Looking for Gotha Parts numbers

Skimmed throught most of the older posts on Rockets and I couldnt find any part numbers for Gotha rockers. Does anybody know what part number if for the 56' 324 motor? Are they all interchangeable and is there any issues with running steel ones as opposed to the mag ones?
-Drew

 

The steel are prefered as they are supposed to be stronger/less likely to break. Don't know how many of the Mag pieces actually broke. Probably would have been caused by coil bind or something.

I think there is a set on the parts for sale thread now. Olds/Caddy.

 

I've got a set if Isky adjustables on some #10 Olds heads. I've heard that Isky took over making the rockers from Gotha. I'll look at them for you when I get home.

 

The only real difference in aftermarket adjustable rocker arms for '49-'58 Olds engines is that they were made in both 1.5:1 and 1.8:1 ratios. All Iskenderian rockers for Oldsmobiles were 1.5:1. Also, the design of the Isky rockers (adjuster sticking out the bottom instead of out the top) didn't interfere with the valve covers.

 

I have the original Gotha box. I will look today to see what it says. Yes, Gotha made the 1.5 as well as the 1.8, both in steel. I have both Gotha sets here, but only one box, so I need to look at it to see which ratio the box was for.

Two different old time Olds drag racers told me they always had both ratios on hand for whatever cam they were running. They also both said steel was best and that magnesium rockers would tweak on severe race use. I am just repeating what they both claimed.

PM me because the hamb moves too fast for me to find this thread tonight.

 

Gotha part number for 52-58 1.8 ratio is #1216. You can use them on the 49-51 if you use the 52-58 rocker shaft stands.

The 1.5 and 1.8 stands are easy to tell apart. The 1.5 stands have the rocker shaft exactly centered between the small and big bolt on each stand.

The 1.8 stands have the rocker shaft way over towards the bigger bolt; matter of fact, the rocker shaft almost rubs on the shank of the big bolt on each stand.


The rockers themselves are really tough to identify as to 1.5 or 1.8 if you saw a set at a swapmeet unmarked. I did measure the overall lengths of my Gotha 1.5 and 1.8 if that helps. The 1.5 was around 2.875, and the 1.8 was around 2.775. That's not all that accurate because they are not machined where I used the indicator.

 

This is a great start. Are the part numbers stamped into the rockers anywhere or just the box? Will only the Gotha valve covers work with their rockers or will another style aftermarket set clear. Kinda hard finding vc's let alone finding the rockers. Thanks for taking the time to measure them for me.

 

Numbers on the box. There are some faint casting numbers or letters on the rockers, but not really readable. Do you know if they are Gotha? Gotha has a ball at the end of the adjuster screws, not a cup shape like stock rockers. Gotha did not use a locking jamb nut either. Gotha requires a special pushrod or they also made adapters to mod your stock rods.

Some oldtimers dented out the stock valve covers just like the bumps on the J2 optional solid cam valve covers. I can take a pic if you need it.

Edit; so you don't have the rockers yet? If not, there were other makers of steel rockers but I do not know the name. I have a set of 1.5 unidentified on my 324 with normal adjusters to use stock pushrods, and these do have the jamb nuts.

 

No jam nut and they have a ball on the end of them. I just wasnt looking forward to denting up a set of stock covers but all in the quest for speed it doesnt matter much.