Hi all, I have not been here in a year or two. I hope all is well.

My question is this. I have an 81 shovelhead hardtail project going on right now. Can I pull the rocker boxes with it sitting there in the frame? If so I would like to talk to someone who has done it, not just read about it, videos would be great too.

Another question, every thing that can be chromed will be so. Is it cheaper to buy replacement parts, good parts not junk or send it all out to chrome.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

no can not pull the rocker boxes off in frame.you must pull the heads

 

You can pull the rocker boxes while the motor is in the frame, but with a Shovel you are pulling the heads and rockers off as a unit. Then on the bench you remove rockers from the heads.

As far as chrome, if you have real HD MoCo parts, get them chromed, they will be better then aftermarket. If they already are aftermarket, probably a toss up. Talk to your chromer about costs.

 

And I think Chrome rocker Boxes on a Shovel look cheezy!! Not like a Pan, or even an EVO, they look good in Chrome, .. Polished... That is the Way... Polished is Gorgeous, Like on a Knuck... Go Polished...

BTW
Did I mention you could Polish them??

Course... On a Chopper... Ya need to stick with some Theme also!!!

 

OE parts with a good chrome job is the way to go. Not sure who is still out there doing it since EPA regs have gotten so strict, but I almost always used Browns in KY. Aftermarket chrome is generally crap and almost always fails to hold up and look good for more than a couple of years. There are exceptions with some of the high end stuff though.