Renault Engine Building tips

[Ultimaguy476]

I might have a trial set kicking around i can send you  but I haven’t seen them in a decade. A recent move doesn’t help. I’ll look around.
Also, its Ultima, not Ultimate......as in Ultima Can Am.....my other toy.

[Ultimaguy476]

I found my extra intake and exhaust rocker. 
Pretty awesome in blue, don't ya think?

I found out that the offset necessary to align the rocker directly on the valve differs slightly from head to head and rocker shaft to rocker shaft.  As my engine has oversized valves that fit inside my 82.5mm sleeves, it's possible that the head work changed the alignment slightly, but I found this discrepancy on stock heads too.   

Anyway, as you can see, I had to shave the side of the rocker slightly and enlarge the bearing slot.  Or maybe design in a wider bearing? 
No harm done, but if I were to do it again, I would enlarge the bearing slot by design as well as shave the side.  Then shim to get perfect alignment.

If anyone wants to borrow these with a plan to make some, I will happily lend them out.....but I want them back.

Enjoy,
Nick

[dakazman]

  Nice work Nick, I have a rocker assembly coming from overseas and my next head I will go big.
Right now it’s on the back burner but I’ll keep it in mind.
Did you purchase a stock set and modify or machine from scratch?
Dakazman

[Ultimaguy476]

Add from scratch

[GavinT]

G'day, Nick,

I read about some roller rockers being available for the 807 many moons ago.
At the time, I think they were produced by Rocker Arms Unlimited.

http://www.rockerarms.com/

Does that sound right?

[Ultimaguy476]

The place that made them for me was called something different.....but they may have changed their name. I didnt know that any more were ever made, but maybe.
I will look for a receipt to see if the address or phone is the same.
Good eye.

[Ultimaguy476]

Those pics are mine....taken by me.
Those are the ones offered ny me.
And you inquired, correct?  I recognize your name.
To my knowledge, no one else ever offered them

[Richard48Y]

The famed T&D are near to me and could easily make the best version possible but we would need several sets as a group buy to get a price that made any sense outside of NASCAR.
Even their mass market Chevy versions are not cheap.

Are there any CAD files available for those that were made before?
I know some CNC guys, wish I still had my CNC mill and lathe.

[GavinT]

Those pics are mine....taken by me.
Those are the ones offered ny me.
And you inquired, correct?  I recognize your name.
To my knowledge, no one else ever offered them

Well there ya go. I didn't know they were your pics.
Have we interacted previously? . . . and if so, where was that?

Nah, I haven't enquired about them, but always interested.

[GavinT]

Are there any CAD files available for those that were made before?

G'day Richard,

There's a listing on the Rocker Arms Unlimited site for a Renault 1.6 engine.
Presumably that's the 807 crossflow engine?

Frankly, I expected you local lads to get on the horn and ask them.   

[Ultimaguy476]

Calling  them now.

[Ultimaguy476]

Here is the story.... which you can read in the 'about' section of rockerarms.com website.
Rocker Arm Specialists was purchased in 2010....just in time to go out of business in 2012.  The old owner got together with his employees and got the business back and up and running.  As part of that, most of their files got lost...

I just got off the phone with Gary, the ex-owner, who I dealt with in 2011 when I purchased the original 7 sets (sold 5). 
Amazingly, I remembered him....and he remembered me.
They still have the drawings...or at least enough to price rockers.  Before production, I would send my modified ones to them so they could incorporate the subtle changes into the new rockers.

Two issues:

-They are having a hard time getting 7075 aluminum and the prices have doubled.  I'm not sure the cost of raw materials is the issue as it is an insignificant part of the overall process.  Oddly, while I was on the phone with him, I found 7075 for sale at online places and mentioned that to him.  He took that in stride.....I'm not sure if maybe it was the price that had him flummoxed, not really availability.
He probably isn't getting the discounts he is used to getting....but I'm just guessing.

-The CNC shop likes to make at least 100 units....in this case, around a dozen sets.

After seeing a lot of interest in Camshafts until money was discussed, I have my doubts as to our ability to garner interest for a dozen sets?

I'm 99% sure my order back in 2011 was the only time he ever made these. 

I'm equally sure he isn't going to be very keen about giving me the CAD files but I haven't broached the subject...yet.

They are in Redding, California.  Anyone near enough to there to pay them a visit, if necessary?

Gary is going to get back to me in a couple days with prices.  I have asked for prices on one set, five sets, and ten sets.  None of that meets the 100 piece minimum but it will likely be enough info to determine interest.

Updates coming.
Nick

[MRN I J]

at least 10 sets is 80 pieces or is that 200 pieces, 100 of each side, I might want some if they increased the rocker ratio to 1.7 or 1.75:1

[jbcollier]

This one, I would be in on.

[dakazman]

 
   I'm in.  Now I have a reason to line bore the 821 block.

   Dakazman