OK - got the carb done and back on - I used the Berryman carb and parts cleaner. It's a little puny compared to the old stuff, so is slow. Put the 1.7 rockers back on then went for a ride. Runs like a champ - buuuuuuttttttt, at low rpm/idle or chugging just after putting it in gear, still some rattles when the oil pressure dips just a bit. This leads me to believe that regardless of how much and how often I torque these rockers down, they will rattle. To me, sounds like I need more preload - except the only way to do that is to install shorter push rods - and that becomes a $100 or more special once I determine the length, and to do that, then I'm getting into $75 or more worth of gaskets and another XXXX dollars in a length check push rod. Additionally, it is a royal pain to pull the heads on that car with the engine setback. Sooooo with that babble, Crane makes this pedestal mount rocker arm and guide conversion kit - Crane Cams 36655-16 - Crane Rocker Arm Guideplate Conversion Kits - Overview - SummitRacing.com - yeah, I know it's a band aid and yeah, I need different rockers but there's another problem locally - lack of a decent automotive machine shop(that is someone you can actually discuss what is wanted). One question though - they say to use with Crane rockers. Is that just their way of saying that they "prefer" you to use Crane parts - the way I see it - a 3/8 stud rocker is just like someone else's. Plus I think I have located a new set of Harland Sharp Originals locally and reasonably priced.

This engine is driving me batty, to say the least -