Anyone using rail rockers?

Is anyone still using factory 68',69' rail rockers with an aftermarket hydraulic flat tappet cam? What is safe lift? I know that stamped steel or rollers are better, but I was trying to avoid spending the money and wanted other opinions.

Spend the money. Scorpions are a fair piece for a fair price. Take the rails to a swap meet.

I agree the rockers are reasonable but it's the $105 to mill the pedestal down where the stud goes in, then buying studs,and guide plates too

How much hotrod are you trying to make? You can run the rail deals if this is a stock type cruiser deal with a small hyd. cam, but if you plan to flog it....well, you know. If it was me, I'd scrape up a few extra bucks, sell a few parts, skip a couple of happy meals and hit the swap meet. I just don't have much use for a stock rail rocker.

I know I should just bite the bullet because I want a strong running street/strip car.

Ford got rid of the rail for a reason and you should to just 2 cents worth naw make that 1 cents worth

https://www.429-460.com/t13913-dove-c-heads If you don't want to spend alot of money, stay conservative with your cam choice.

Supervel45 that was a great article to help me. I really am thinking hard on just doing the rockers now, rather than have to take the heads off later. Have you heard of Angus gold rockers, they are a good price but I wonder how well they work on bbf's?

Never heard of Angus. This is the way I see it, you need to stay with a mild build or spend the money to do it right if you are seriously wanting to go HiPerformance. This would include Porting, Large SS valves, hardened seats, cut valve guides for larger than .550" lift cam, new springs/retainers, locks, hardened pushrods, guideplates, and name brand quality roller rockers. If you do spend the money to cut the guide bosses, go ahead and cut the valve guides to, so that you can run a higher lift cam. If you go with a bigger cam you will still need the new springs retainers and locks, along with hardened pushrods. Keep this in mind, a bigger cam will not help HP if the heads don't flow well.

tpndrcn wrote:Is anyone still using factory 68',69' rail rockers with an aftermarket hydraulic flat tappet cam? What is safe lift? I know that stamped steel or rollers are better, but I was trying to avoid spending the money and wanted other opinions.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMP-CAMS-BBF-429-460-cid-FORD-34-244-4-268-276-535-535-LSA110-0-/381268475347?hash=item58c55f3dd3&vxp=mtr Ran across this cam. Should work good for a mild build with rail rockers with stock heads.

Double post.

Supervel45. I am not wanting to go with a extremely high lift cam just because I street drive this 80% , and it sees track duty 20%. I went ahead and bought the Angus gold 1.73 rockers, gonna get the guides and pedestals milled, and run a mild cam. I ran 13.40s with the small block and I would just like to achieve that or better with the bb setup. Thanks for the link

tpndrcn wrote:Supervel45. I am not wanting to go with a extremely high lift cam just because I street drive this 80% , and it sees track duty 20%. I went ahead and bought the Angus gold 1.73 rockers, gonna get the guides and pedestals milled, and run a mild cam. I ran 13.40s with the small block and I would just like to achieve that or better with the bb setup. Thanks for the link

If you are going to do all that, then it is my opinion that you should have gone to a solid lifter, also.

However, you might not actually use the extended RPM range a solid lifter would afford you. In that case a hydraulic will probably be adequate.

tpndrcn wrote:I know I should just bite the bullet because I want a strong running street/strip car.

rmcomprandy wrote:

tpndrcn wrote:Supervel45. I am not wanting to go with a extremely high lift cam just because I street drive this 80% , and it sees track duty 20%. I went ahead and bought the Angus gold 1.73 rockers, gonna get the guides and pedestals milled, and run a mild cam. I ran 13.40s with the small block and I would just like to achieve that or better with the bb setup. Thanks for the link

If you are going to do all that, then it is my opinion that you should have gone to a solid lifter, also.

However, you might not actually use the extended RPM range a solid lifter would afford you. In that case a hydraulic will probably be adequate.

^^^^^^^This, a good solid lifter is great for the street/strip package, just keep in mind your gear - trans/converter - weight combination when choosing or specifying.

Back to original topic, I was tossing rail rockers on the scrap pile in 1968. While they may work oK for their intended purpose, I'm sure they haven't climbed higher on the rocker arm totem pole since then. The "street/strip" use definitely rules 'em out, IMO.

maverick wrote:Back to original topic,  I was tossing rail rockers on the scrap pile in 1968.  While they may work oK for their intended purpose, I'm sure they haven't climbed higher on the rocker arm totem pole since then.  The "street/strip" use definitely rules 'em out, IMO.

He already bought them ^^^^

FalconEh wrote:

maverick wrote:Back to original topic,  I was tossing rail rockers on the scrap pile in 1968.  While they may work oK for their intended purpose, I'm sure they haven't climbed higher on the rocker arm totem pole since then.  The "street/strip" use definitely rules 'em out, IMO.

He already bought them ^^^^

Noted. Just adding a nail to the rail rocker coffin.

Well it was just an idea because the whole budget idea was laid out like this, I sold my sbf and trans for $2400. So to keep my wife happy I agreed to not spend more than that to go back to bb setup.Which includes eng.,trans,converter, headers,carb,intake,exhaust,and a the little etc.. stuff. I have a great job and make good money but it came to priority of my family of six (my wife and I and 4 kids) and spending like crazy like I did when I was in highschool. So I was trying to cut some corners to be able to just get my hotrod going again with the bb setup, then upgrade in due time.So that's why I was trying to use some stock stuff.

You can use them but keep the cam real mild and don't try and use heavy springs.

tpndrcn wrote:Well it was just an idea because the whole budget idea was laid out like this, I sold my sbf and trans for $2400. So to keep my wife happy I agreed to not spend more than that to go back to bb setup.Which includes eng.,trans,converter, headers,carb,intake,exhaust,and a the little etc.. stuff. I have a great job and make good money but it came to priority of my family of six (my wife and I and 4 kids) and spending like crazy like I did when I was in highschool. So I was trying to cut some corners to be able to just get my hotrod going again with the bb setup, then upgrade in due time.So that's why I was trying to use some stock stuff.

Yup. That's hotrodding ain't it? From time to time we all struggle to justify the money we spend on our toys...a bunch of poor guys with a rich man's hobby. I'm not taking shots at your parts choices or budget, but I felt that occasionally flogging rail rockers on a dragstrip was an invitation to heartbreak. Just looking out for you, man. Cheers to you.