1.25's on a 1776 with single springs. Someone mentioned on thesamba that they had some issues with the adjuster cups wearing irregularly on their EMPI set, but I have not had any problems in 5000 miles.

Hophead wrote: 1.25 ratio rockers can be a real pain in the ass to set up...after much research i will always use 1.4 ratio rockers...there are plenty of cams avialable to run with them...Easier to set up,Easier on the lifter bores...

If using the same style of rocker arm, in what way is setting up a 1.25 set of rockers different in setting up a 1.4 set? How is a different ratio rocker going to cause more/less wear on your lifter bores? I can see the type of cam that is used with each different rocker arm causing more/less wear, but I can't see how the arm itself does.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:27 pm

gkeeton@zbzoom.net wrote: I would get the style rocker that has the adjuster on the pushrod instead of the valve. CB has a great set of these type of rockers, as well as Bugpack/EMPI, all of which are forged. I have a set of the EMPI 1.25's on a 1776 with single springs. Someone mentioned on thesamba that they had some issues with the adjuster cups wearing irregularly on their EMPI set, but I have not had any problems in 5000 miles.
Hophead wrote: 1.25 ratio rockers can be a real pain in the ass to set up...after much research i will always use 1.4 ratio rockers...there are plenty of cams avialable to run with them...Easier to set up,Easier on the lifter bores...

If using the same style of rocker arm, in what way is setting up a 1.25 set of rockers different in setting up a 1.4 set? How is a different ratio rocker going to cause more/less wear on your lifter bores? I can see the type of cam that is used with each different rocker arm causing more/less wear, but I can't see how the arm itself does.

That's why I started this thread. I had a bad experience with some Empi 1.25s. Within the first 40 miles one of the adjustment cups broke off. The valves were loose because of irregular wear inside the cups. Also I noticed casting flaws inside the adjustment cups instead of oiling holes!! As a matter of fact only one adjuster had an oiling hole! I swithched to another brand IAP 1.25s. They looked alot better (all adjusters had oiling holes) and have held up 150 miles. I've had to reset them once, I don't know if they are wearing because of valve spring pressure or if they just wore-in . Other than being loud rockers (meaning they make a fast jingle sound) they seem to be ok for now. Still they are a made in China brand. :x Considering the valve springs a friend told me I should run some Scat, bugpack, or DRD rockers with my set up. I guess that's my next move.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:28 pm

The CB and Autocraft are nice.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:41 pm

Thanks Glenn. I'll check those out too 8)

Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:43 pm

If I recall, the person that had the problem with the adjusters spoke with EMPI about this, and they were given a new set of adjusters in which they no longer had any problems. You could always get a set of CB's tool steel adjusters. From what I understand, they are damn near indestructable. I would double check your geometry to make sure the edge of your adjustment cup isn't actually comming in contact with the rod portion of the push rod. As for the rockers being loud, you may also want to double check the side movement of the rocker arms when there's no pressure on them like when you would be adjusting the valves. Most of the time a cut to length pushrod is needed to set up the geometry, and most of the time chromoly cut to length pushrod are used. If you do have chromoly pushrods, you need to set the valve lash at zero when cold. The engine will expand more than the pushrod, and your valve lash will grow when the engine is hot. You will always have some valvetrain noise when using a chromoly pushrod. You can get a nice set of cut to length aluminum pushrods from aircooled.net, but they are usually twice as expensive as the chromoly ones. If you have your rockers shimmed correctly with aluminum pushrods, your engine shouldn't have anymore valvetrain noise than a stock 1600.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:39 pm

Glenn wrote: The CB and Autocraft are nice. The only 1.25 rockers CB lists are genuine VW. Their 1.4 rockers are very good. Autocraft rockers are CRAP! I have never seen a set with any kind of mileage that were not completely worn out. Needle bearings suck! The cheaper ones are cast and the wipers always pit and wear. The Pro Series are OK but still use needle bearings.

Scat 1.25 rockers with adjusters on the pushrod end would be my choice if I was limited to 1.25 ratio rockers.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:41 pm

y last set of Autocraft lasted 200,000 miles before I had to replace them. ut that was 15 years ago.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:43 pm

how long do scat 1.25s last??? shouldnt they last the life of the engine???if not ...whats the point in putting them on...a couple of horse power???and how much hp??

Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:48 pm

stealth67vw wrote: The only 1.25 rockers CB lists are genuine VW. Their 1.4 rockers are very good.

These were the CB ones I was thinking of, but I guess they are only the 1.3/1.4 ratios, not the 1.25 I thought they were.

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1371