I was given a set of SBC Harland Sharp rockers. The guy said he didn't like them Not enough oil getting to the top end after the change . Does Harland Sharp restrict the oil to the top end because the rollers don't require as much?
Maybe.. If you look at stock SBC rockers, the oil hole in the rocker lines up with the pushrod hole part time, the oil flow is intermittent. Changing the rocker oil hole position or the hole size will affect oil supply
If I'm correct the oil comes up the pushrod and there is a hole in the socket that the pushrod sits in that distributes oil to the rocker fulcrum/pivot point. How much is "not enough oil"? Pat
Many people actually restrict the "top end" oil in small Chevy's. This is to make sure the crank and rods have plenty at higher RPM. AND...as you may know, with roller bearings in the rockers, they need MUCH less oil than the "ball and socket" of the stock rocker to survive. Mike
I just pre lubed my SBC with those rockers, just turning the pump with a straining old drill got plenty of 30 W oil flowing...
I've had Harland Sharp rockers on a couple of SBC's and never had an issue with them, other than one of the rockers in a set that I bought in 1977 snuck out of the factory without the oil bleed hole from the pushrod cup drilled in it. I took it back to Jocko's Auto Parts in Newton, IA where I bought it, and we decided it would be easier to just drill it ourselves instead of returning it to the factory and waiting on a replacement. 8 seconds with a hand drill and it was done. That engine finally coughed a TRW forged .030 over piston in 2016, after having been run for 7 years in a 1973 Nova and another 32 years in a 1940 Ford pickup. It pays to closely inspect and measure every part before assembly, and much more so nowadays with the lackadaisical attitude and offshore production that is so prevalent today. If you decide you don't like them either, I'd take them off your hands. Send me a PM....
Not exactly apples to apples but years ago when I was messing around with OT Mopar, 4-cylinder, overhead cam, turbocharged engines, An aftermarket oil restrictor in the head was a fix to salvage a bit more horsepower. For an analogy, imagine running at the beach while knee-deep in the surf.
Never heard that about their rockers before. Restricting oil to the top end in a street engine is asking for trouble. The needle bearings and trunnions in the roller rocker need as much oil as they can get, not to mention the oil flow helps to cool the valve springs also. Unless this is a drag race or always high RPM engine, I would not ever restrict oil to the top end. Bill
What is the indication that there was not enough oil at the top end? I would be willing to bet the issue the previous owner was experiencing had nothing to do with the company that built the rockers. -Abone.
Compared to shaft style rockers stud style put a lot more oil to the top end. I replaced the harlind sharp rockers with stock rockers and there was much more oil to the top end
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