Shaft Rockers on a 472...

Roy Heisenberg

Roy Heisenberg

The 472 Crank is stronger due to overlap
Joined
Dec 26, 2018
Messages
212
Reaction score
23
Points
18
Location
Folsom, California
What vehicle(s) do you drive?
472 Caddy in a ‘75 Jeep J-20 TH-400 Dana-60 100LL
2FB49246-998D-407A-942D-90F6E50B0FFA.webp Howdy from late 2018:

My 472 J-20 Jeep needs a better rocker arm system, but sine it is almost 2019, who has them in stock, and what is the best one to buy? Would love to have true roller tips on the rockers, but just need something strong so I can wind up the 472 to 6000 RPM and not worry about busting the stock T-Pedistals.

Thanks in advance,
War Cloud

PS ... Do you like the new Caddy Hood Ornament on 472 Jeep?
 
Damn I love those J trucks! That being said are you thinking about doing a cam swap with it as well? The rockers themselves aren’t the only thing keeping you RPM limited. Here is a list

Oiling system (clearance & balance)
Rockers
Springs
Cam
Mains (need studs)
Powerband

The powerband on these engines are real low, there isn’t anything to be gained up top for you without serious modifications

The shaft rockers are a good upgrade, but they aren’t going to help without new springs...my factory springs had 60lbs of seat pressure when I removed them :eek: ...those suckers would’ve floated at anything over 4,500
 
I took my stock bottom end 472 to 6000 many many many times

6300 probably 100 times. .


I had 215,225,232 and 236@.05
113 lsa .580 lift cam...

850 dp.. ported stock ex manifolds

I did that racing from a roll for the 2nd gear hit. Which burned rubber

I had stock rockers for a while but broke 3 of the tee's.. had I not had trash screens it may have ended bad.

From what I can remember those broke while experemtong with the 232 durations.. I had a 112 and 108 lsa 232@.05 cam... the 108 pulled 5 or 600 rpm higher ..

The 113 lsa was not my choice Back then there were no new cores.. all were regrinds .. and all General Kenitics cams


The repop mouse trap rockers are not equal to the o.e ones


The 120 head motors have much lower rpm peaks or potential peaks
 
Last edited:
This is the first I have head of anyone actually taking a stock bottom to 6k and the engine still being good afterwards. I learned something new today!

Crazy how different they are to the 120’s
 
...... Damn I love those J trucks! That being said are you thinking about doing a cam swap with it as well? The rockers themselves aren’t the only thing keeping you RPM limited. Here is a list

Oiling system (clearance & balance)
Rockers
Springs
Cam
Mains (need studs)
Powerband

The powerband on these engines are real low, there isn’t anything to be gained up top for you without serious modifications

The shaft rockers are a good upgrade, but they aren’t going to help without new springs...my factory springs had 60lbs of seat pressure when I removed them :eek: ...those suckers would’ve floated at anything over 4,500[/QUOTE]


Howdy:

Looks like either stage 3 rockers or stage 6 will be available. Stage 3 look perfect for me, and the $$$ is right. The cam on the 472 seems to be a critical item, and the SS350H from Cad Company with matching springs should help move the torque to a higher RPM range. Any other suggestions on a good flat tapet hydro cam?

The old 472 WarCloud Jeep has .373 gears and the Dana 60 has new bearings too. The 472 and heads are from 1968, and I am going to pocket port, install new valves, and press in bronze guides. Dizzy is a new HEi unit, and it has been running very smooth. I have the Edelbrock alloy intake, and 850 double pumper, and just purchased coated long tube headers from Sanderson. Did the install of the jet hot coated headers with no mufflers, and both sides join up into one 6” pipe that dumps out NASCAR style on the passenger side. Sounds awesome with the old, high miles 472 !
I will order up the ARP main studs this week, and will also include a set of ARP head studs since they are just a work of art.

Right now, there is no extra money in the budget to do a full roller cam, but getting the high ZDDP oil in not a problem, so flat tapet hydro cam and perhaps Rhoades lifters seems like a possible plan too.

*** Here is where I am stuck.... What Cam, and what lifters would you run in this 6000 pound J-20 with the existing TH400 tranny?

Thanks for all the help and great ideas,
Roy & The WarCloud J-20 Jeep with 472 Caddy Power
 
Last edited:
Cad Man said:
I took my stock bottom end 472 to 6000 many many many times

6300 probably 100 times. .


