Melling Replacement Rocker Arms

[jmr302]

I bought some Melling brand replacement rocker arms from Autozone. They were p/n MR-927. I'm doing a full rebuild on a '93 longblock right now.

Has anyone used these rockers before? I test fit them last night and the cast pad on the bottom contacts the 'feet' on the rocker stands. It looks like the bottom of a connecting rod and was probably the heat riser in the casting and they cut them off too high up. I'm probably going to have to grind down all 12 of them.

Pics:

Stock rocker is in the foreground.
http://jmr302.com/4-liter/CIMG0229.JPG

Rocker stand. Area of contact is the mounting flange on the bottom.
http://jmr302.com/4-liter/CIMG0235.JPG

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem. I'm going to see if I can reach someone at Melling tomorrow.

[F150hybred]

I'm thinking I would grind the lower area of the rocker for clearance. Odds are that there would be enough meat there to do just that. You shouldn't effect the structure of the rocker by doing that.

[jmr302]

I'm thinking I would grind the lower area of the rocker for clearance. Odds are that there would be enough meat there to do just that. You shouldn't effect the structure of the rocker by doing that.

Yeah, that's what I meant to say, it just came out wrong. I'll be grinding the rocker arms, not the stands.