The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 Rocker shaft

I rebuilt my 54 235 in my 53 3100. New valves,rods and rockers but I would like to find a new (or newer)rocker shaft. Where would I look for this?

I just checked ebay, lots to choose from.
1940-62 all will interchange.

There are differences in the position of the oil holes feeding the rockers.

The difference is in the rockers not the shafts.

Except for where the holes are.

I really dislike to get into a disagreement Panic, but I guess you have not looked in a parts book or compared shafts.
GM group 0.353
If you look through different year parts books, some will note a different shaft with a flat spot ground the full length for hydraulic lifter engines, but later books combined them all to one part number.
Here is a LINK to the 1957 parts book. Group 0.353

You can even use 1937-39 shafts in a pinch, they are a little shorter on the oil connector end. They have a groove at both ends for a snap ring/hairpin. If you use an o-ring in the hairpin groove on the oil connector end, it just barly fits into the connecter tube but makes a good seal.
I only mention this because this is a way to use up 1937-39 shafts or if you can get them dirt cheep.

One more thing I suggest. Here is a LINK to a picture of some GM replacement rocker supports. If you look closely you will see these have a slot cut through the support at shaft level. What this does is make the support pinch down on the shaft to prevent the shaft from rocking in the supports.
I make my own with my Sawsall. There are three supports per shaft, I do this to one support per shaft.
If you click to the next picture in the link you will see one I made.

Baby53 - I found them very reasonably priced at RockAuto.com for $40 something.
Excellent service too. Napa store was over $150 and couldn't tell me anything about it.

I guess you have not looked in a parts book or compared shafts.
The 1959-63 rockers and shafts have the feed holes offset 1/4" toward the stands, and must be used in combination.

The reason Chev offset the groove inside the rocker was so it did not line up with the hole in the shaft. This was done to pressurize the shaft.
Here is a LINK to the shop manuals description of this.

Sorry, wasting your time and mine.

i got mine from jim carter. just make sure what ever you get the chips clinging to the inside of the shaft from drilling are removed before installing it.

Come on guys....Baby53 asked a simple question of where to find a rocker arm shaft.
Then a couple of you hijacked this thread and get into a catfight about the part itself. No excuse for this kind of response. Either try to stay on subject or start a new thread if you want to discuss it in detail. This is one reason our Search feature is so difficult to navigate. My job as moderator is to keep control of this sort of thing and ask it to be stopped. You've been asked and I hope you gentlemen will understand and abide.

Anyway Welcome Baby53

Sorry. I'll re-post in a new thread.
3771Blue

Guys there is one difference if you are replacing a '53 or '54 powerglide shaft. These shafts have a larger diameter hole for the shaft hold down bolts on the top side only. This larger hole fits a shouldered hold down bolt and keeps the shaft from rocking back and forth in the standard bolt hole clearance. This confused me at first when I received my new shafts from Eggi with the same smaller hole on top and bottom. Pre 68 Dave helped me by pointing out the later 235’s had the split shaft supports to clamp the shaft this eliminated the shouldered bolt and larger hole.

I purchased my 1954 261 rocker shafts from Jim Carter,sold each and not a pair. rocker shafts .As 51ashton mentioned,make sure there are no burrs left inside the shafts from drilling.I had to clean mine as well,metal burrs just hanging inside the shafts.


Thanks,Tim