I had 215,225,232 and 236@.05
113 lsa .580 lift cam...

850 dp.. ported stock ex manifolds

I did that racing from a roll for the 2nd gear hit. Which burned rubber

I had stock rockers for a while but broke 3 of the tee's.. had I not had trash screens it may have ended bad.

From what I can remember those broke while experemtong with the 232 durations.. I had a 112 and 108 lsa 232@.05 cam... the 108 pulled 5 or 600 rpm higher ..

The 113 lsa was not my choice Back then there were no new cores.. all were regrinds .. and all General Kenitics cams


The repop mouse trap rockers are not equal to the o.e ones


The 120 head motors have much lower rpm peaks or potential peaks
Click to expand...


All hail the Cad Man !!!! Wow! Great to hear the a 472 can live at 6000 and 6300 on occasions.
I can just imagine how wicked the exhaust note could be when I shift the TH400 @ 6000 RPM....
looks like the MTS#15 is a popular cam, and the MTS#20 appears to be around 240 degrees of duration. Is it possible that the #15 or #20 cam will play nice with my new Cad Company Stage 3 shaft rockers? Should I try to find hollow stem intake valves and get some titanium spring retainers?

Thanks in advance for all the ideas,
Roy
 
I had a 4 speed in my Skylark with 4.10 gear and 28" tires. I had several cans in it as well ..the biggest was 250@.05 I that was either 114 or 115 lsa. I hated the cam..

Believe it or not being young and going by published rpm ratings for the cam I had I Assumed 6500 shifts were appropriate... !!!by accident this seen over 7000 several times..

With stock bottom end

Stock rods are Armasteel same as Pontiac

The key to this is if the bearings go away the rod will break . Unlike a quality aftermarket one...

I am not the only person I know that ran them that high on stock rods ..

I am not recommending it nor would I do that now but 5500 or 5800 will be ok as long as the bearings are still good

Been done to many times in too many motors .. my 425 with its lightweight rods seen 5500 a bunch no problem..

It would rev because its heads flow almost exactly the same as the later 500 heads .. 75 less cubes
 
Last edited:
Cad Man said:
I had a 4 speed in my Skylark with 4.10 gear and 28" tires. I had several cans in it as well ..the biggest was 250@.05 I that was either 114 or 115 lsa. I hated the cam..

Believe it or not being young and going by published rpm ratings for the cam I had I Assumed 6500 shifts were appropriate... !!!by accident this seen over 7000 several times..

With stock bottom end

Stock rods are Armasteel same as Pontiac

The key to this is if the bearings go away the rod will break . Unlike a quality aftermarket one...

I am not the only person I know that ran them that high on stock rods ..

I am not recommending it nor would I do that now but 5500 or 5800 will be ok as long as the bearings are still good

Been done to many times in too many motors .. my 425 with its lightweight rods seen 5500 a bunch no problem..

It would rev because its heads flow almost exactly the same as the later 500 heads .. 75 less cubes
Click to expand...

Cad Man:

I am going to aim for a redline of 5,800 RPM on my rebuilt 472, run new bearings, and just see how long a stock 472 crank can last. Should I buy some ARP rod bolts, and resize the rods?

One more question... Given the choice between the MTS-15 or MTS-20 cam, which one do you like more for this 472 Jeep with a Dana-60?

Thanks,
Roy & WarCloud the 472 Jeep J-20
 
Red98422 said:
This is the first I have head of anyone actually taking a stock bottom to 6k and the engine still being good afterwards. I learned something new today!

Crazy how different they are to the 120’s
Click to expand...

Wow ! 6000 RPM must sound wild on the exhaust side of a Caddy Big Block ... This makes me wonder if the shorter stroke 472 crank is actually better for higher revs?

Thanks, Roy
 
BF2A3981-98F4-48B2-B3CD-8C91733B8C6D.webp Happy Caddy Day !!! My new VT-61 roller rockers have shipped from Harland Sharp, so my new 472 monster will be happy soon.

Regards,
Roy
 
Oh, dang... My bad ! Let me see if Snacky can give me $968.50 and if she does, I will order up again.

*** Update: Snacky Snack said bad words, and something about couch sleep and Dirt Nap.

I will try again in the morning.

Keep the faith,
Bro Roy
 
Back
Top