So that the problem I had doesn't happen again, I'm considering a Jesel Rocker set up.

What experience have you guys had with this rocker system:

http://www.jesel.com/rockersssseries.html

I still cannot figure out why I lost (3) rockers!!!

Awesome setup, but I have the race series not the sportsman.

Any shaft rocker system is better than stud mounted rockers. I use Jesel valvetrain exclusively, there is none better. I run a solid roller cam in my twin turbo Vette and with the Jesel lifters and shaft rockers, I very rarely have to adjust lash, maybe once every year or two, although I check it at every oil change. The 540's I'm building for the Mistress is getting Jesel shaftrockers. I haven't used their Sportsman stuff yet, just the J2K Winston Cup stuff, but it's pretty much the same thing minus some upgrades like Ultralight profiling, shotpeening, and a little better bearings and tool steel adjusters. For a boat engine, they are more than adequate, and you won't need guideplates.

I use Jesel on my solid roller set up and they are very nice. I am using the pro set up and have heard of some of the sportsman stuff having some problems. Do a search on this forum. I think this is where I read or heard it.

Jesel is the only way to go.
I run the Pro series stuff.

Sutphen ,
I wanted to weld them also, but never found the time. Good idea though.

Sutphen,

Shaftrockers are still lubricated by oil through the pushrod. The trunion bearing is still splash feed by oil from the pushrod, as is the valve stem roller. Some shaft rocker setups, have oil jets which take pressurized oil from the pushrod and direct it at the valve and valvespring. T&D advertises this option.

Also, since the rocker arm itself is raised with shaft rockers the valvetrain geometry relation ship between the rocker and valve is improved. On stud mounted rockers, it's not uncommon to see the rocker contact patch on the valve stem account for 3/4 of the stem diameter, while a shaft rounted rocker will keep the contact patch within the middle third when properly set up. This results in better valve geometry and less wear.

Sutphen,
I haven't had any problems with the Jesels and the only rattling I hear is normal for solid lifter cams. They do get oil from the pushrod just like stud mounted rockers. My cam is not real radical by racers standards, but pretty big for pleasure boating. I have 40 or so hrs on the set-up. (272/280 @ .050", .714" lift)

Sutphen/ I am using the competition series with a solid roller and I also use KE spring oilers. No problems yet. I used to run the Jesel's on some Big Chiefs and had a few cross shaft bearing failures as well as roller tips but the spring oilers made the problems go away. The lash really doesn't change and I check every 8-10 hours.

My intake and exhaust pedestals are fastened together with a socket head cap screw and the material is probably 1/8" thick min in this area on both pedestals. Very beefy and if I didn't have any problems they must be nearly foolproof!!! I do run lash caps on the intakes to help with the geometry.

Honestly, the alignment on my head/rockers was dead nuts with the socket head screw that connects the towers tight. No alignment issues at all. I suppose shim washers could be put between the towers at the connection point or some material could be filed at that same point if adjustments are required, but in my case everything worked fine the way they are supposed to.