Local dealer found a complete NOS TRW rocker assembly for my '72 Valiant. I cleaned the protectant oil from the shaft and each rocker with gasoline and verified that each rocker arms oil passage was clear and free. I installed it and set the lash. The car was running for about 20 minutes and I was just about to turn the engine off to install the valve cover when I heard a snap and a distinctive miss. I shut the engine off and found that the first rocker (exhaust) on number one cylinder snapped clean at the end where the adjusting screw threads in. Lucky that there was not pushrod damage and the broken piece fell to the ground where it could do no engine damage. Upon further inspection a few more of the rockers had stress cracks and would have met the same fate. What gives? Really lucked out that I didn't get a chance to button up the engine and go for a drive.
I reinstalled my trusty original rocker assembly and put lock tite on three adjusting screws in the hopes that they won't back out and lose their lash. Sometimes less is more.

Photos?

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Joshua

You have to be "super careful" when purchasing 40+ YO "NOS" stuff these days.
I have seen a few situations where the "new old stock" items were in fact, rejected parts that somehow got "picked out of the scrap barrel" and brought home.
Always ask the: "where did you get these" question and think about the seller's background.

The "best" NOS parts are usually from a privet owner, that has only one of the item, that he purchased "new from the dealer and never used it"... and is now selling the item.
The worst, someone on ebag or at a swap meet, that has a bunch of the same NOS item... and a bunch a different "stories" to go with the parts.
Just my 2 cents...
DD

Thanks for the advice....thought I couldn't go wrong with a part made, seemingly, in the era that these engines were still being produced. I will have to get pics posted for all to see.