There are thin washers available in places like Mc Master Carr by ID. I have also gone to drag racing aftermarket shaft rocker arm manufacturers to buy spacer washers for my GMC’s. I’ve never been lucky enough to have them correct to start with.
Our Fords have a fairly large pad on the rocker tip so most never concern themselves with it. 

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I’ll agree with Cliff as it would appear that someone was simply trying to center the rocker pad on the valve stem.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Looks like someone was trying to center the rocker over the valve.  

The pictures will explain the situation best, but while disassembling a swap meet set of rocker arm assemblies today I noticed these little doodads. There was one between the rocker arm and the pedestal. This was along the entire shaft that way. They could not have been used for spacing, and I doubt they are anything machined. The tips look to be like something from a staple gun, not sure. All of the springs were in great shape, and while it looks pretty nasty the assembly was in pretty decent order for cleaning and reassembly on a new shaft. No signs of wear along the surface of each pedestal where each rocker pivots either.

Any ideas as to why someone would go through the trouble? 




Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com