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I've completely rebuilt my 66 318 Poly and am now ready to install the rocker arm shafts and rockers.....sort of. I sourced new rocker arm shafts from Napa (sealed power) and they don't seem to fit. They are a larger diameter. They also don't have the locking holes for the retaining pins. Are these rocker shafts for a later LA 318?

olypopper wrote:I've completely rebuilt my 66 318 Poly and am now ready to install the rocker arm shafts and rockers.....sort of. I sourced new rocker arm shafts from Napa (sealed power) and they don't seem to fit. They are a larger diameter. They also don't have the locking holes for the retaining pins. Are these rocker shafts for a later LA 318?

Without pictures of the ones you did receive.... we could only
guess that they might be LA Series rocker arms/shafts.
Seeing as '66 is the last "official" year for the U.S. A318, NAPA
might have an erroneous description in their data system?
You might have them run a search for a '63 A318 to see if it yields
the same part number...
John

I'll take some measurements and post pics later tonight when I get home. Thanks

I got pictures taken last night but forgot to post them! I'll post them tonight when I get home. The new rocker shafts are definitely different, however, are listed for the old POLY. The dimensional difference is .002 larger but that's the least of my concerns. The new shafts DO NOT have an oiling hole like the old shafts nor do they have the hole for the keeper pin that locks the rocker shaft in place.

I've been reading about a place in California that remans rocker shafts and rockers.............thinking about going that route.

Here is the part number of what I got and the first pic of the inside diameter of the rocker pedestal.

Here are the measurements of the new and old rocker shafts

I went to the NAPA site and ran part numbers for 318 rocker arm shafts
for '61, '63, '65, '71, '72 & '75. There was no part number for '61. For all other
years, part number RS-626 came up.
John

I'm gonna make a trip to my local machine shop and see what they recommend. I can either spend money modding the new shafts to work OR send the originals to rockerarms.com and have them reconditioned.

rockerarms.com is going to refurb my shafts and rocker arms. They will also add in allen type set screws with jam nuts for valve lash adjusting......I like that!

Local machine shop confirmed the thoughts on the RS-626 being for later LA engines only. Guys with poly engines, make sure you keep all your rocker arm stuff together and don't count on being able to find parts for the valve train!!!

Good information.
John

Just courious, what are they going to charge you for that?

"Just courious, what are they going to charge you for that?"

The gent I spoke with said 275.00-300.00 dollars US to centerless grind the shafts, build them back up with chrome plating and stress relieve the rockers and install bushings and lock nut type adjusters.

Total cost ended up being 297.00 for the refurb. All I can say is WOW! They look better than new. The shafts are beautiful........almost too nice to put inside the engine. rockerarms.com is a great business in my opinion.

Rocker arms unlimited was recommended to me by the yahoo poly group too. They also blueprint them so you get the correct ratio. The stock ones can be way off from what I am told.