[GMCnet] Cadillac 500 Rocker Arm Stands

[Don Jeffers]

Have these rocker arm stands been discussed on the GMCforum yet? They are on eBay for $44.99 per set.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262362998710?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Wolverine WG6090-8 Shaft Rocker Arm Pivot for Cadillac 368/425/472/500 (8/pkg)

These design of these rocker arm stands does away with the stock Cad 500 rocker arm stand stress concentration point that sometimes leads to stand
breakage, popping out a lifter and immediate loss of oil pressure.

The fit should be no problem. The only question is metallurgy; are they compatible with the stock 500 rocker arms in the long term?

We have a set coming and will install them for evaluation.

Don and Susan Jeffers
78 Eleganza II Cad 500

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[Jim Kanomata]

I have run them since 1990 with no problems and several on their GMC
coaches.
Make sure it is complete, as I have seen some with few parts missing.
You will also need shorter push rods.

On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 10:15 PM, Don Jeffers <don.j...@frontier.com>
wrote:

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
ji...@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

[Ken Henderson]

Don,

After having broken two OEM pedestals during my '13 trip to the west coast,
I changed to a rocker shaft system. That decision was reinforced by
Cad500's statement in their ad for similar new pedestals that they've seen
new ones fail. I'll never run the T-pedestals again. While my trouble was
with the arms themselves breaking off, I never really trusted the sheet
metal spring retainers either.

JMHO,

Ken H.


On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 1:15 AM, Don Jeffers <don.j...@frontier.com>
wrote:

> Have these rocker arm stands been discussed on the GMCforum yet? They are
> on eBay for $44.99 per set.
>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/262362998710?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
>
> Wolverine WG6090-8 Shaft Rocker Arm Pivot for Cadillac 368/425/472/500
> (8/pkg)
>
> These design of these rocker arm stands does away with the stock Cad 500
> rocker arm stand stress concentration point that sometimes leads to stand
> breakage, popping out a lifter and immediate loss of oil pressure.
>
> The fit should be no problem. The only question is metallurgy; are they
> compatible with the stock 500 rocker arms in the long term?
>
> We have a set coming and will install them for evaluation.
>

[Larry]

When I first built my engine, I used all of the original stock rocker parts, and ran them for 50-60K miles. During that time I sent oil samples to
find that there was a little more iron in the oil than should be normal. Then on a trip to Florida, a valve stuck in the guide, hit a piston and bent
the valve. I drove it home that way. When I pulled the heads, I found that most of the valve guides were worn excessively. The rockers had worn and
were not hitting the valve tip squarely, pushing the valve sideways in the guide wearing them out. So I bought new OEM rockers and pedestals off of
eBay, and rebuilt the heads with new guides. Then on a trip, one of the sheet metal retainers broke, rocker fell off, pushrod fell out and lifter
popped out of the bore sending oil pressure to "0". That did it for the rods and mains. I did replace the whole rocker system with a bullet proof
shaft system that I drove another 6K miles, but the Iron, aluminum and copper continued to build, so I am now in the process of replacing that whole
engine. IMO, the pedestal type systems are the achilles heal of the Cad500. I would NOT use any of the pedestal type systems on the Cad 500. They may
preform well for a while, but I don't think they can be trusted in the long hall. The shaft systems are expensive, but completely trouble free.
Again, those pedestals may work just fine for a while, but ask yourself, do you really want potential trouble from these down the road? NOt worth the
worry or potential troubles. JMHO.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.

[Rob Mueller]

G'day,

Since the Kingsley has a Caddy 500 in it I have been researching the aftermarket and have found the following shaft systems;

Sold by MTS:

http://www.500cid.com/#!product/prd1/4226777041/mts-shaft-rocker-system%28s%29

http://www.500cid.com/#!product/prd1/4226777281/mts-shaft-rocker-system%28s%29

http://www.500cid.com/#!product/prd1/3525907501/mts-shaft-rocker-system%28s%29

As you can see the photos of all three systems are identical. I called MTS and left a voicemail requesting clarification.

Sold by The Cad Co:

http://www.cad500parts.com/catalog/page20.htm

Questions:

Which system have other owners installed?

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

[Larry]

USAussie wrote on Tue, 05 April 2016 18:38

Yes, they used the same photo for all three systems. The most expensive one is fully adjustable...meaning that you can individually adjust preload
for each lifter. The other two...IIRC are non adjusting, but can't remember the differences. I bought the fixed least expensive one. It is quite as
solid and preload adjustment is made using different length pushrods. If you set stem height to factory spec, only on....their standard length PR is
required. If you are adding the shaft system to an existing running engine, depending on how far valves may have sunk into the head, you may need
some different length PR's to get the preload into spec. Not hard to do as the spec is .025 to .080, so a minimum of different length PR's may be
necessary to get what you want.

BTW, The Cad Company of Alburquerque NM has their own versions of the shaft systems.

http://www.cad500parts.com/catalog/page20.htm

--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.

[Ken Henderson]

Rob,

I went with the CadCo Stage 1. Didn't see any advantage for anything more
complex and expensive in this application. I'm satisfied. I was a little
disappointed in their shim-the-pedestals method of adjusting lifter
preload, but it worked out OK. (In view of the wide tolerance on that
setting, I could probably have just bolted it together.)

Ken H.