The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1954 235 OI9744F54Z

can any of you tell me what GM part numbers I need to replace all 12 rocker arms. I think I need 3 each of 4 different ones--Thanks Bill 49-3100

F 54 Z

Flint Michigan built engine
1954 year
Z = Passenger Car with manual transmission (mechanical lifters)

1954 car & truck mechanical-lifter 235s should have same valve train parts?
Yes, they are the same rocker arms.

Just to confuse things, the rocker-arm part numbers change in the 1957 parts book, but the same rockers were listed for 54-57.

If you are going for later rocker arms, wait to hear from others regarding compatibility. I'll bet that any 1954-and-later full set of 235 mechanical-lifter rocker-arms will work OK?

Tim--thank you--engine in for rebuild, back after Christmas--Have rebuilt 848 head but want new rocker arms-Thanks Again Bill

Looks like we don't need new rocker arms--They are polishing the Rocker arm Shafts as they appear to have very Little wear--Thanks Bill

Bill,

Will they look at the (smooth) the surface on each rocker arm where the rocker arm touches the valve stem?

I realize that this thread ended last year. But I would like to add to it with a follow up question.
I have a 1954 chev 235 pickup I am rebuilding. When I took the valve cover off I noticed one of the rocker arms are broke. I may have located another assembly but it is on a 1957 panel. I believe it has a 235 in it. Does anyone know if that will be the same rocker arm? Like someone mentioned earlier it looks like the casting number will be different but will is it the same part? Would I be better off putting the entire rocker arm shafts in my pickup? Are they compatible? For some reason these rocker arms are very hard to find.

I can’t directly answer your question but I can tell you that you should not use a rocker arm or rocker assembly from the 59 and up motors. In 59, the oiling system was changed to provide a more direct feed from the main lifter galley for the oil to the rockers (as opposed to bleeding oil from the rear cam bearing), enlarging the oraface in the head to provide a greater volumn under slightly greater pressure, and used a pinched off connector between the two rocker assemblies. This created a sort of pressurized system that was less prone to clogging up then the 54-58 version of the 235. Keep in mind that the rockers still needed to only dribble oil, not spit, but dribble. With the higher pressure and greater column, gm then modified the rockers. So if you look inside the rocker of a 54-58 rocker arm, you will notice that there is a groove machined inside the rocker arm and that the groove directly intersects the dribble hole drilled in the rocker arm. If you look at a 59 and up rocker arm, you will discover that the groove is now offset from the dribble hole. This is how gm dealt with the extra volumn and pressure so you should avoid using a later rocker on an earlier motor.