Machined Valve Locks Quality

[BOOT]

Bought some NEW old stock CROWER valve locks/keepers and kinda surprised at the poor quality. At least 8 halves or four sets are unusable due to the machining grooves and that's just going thru them quick. I mean you can feel them easily with your nail, I think my pic will show the poor quality

017a.jpg

I figured their NEW/old stock because of the dried oil(lightly scraps off and shiny under) and the package looked dirty, no date that I noticed tho.

025.JPG

I just bought 3 sets of GM machined standard height locks as well and you can see very light machine marks on a few but nothing you can feel. It's funny cause I almost bought another set of cheaper Trickflow +0.50 and kinda wish I did now.

All locks pictured are the CROWER
edit: Package was sealed vacuum type

[BOOT]

Awhile back I posted bout all the bad parts I get, this winter so far it's prob 50% issues of the stuff I ordered. Well higher if you count the stuff I wrote off or just plan to fix. Swear I'm a bad part magnet!

[rebelyell]

which Vendor did you source the "Crower" locks from ?

which Vendor did you source the "GM" locks from ?

[BOOT]

which Vendor did you source the "Crower" locks from ?

which Vendor did you source the "GM" locks from ?

Got the CROWER locks off ebay

GM some circle track place I can't rem the name of, they popped up in a google search with a low price. GM bags look legit

Here's a pic of the CROWER package, I opened it FYI

[Walter R. Malik]

Years ago, when the Crower family stopped running that company ... the quality began to suffer, more and more every year.

[PackardV8]

which Vendor did you source the "Crower" locks from ?

which Vendor did you source the "GM" locks from ?

Got the CROWER locks off ebay

GM some circle track place I can't rem the name of, they popped up in a google search with a low price. GM bags look legit

For all my long lifetime, it's usually easier to get a replacement/refund from a legit supplier than from Midnight Auto Supply.

[BOOT]

For all my long lifetime, it's usually easier to get a replacement/refund from a legit supplier than from Midnight Auto Supply.

I agree BUT it's hard to pass up a good deal on a good name brand.

[Chris_Hamilton]

For all my long lifetime, it's usually easier to get a replacement/refund from a legit supplier than from Midnight Auto Supply.

I agree BUT it's hard to pass up a good deal on a good name brand.

Probably more accurate to say the hope of a good deal. If it was a good deal I don't think we'd be reading this thread.

[BOOT]

Probably more accurate to say the hope of a good deal. If it was a good deal I don't think we'd be reading this thread.

Knew that'd be the next post, people like to say told yah so BUT I'll just say it works out in my favor the majority of the time

[mag2555]

I would go with Manley locks.

[PRH]

About 30 years ago I was working at a shop that used those Crower locks pretty regularly.
We stocked them in the 0, +.050, -.050 in 3/8” and 11/32”.

We used to also have one open package of each of those.

Every-single-set of those I went to use would have some issue that required other parts than what came in the package.
It would either be a lock missing, or one was wrong(3/8” in with the 11/32”, a minus in with the pluses, etc). Not one single time was it a complete package of 32 correct pieces.
That’s where the open packages came in. They were used to make up for what was missing or wrong.

Eventually we started using the Crane machined locks instead...... which usually had one or two extra pieces in the package, and not once did I have an incorrect piece in the package.

Around that same time frame, the Crower retainers had horrible consistency with regard to installed height.
It was nothing to measure all 16 on one position of the head and have a .030” spread in installed height.

[Walter R. Malik]

The only people I will deal with when I need the best locks money could buy, (and they're not even expensive), is from "Precision Products Performance Center" in Arden, North Carolina. If they don't have what you need, they make it.

I use other locks all the time for cylinder head packages which are not to be considered top of the line.

[skrews]

^^^ This

[compguy]

Seems strange considering people on here say the Crower steel rockers are badass? (which they are)

[midnightbluS10]

I doubt you're just a magnet. It's likely where you source your parts from, trying to get what you believe are "deals". Stop trying to find the cheapest part you can every time.