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View Full Version : FMS Alum. rocker arms


SteedaChaos
08-27-2005, 03:25 PM
I'm stuck on wether to try FMS alum. 1.6 roller rockers or stay with stock steel rockers. My hang-up is durability and longevity, i worried if the alum.s are installed they could wear out, become loose and sloppy, 30k or more down the road.

I know Ford put the 1.7's on the 93 Cobra so i guess Ford planned on them lasting. Anyone put any mileage on these or know someone? I'd like to use these but don't want them if they not hold out trouble free for 100k+ mi. down the road. I seen post where alum. rockers are common to wear out down the road but but nothing technical about it. I guess if they last 50k or more miles i should use them since i really don't run the miles up like i use to, when i did traveled the roads i could put 50k on one of my cars in a year.

coupe
08-27-2005, 04:06 PM
Set them up right, maintain clean oil, don't overrev the engine, and they'll go 200k miles and beyond!

QWKSNKE
08-27-2005, 04:24 PM
mine had 168k on them when they came out. They looked fine

SteedaChaos
08-27-2005, 10:48 PM
Sounds good, my mechanic wants me to go with them he had no problem from his on the cleveland over 3 years of racing and some driving/traveling maybe 20k mi.

On my car keeping good oil is standard as i run 2700+ rpms cruising speed to work with the .83 5th gear i run. When traveling the open roads i run 3000 rpms cruising speed an when the straights open up i'll pull up to 6000-6200 rpm's in 5th. I would expect that rpm range to be in the roller rockers cablility to perform and be stable since Ford's stock rockers on the different motors between my 87' an 92' handled it w/o fail.

Great to hear how long you ran your set Qwiksnake did you happen to reuse them on the AFR heads? I think i shall go with them no since in robbing free HP with the stock rockers.

86GT
08-27-2005, 11:54 PM
I have a set in mine but I wish I had gone with adjustables. The FMS are non adjustable. You have to shim or shave them to get the correct lash. I had one bank that was perfect and did not require any shims or shaving, but the other bank required two that needed shims.

Just food for thought.

Oh yah, they will last just as long as the stock folcrum units, but the rollers will be a little louder.

SteedaChaos
08-28-2005, 09:49 AM
Thanks for the food, this will add to the labor bill yikes since my mechanic is doing this at work ( couldn't tackle it at home with his project he has there already). My car lost it's crank so i decided to throw in a DSS 331, stage1 stock heads, pull out the 3.73's for 3.55's, and swap out Tremec#2 for T#1.

I tossing out the 3.73's since i run close ratio trans's for more top end and better rpm range on the open roads.

93Cobra#2771
08-30-2005, 09:52 AM
Yep, be prepared for a little noise from them. In fact, 93-95 Cobras had different valve covers with insulation just for that noise (and to clear the taller rockers)...

86GT
08-30-2005, 10:14 AM
insulation? Wow I guess we learn something new every day.

93Cobra#2771
08-30-2005, 10:18 AM
The VC were dual a dual wall design, with some type of material between the walls to quell the noise. 93 models were actually different than 94's, with 94's getting the nod for quietness...

86GT
08-30-2005, 10:35 AM
good info

QWKSNKE
08-30-2005, 11:11 AM
Great to hear how long you ran your set Qwiksnake did you happen to reuse them on the AFR heads? I think i shall go with them no since in robbing free HP with the stock rockers.

No. I swapped to stud mount rockers when I installed the AFR's

Italian LX
08-30-2005, 11:18 AM
mine had 168k on them when they came out. They looked fine
. . . and I've put at least another 50,000 miles on them. :wave:

streetstang88
08-30-2005, 02:53 PM
the rockers wont wear out quicker ,your valve guide will tend to wear quicker
its not the change to roller , its the change in ratio

95whitevenom
08-30-2005, 08:12 PM
I got 170K plus right now and those things are in great shape. Crane made them Ford bought them and put their name on them.