Thread: What do 392 Hemi adjustable rockers look like???

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Hello all, I tried stock (w/ dimples) valve covers on my 392 Hemi tonight. The guy who built the motor said it had adjustable rockers but it sure seemed like there was A LOT of room between the top of the rockers & the valve covers! I'm trying to get a pic posted. I wanted to check just to make sure that I had enough room even with the 'dimpled' valve covers. I only checked one side but I don' understand exactly what's up. Do the rockers stick up so far that you need the dimples or does the push rod end of the rocker hit w/out dimples? Oh, it has adjustable push rods. It doesn't seem to make since to have both adjustable rocker arms & adjustable push rods. What's up? What do I look for to see if they are the adjustable ones? Thanks! ; ) Bill

adjustable rockers have a screw and locknut in the end over the pushrod end---

Adjustable pushrods is what you want---you just need a couple wrenches that are bent 90* a little from the end and a t-handle bar(about 6") welded across the box end for a handle--

You'll have either adjustable pushrods or adjustable rockers - not both.
I prefer adjustable rockers, i am very surprised at Jerrys' recommendation for the pushrod. I have nothing but the highest esteem for what he reccommends and hopes he comes back with some experiences and firsthand knowledge. I have a 331 and 354 sitting here, one with rockers and the other without and have been watching the market for adjustable rockers myself. I might have to ammend my evil ways and go to the adjustable pushrods.

Thanks Jerry & Ojh, so I have adjustable pushrods, not rockers! Hmmm, so Valvecovers without the dimples would have worked? Just curious, what's the price difference between adj rockers & adj pushrods??? Thanks again! Bill

I would think that the need for dimples is driven by the total lift of the cam, the geometry of the rockers, and the final length of the pushrod to get the right contact path and lash? Just thinking out loud, which usually gets me in trouble... Seems like you could check that clearance with a few chunks of modeling clay stuck on the rockers, install the cover with your normal gasked, turn it through a couple of revolutions, and then measure the thickness of the clay? How about it Jerry? Good idea, or mis-guided process?

Welll----keep in mind that we have held nhra national record, unofficial world record(official needs 2 way run and its kinda hard to stop 100 feet between starting line and fence)

On a 392 type hemi----non adjustable rockers are lighter, stronger, cheaper---pushrods are about the same price for either, but a lot cheaper than a set of pushrods plus a set of adjustable rockers---

On a 392 type hemi----non adjustable rockers are lighter, stronger, cheaper---pushrods are about the same price for either, but a lot cheaper than a set of pushrods plus a set of adjustable rockers---[/QUOTE]

You are right about that, adjustable rockers are salty - $600ish? kind of salty is what i think i have seen them go for. They go for more than the head! And they must be stronger and lighter just by virtue.
Thanks Jerry

Thank you Rspears & Jerry! Ok, so it's a good thing that I don't have the adj. rockers! Good idea, I'll check for clearance with clay! ; ). Bill

You'll have enough clearance
Remember that these are shaft mount rockers and OEM set up----

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non adjustable rockers/adjustable pushrods

The pushrods are much easier to adjust with a couple of bent wrenches with about 6 inch long t handle welded on the box end and the open ends bent at 90* with one just a little longer bend than the other

Thanks Jerry! The pic's you posted are what I have. So they're the stock rockers. I probably don't even need the dimpled covers! Thanks, Bill.

Just to let you guys know, the adjustable rockers from an "A" 318 will work on the Hemi, intakes only. We did it many years back, and we built some adjustable pushrods for the exhaust. That stuff just wasn't available around here in the '60's!