[lugnutx2]

I think my 1967 326 has the same valve angle and spacing as a 65-66 389 heads and from the pictures I posted there's been some damage. I THINK the rockers are wrong and weren't oiling correctly. Can I use 400 rocker/balls on these heads? Will I need different pushrods also? Thanks!

[694.1]

Oh my head...
Your rockers and studs are for stud oiling. I bet your block does not oil through the heads...
The experts will be to "esplian" it better...But '65 & up rockers should do the trick.

[tom s]

That rocker does not look like 65-66 rocker!Check the build date on the head.Never seen a head build after 64 with a hole in the stud?Tom

[b-man]

A lot of heads built after 1964 (the last year of rockers that oiled through the studs) were built with old style press in studs that had the oil drillings in them.

Clearly the factory used up the old stock of drilled studs as a matter of economics. They probably had millions of them and they certainly weren’t going to scrap them if they were useable for later heads that didn’t oil through the studs.

Yes your ‘67 326 does have the same 20 degree valve angle as the ‘66 and earlier 389 and 421 heads. You will need the ‘65 -‘66 rockers with the spurt hole at the pushrod end.

Since your ‘67 326 block and heads weren’t designed to oil through the rocker studs and somehow you ended up with the ‘64 and earlier rockers without the spurt hole you’ve chewed up the valve tips and surely the rocker pivot balls due to no lubrication.

To match the early style heads you need the 8.715” pushrods. The later style 14 degree valve angle heads have longer 9.145” pushrods and they’re not compatible with the ‘67 326 heads.

[lugnutx2]

Tom the rocker you see on the head is actually from a 1970 400, I put this on to see if it would oil, it did. The one rocker pictured on the red mat came from this head, it matches all the others on the engine. Here's a couple of more pictures. Obviously, the engine was making a racket, so I pulled the cover and watched it run a few minutes, very little oil going to any of the rockers. Next I installed a pushrod and rocker from a 1970 400, and got plenty of oil. I actually test drove the 67 lemans before I bought this engine years ago, it ran well and was quiet, the seller kept the headers, Holley and the roller rockers, and put the originals back on, this is how I picked it up. I've just recently started it and made noise almost immediately. Both heads have the G 1 6 date.

[lugnutx2]

Originally Posted by b-man

A lot of heads built after 1964 (the last year of rockers that oiled through the studs) were built with old style press in studs that had the oil drillings in them.

Clearly the factory used up the old stock of drilled studs as a matter of economics. They probably had millions of them and they certainly weren’t going to scrap them if they were useable for later heads that didn’t oil through the studs.

Thanks for clearing that up, I'm guessing this engine has the wrong rockers on it? I did order Melling MR 846 rockers, even though it didn't state that they'd fit a 68 on up 350, 400 etc.... . After ordering them, I stumbled across Comp Cams 1251-16 that supposed to fit 67 on up Pontiac V8's. Any idea if either of these will work, and will I need to go to a different length pushrod? Thanks!

[b-man]

1967 was a transition year, some engines used the early style 20 degree heads (all 326 and low performance 400s) and performance oriented 400 and 428 engines used the all new big valve 14 degree heads.

This is the reason you see somewhat conflicting information regarding pushrods and rockers for 1967 engines. Rockers and pushrods you see listed for ‘67 and up engines are for the later style heads which you don’t have.

You need the shorter 8.715” pushrods and the ‘65 -‘66 rockers with the spurt hole.

[lugnutx2]

Thanks for the accurate info! I'm looking at Pioneer RK 394 B or RK 394 X , just have to make sure one of these have the spurt holes, (Summit couldn't confirm that they did.) I'll try and contact Pioneer next Week.

[lugnutx2]

Summit thought the Pioneer parts were for a 7/16 stud, so I bought a complete rocker arm kit off Ebay this morning, kit # RK 535

[Goatracer1]

You have bigger problems than the rockers. You are about ready to swallow that valve. It needs a new valve and valve spring retainer plus most likely the keepers.

[lugnutx2]

Originally Posted by Goatracer1

You have bigger problems than the rockers. You are about ready to swallow that valve. It needs a new valve and valve spring retainer plus most likely the keepers.

Yes, I'm getting the head redone, I had a rough time finding the correct 3/8 stud rockers, with oil hole. Elgin had a set.

[Goatracer1]

You could have done away with the stud oiling and just gone with rockers with oiling holes.

[tom s]

He still can.Tom

[lugnutx2]

I haven't pulled the heads yet, but as far as I know, this engine never had stud oiling, GM just used leftovers studs as B man suggested. I did buy all new rockers with spurt holes, pivot balls and nuts from Elgin, the previous owner had installed 1964 or earlier rockers on this engine.