Dove rockers vs .......

[CobraMan]

I might be a little naive but, if the Dove aluminum rockers are riding directly on steel shafts, why are they considered better (more expensive) then rockers with needle bearings on the fulcrum?

[decooney]

More expensive isn't always better.

[CJ428CJ]

I'm not sure I'd agree that Dove roller rockers are better than rockers having needle bearings. The only rockers I know of that have needle bearings are Erson. I have them and like them a lot. Dove roller rockers are far better than standard non roller type but those just ride on the shaft too.

[Cobranut]

I tried to get Erson's but after waiting the better part of a year, they still could not deliver.
They were having a lot of trouble getting the shaft hardening correct, to make it stand up to the rollers but not be so brittle as to break.

I ended up going with Harland-Sharp rockers and billet shafts and end stands. The H-S rockers are aluminum, but have bronze bushings to resist wear at the shaft.

Later,

[RICK LAKE]

Cobraman I believe that a roller bearing causes less fiction in a motor than a bushing roller. T&D, Jessel, and Erson are the only ones I know of that make rollers. If you are running a large cam with 650 lift or larger a would go with the rollers. These 3 I named are TRUE Roller rockers. The others have roller tips but not roller bodys. A bushing roller will wear out the bottom of the housing because the bushing will not spin. I have a pair of doves with this problem that I got at a swap meet. The roller bearings spin in the housing and keep changing the wear on the bearings. Rollers need harder shafts as not to wear off the chroming hardening. T&D and Jessel are the only ones with 2 rockers on each shaft but have 3 bolts to hold it down. You would need to have the heads milled to install this setup. The other way you don't. Bushing with a middle of the road cam setup with the RIGHT pushrods for the CORRECT GEOMITRY will work fine. 1 note A brass bushing in the motor will not do the damage that a broken roller bearing will do, I have seen the damage of needle bearings. Something to think about. Erson are $600.00 , Jessel and T&D are over $1,000.00 . You get what you pay for. GM has roller rockers in there V6 motors and they go over 200,000 miles with no problems, we have kids racing every weekend and not found a broken rocker yet. The abuse level is very High. Hope this helps. Rick Lake

[66 snake]

You might check out Scorpion their rollers are needle bearing fulcrums and tips, I'm running them in my stroker andhave had no problems.

[jwoodard]

out of California makes FE Roller rockers, stands, shafts, etc. here's a link to a current set listed on E-Bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2424838337

Pricing looks to be competitive.

[CobraMan]

Thanks for all the info. Still does not explain why the Dove's are so expensive.

[A Snake]

You should take a close look at the Dove set-up. You will see why. In particular, the shafts are thicker and are set up to accommodate end stands. (Included in the complete assembly) This provision is to prevent ultra high lift (translate high spring pressure) cams from breaking the end of the shaft off.

Another aspect of the cost/value is how much they wear and how well they stay set. When my engine went on the dyno, it got a final setting (after all of the pulls) and I never had to set the valves again. My engine (427 S/O -.610 lift cam)) saw a lot of hard use including lots of 7K rpm revs on the track and otherwise. Cheaper set-ups don't hold up like that.

I can't speak for the other brands mentioned except to say that needle bearing rockers are great stuff.....if you are trying to squeeze out hp for all out racing. For a car that is mostly street driven and sees an occasional trip to the track, I'd consider them unnecessary and just neat toys.

If you do buy the Dove set-up, you won't regret it. I sure didn't.

Al

[Tom Stevens]

I have a complete roller setup from Precision Oil Pumps in Madera California on my sideoiler and the quality and craftsmanship is excellent. Give Doug a call, you won't be disappointed. Tom

[larryar]

I have the Precision Oil rocker setup on my 428 and they work great! My engine builder, who normally uses Dove, was very impressed with my setup.
Larry

[chopper]

The Dove rockers for the FE series engines are just bare aluminum riding on the steel shaft. I installed a new set in my engine several years ago and they lasted less than 800 miles. Attempts to get some sort of resolution from the Dove clowns resulted in them blowing me off. I just two weeks ago replaced a Dove rebuilt water pump after only about 2500 miles. All of the Dove brand parts I've ever bought have been overpriced, unreliable junk. I consider Dove to be the Radio Shack of the automotive parts industry. I'm running Harland Sharpe rockers now; almost 3000 miles with no problems.

[GEORGE ANDERSON]

We run Dove on most of the engines we build..they are very reliable when installed correctly...the 1/8" adjuster leaves something to be improved...but I will continue to install and rely on them. The end stands postion against the head, the adjusters are offset. They handle good spring pressures when you use the 1046HD-KIT from Comp Cam or direct from Dove...same thing.
T&D's we've used on the more radical motors with the small block lifters and BB Chevy Push rod & GM Oiling...many different ways to build a motor and the builder has to be confident in the componets they use....and in recent years many new FE parts have become available...it's great for the industry and even better for the people wanting new and better components...
George
P.S. my 427 has the same Dove's I installed in 1994...that was many races and billions of RPM's ago...

[RICK LAKE]

George Anderson Hi George You have been running Doves since 1994. Your car never breaks, period ( only ear drums, going for an exhaust SOON ) What is this chevy oiling system and chevy lifter you are talking about? I don't see any differents between Sharps and Dove except price. Shelby are nice but way over priced. T&D and Jessel are in the same class but for something under 650 lift they are not needed. You are not modifing the rockers to clear the retainers? Are you shimming the rocker mounts higher to clear? I am still thinking about the Ersons for my car. Hope you are well. Family too. Rick Long is looking to sell his car. Yellow 13. He is retiring. Got to go Rick Lake

[misfit41]

I have Dove stuff on my car,,I belive them to make the best heads and intake {flow wise} in the business,but I dont like the rocker setup,although for a street motor,,I am sure they are fine,I have a friend who races 427's still,a few weeks ago he nearly trashed a 30k motor when he lost a pushrod which became shredded ,the cause was a worn out rocker arm,after checking ,all of them were badly worn and the motor didnt have that many runs,he was so upset he went to visit Jim Dove in person,he still contends they dont need a bushing,I respect the man and like the stuff,but I dissagree with this,I feel they need needle bearings,or at the least bronze bushings. I have my friends name and number if any one wants to call him,he has raced 427's non stop since they were introduced,390's and 406's prior to that,arca,nascar and dirt,he knows his stuff. buy another brand rocker,or if your not using a roller,use stock ,Tk

[decooney]

There are several stories about Dove rockers not holding up when used with more valve-spring pressure. To me, it just does not make sense to me either why they don't have replaceable bushings in their rockers. Secondly, I can vouge first-hand after looking at my friend's Dove water pump on his 427 Ford Galaxy... Cutting shavings inside, mounting holes misdrilled off center, aluminum was very soft and pitted... I'll just quit here and just say the product sent to my friend by Dove two years ago was ABSOLUTE OVERPRICED JUNK. Hopefully their products and quality control has changed for the better now...