I was wondering if anyone has personal experience with the different shaft rocker systems. I am thinking of getting the stage II http://www.cad500parts.com/catalog/page15.htm but am open to suggestions.
I am going to hopefully put a different cam in it and it will have 3" exhaust. I dont want anything crazy just looking to make it durable.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Charlie

Any aftermarket system that has hold down holes through the shaft are prone to break off.you are better off to use the stock rockers untill you can get a good system that does not have a hole through the shaft...

I put the Stage II on my 500 that powers my GMC motor home 4 years and 4 round trips from Connecticut to Florida without a problem. After I installed mine I heard about someone in Europe having his shaft break off at one of the bolt holes.
Another weak point will be your 35 year old valve springs that were borderline when new. What lead up to me installing the Stage II was having a valve hang while starting the engine in sub zero weather. the valve hung and the pushrod bent and the corresponding rocker came off the Tee pedestal. When this happens oil is bypassing through the lifter, thus reducing the oil pressure. This could result in a massive engine failure.

I recommend, as a bare mininum, replacing all the valve springs and seals while you are at it. This can be done with the heads on using a valve spring compressor and a fitting in the sparkplug hole supplied with air pressure to keep the valves from falling down.