FE experts,,,What the???

[KobraKarl]

I was just getting ready to adjust my valves when i noticed several (3) on each side push rod holes had been cut away apparently to clear the pushrods!?

does this mean thers something's wrong with my manifold, or is it the rockers? or ?????

picture in my gallery

thanks in advance

[Cobrabill]

Karl-lemme guess-the manifold is an Edelbrock?

[Ibr8k4vetts]

KobraKarl
I wouldn't worry about it, are the rockers stock? did someone replace the push rods with bigger ones? when I changed mine to roller rockers I inlarged the holes on my manifold. Hope this helped. Mike

[KobraKarl]

Cobra Bill

its kind of an oddity? no casting # but clearly says FOMOCO.

Mike, the engine is the way i got it with the car i havnt torn it down yet. It was sold to me as stock /standard. rockers look stock
lifters are solid.

[427 S/O]

I had the same same problem with a dove tunnel wedge, ream out the holes a little, be careful not to get into the intake runners. I opted to go ahead and take my intake off and make it right.

[CSX 4027]

Yes, It happens but your engine guy is supposed to check the clearance before the motor goes int the car. If the block was decked it is alost definitely going to happen. Like what was said, just reem them and your done.

If it happened make sure you don't have flack in the valley tray.

[Cobrabill]

Karl,the reason i asked is that i have a Performer RPM out of the box where i had to ream 8 holes as the pushrods were hitting at the 5 o'clock postion (when facing motor from the sides)on BOTH sides.The valve cover bolt holes were splayed and the threads stopped about half-way down.

[KobraKarl]

Bill, thanks for the warning .i think i'd return that one............. through the store window!

[Cobrabill]

Karl-i agree with the sentiment.But the store was willing to do what was right.My machinist stopped by and took a look.With the low volume of FE parts(relatively)coming from Edelbrock,how many manifolds would i have to go through to find a good one?
I made the mistake of port matching it first.So the decision was made to make the ported P.O.S. work instead of wading through other Ps.O.S.Core shift was the culprit.So the odds of getting a good one weren't to my liking.

I also had to mill 1/8 of an inch off the rail to get it to match to the head so the valve cover would seal.

[Steve Jones]

Karl,

Another thing I would recommend is throw away those rocker shaft springs and install a set of rocker shaft spacers from FFP, Dove or anyone else who makes them. I think they will better control the lateral movement of the rocker on the shaft and reduce the amount of clearance needed at the pushrod hole in the manifold.

Steve

[427 S/O]

A note on aluminum rocker spacers....
Early on when they first came out, a problem resulted when to many shims were installed, the rockers would bind when engine heated up, use 'wave springs' with a limited number of shims, insert them between everything.