Can I run without these

Hey guys, looking for some guidance. So engine is a fresh build 351c Engine builder says “never happened to him before and not sure why it’s happened”

I went to replace my valve covers last night and 6/16 oil deflection plates I think they are called are broken. I have all the broken bits. My question is are the important? I know easy enough to replace but I’m not happy at the thought of it happening again.

I e been told I can actually just remove them and leave them off?

Cheers
Jase

In theory you can run without the deflectors but, the question is why are they breaking? They may have been aged and over worked/heated; over tourqed or even factory defective. Their purpose is twofold: keep the oil shooting at the high friction, high heat fulcrum area of the rocker and help keep the oil spray out of the valve cover baffling and breather system.
After market rockers do not run deflectors, but typically are low friction needle bearings instead of of the Ford "sled & fulcrum" style you have.
If it were me, I'd figure out why they broke and put new ones on. Just my thoughts.

Cleveland Crush said:

In theory you can run without the deflectors but, the question is why are they breaking? They may have been aged and over worked/heated; over tourqed or even factory defective. Their purpose is twofold: keep the oil shooting at the high friction, high heat fulcrum area of the rocker and help keep the oil spray out of the valve cover baffling and breather system.
After market rockers do not run deflectors, but typically are low friction needle bearings instead of of the Ford "sled & fulcrum" style you have.
If it were me, I'd figure out why they broke and put new ones on. Just my thoughts.

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Thanks mate. Appreciate that. I wasn’t quite sure of their purpose so thank you. It’s not age as they are new. Engine has 1000km on it only. The builder is sending me a new said. Said to torque them to 22ft lb and keep an eye on them. I’m nervous lol

Do you have deflectors on your valve covers? The early 351C deflectors were attached to the covers not on the rocker arms. Boss 302 and Boss 351 valve covers also had the deflectors. You only want to run the rocker-mounted ones or the cover-mounted ones, not both.

Sheriff41 said:

Do you have deflectors on your valve covers? The early 351C deflectors were attached to the covers not on the rocker arms. Boss 302 and Boss 351 valve covers also had the deflectors. You only want to run the rocker-mounted ones or the cover-mounted ones, not both.

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Yeh just the ones on the rocker arms

Many years ago, just after I acquired my Mach1, I replaced the rocker arm bolts with the Crane stud conversion kit which did not come with deflectors. The factory ones don't fit as the top side of the studs are 7/16". I was a bit concerned but I'd seen something in HRM saying that if you had polylocks they would divert enough oil down to lube the rocker fulcrum. Well, on my first long drive the new rockers & fulcrums started squeaking & I found they had worn badly. I had put some Lubriplate engine assembly grease on them, maybe this stopped the oil from getting to the fulcrums, who knows? I got another set & fabricated some sheetmetal baffles to suit which worked fine til I went to roller rockers. The rocker gear & deflectors went on to the 429 when I ran that for 6 years.