TheSamba.com :: View topic - I made a stock style rocker arm geometry video.

Sat May 03, 2025 9:17 pm

Since it’s probably the most confused, and most frequently asked about topics, I decided to do one on setting up STOCK STYLE rocker arms. This video does not pertain to swiper foot ratio rockers as they set up a little different. Those will be a different video.

I try to keep them simple, and short, and explain them in easy terms, with good examples.

Other topics are in the works, but they take a while to get filmed, and my busy son does the editing.

Hope the video makes sense to you. :D

Sun May 04, 2025 1:53 am

Thanks for that!

Sun May 04, 2025 3:16 am

Great video. Very informative.

One question.

The point you are concerned with... is where the arc motion of the rocker assembly turns into the reciprocating up and down of the valve... the exact intersection of the two motions.

With stock rockers that's the valve tip, same with slipper feet... but with elephants feet, it's not at the valve tip.. is it? Same with roller rockers, or the devil's design, the swivel balls.. not quite the valve tip.. slightly further up.

Again. Fantastic video. Probably.. no.. definitely the best one out there for the average vw guy. You have righted so many wrongs!:)

Sun May 04, 2025 4:57 am

Great video, gonna add it to the Sticky index.

BTW, CB sells pedestal shims in .015", .030" and .060" sizes.
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/1534.htm
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/1535.htm
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/1536.htm

Sun May 04, 2025 8:39 am

Great video, thanks for doing this. This engine novice has struggled understanding the whole lift thing and know I got it all wrong on my '74 w/a 1679. I'm going to try and correct that following this.

Tue May 20, 2025 8:52 pm

Here is the next video about setting up swiper style ratio rockers, with the adjuster on the pushrod end.

Thu May 22, 2025 2:39 am

Thanks Brian!! Couple of questions (and apologies if this has already been covered). Firstly the spacing of the rockers for both applications - you only did one and checked the swipe. Should they all be centred the same as the one you checked the swipe?
Secondly, are slightly loose lash caps ok or should they be tight on the valve stem (it frightens me somewhat that loose lash caps might come off)

Thu May 22, 2025 7:35 am

hulbyw wrote: Firstly the spacing of the rockers for both applications - you only did one and checked the swipe. Should they all be centered the same as the one you checked the swipe?
Secondly, are slightly loose lash caps OK or should they be tight on the valve stem (it frightens me somewhat that loose lash caps might come off)

You can check them all if you want, but lots depends on how well all of the parts are machined, measured, and setup till this point in the build. If the case halves are the same, cylinders the same, and the heads the same, the rocker setup should also be the same. If it was off a slight bit, it shouldn't be the end of the world.

I don't think the loose lash caps is a problem. I look at it like if something becomes loose enough that a lash cap will fall off, you have WAY bigger problems than the lash cap. It would also be making so much noise, you should have stopped long ago to check it out.

Brian

Tue May 27, 2025 6:12 pm

If the mic is getting in the way, you can set it up one time, find half and full lift, note where the crank pulley degree wheel reads, then yank the mic out.

And dont forget to reset both the adjustable P/R length and adjuster screw if you reset either. Great video :D

Sat Aug 30, 2025 7:45 pm

Just wanted to say a huge thanks for making this video. Had read/watched quite a bit about rocker geometry and to be honest, for someone doing it the first time, none of it made much sense. Your method makes it so much easier when you are measuring real things rather than going by sight/feel. It still took a few attempts to get it dialed in but without that video Id still be at it! For any one else doing this I ended up using the deck height tool bolted to a head stud out the side as i found it easier to get the gauge in the right place. Thanks again, your sharing of your skills is appreciated.

Sun Aug 31, 2025 5:59 am

Glad to hear it worked out well for you.

Brian

Tue Oct 21, 2025 11:16 pm

Absolutely Great Video :D should be a 'Light Bulb' moment for other Newbies like me.
Oh how I wish that video was available in February !!! :lol: :lol:
I had watched a load of YouTube on geometry, and was getting nowhere fast. I was convinced that it was all about horizontal planes, and sat in front of my whiteboard, trying to figure out how it all worked, and once I had it explained in writing by you guys on here, made my little brackets and bought the angle finder did I finally understand the principles.

Here's the rabbit hole I was going down from February

If this video was available then, I would have been a lot better prepared, so thank you Brian. Will be using it again on the next build :thumbsup: