Hot Rods Valve Lash caps

Have any of you ever ran these? They are supposed to go on top of a valve between the stim and rocker arm that is mushroomed or mis-formed? This is a new one on me. I guess i need to get out more.

 

I have run [still] them on several engines. To change rocker arm angle [high lift cam] and give a wider contact area for the roller; I wouldn't use them for a messed up valve tip.

 

Perhaps if your having retainer / rocker clearance issues or to help with rocker arm geometry.

 

I have used them on solid lifter engines that like to beat up the valve tip.

 

Do with 10* keepers. A good way to get geometry perfect.

 

Yes , since early 90s for me , on High sprig pressure & solid, installing a set in last week .
Push rod measurements will correct your geometry,

 

I'd rather solve whatever problem you have without using them. I just don't like the idea that if you floated a valve or a valve stuck momentarily they might come out...........

 

Most ALL race engines, and many truly high...performance engines run lash caps.

They were "originally"...designed, MANY years ago, to "protect" the valve from the pounding of the rocker arm tip.
Some cams are / were designed with a lot of lash required, like the street cam, the 1960's, 30-30 Duntov cam that needed .03 (like the name !) lash.
Plus in many cases today, many run very small diameter valve stems. So, the lash caps serve two purposes here. 1.) to make the valve stem larger in diameter so the rocker tip does not...come off of the valve tip at full lift, and 2.) to protect the valve tip from the pounding damage from the rocker.
Damage a valve, replace the while ***anium (!) valve. Damage a lash cap, 5 minutes later, the engine is running again !

While they "can"...be used to correct bad / pounded valve tips, that is not...their original intention. It was to KEEP...that problem from happening.

Unless you are running a high lift roller cam, a lot of spring pressure, a small .312" dia. valve, there's no real reason to run the hash caps. Maybe like above, to help correct the rocker arm geometry. But it seems that the correct pushrods may have been the better, original choice.

Mike

 

I have them in the 327 in my avatar and for the reasons you mentioned. So far, so good and I have checked valve lash several times. ( solid roller cam) .

 

If your rocker arms are on a shaft and not on a stud your only alternative is to machine the stands. With a Jessel or T&D lash caps are your best bet.

 

Mandatory on ***anium valves. Be aware that the cap needs to fit snug on the valve tip. If the cap is loose and you over run your valve spring tension, it can come off and become lodged in between a rocker and the stem or retainer. My exp. has been race hemi's with 5/16" stems and .8 valve lift at the valve tip. To keep the rocker on the tip, the extra diameter was necessary to do the job.

 

This version solves a ton of the negatives mentioned above. A great Primer on Lash Caps

 

Yes sir I saw that. I Found deeper issues. Moot point now. I guess i'll punt for now.All started with 1 burnt valve Found tops of 5 exhaust valves mushroomed? also found 2 studs that were very, very worn, deep grooves .Anybody ever seen this? Heads are just 58 cc, 184 valve .This motor has many miles on it at 2500 rpm. I don't think it has ever been over 5500,ever. Needs valve job, but I'll have to do ring job. Spend $ on a 305 or build 350? I have 350,327,307 to build, but honestly, it will take a day to dig them out of storage. My days of going fast are well over. Where is that 290 hp GM crate motor when you need it?
AS my momma said, IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING!!