Roller rockers
#1
Roller rockers
Is the roller rocker kit for 350 small blocks, offered by Ecklers worthwhile? They claim a 15hp gain, and decreased wear. Are they a straightforward bolt on, and are any special tools required? Any adjustements afterwards? I will guess no, since these engines have hydralic lifters.
#2
Drifting
Go to the performance sections of the chevelles.com or camaros.net sites. There is a ton of info on both sites, both good and bad. Unless your stock rockers are pretty far out of spec, it would be pretty hard to find 15hp with roller rockers. I use 'em because of spring pressures and cam lifts. Don't skimp on 'em, a destroyed roller rocker in your engine results in those tiny needle bearings everywhere and that's about as bad of a catastrophe as an engine can experience because it can cause absolute and total destruction. Harland Sharp is probably the best budget roller rocker for hot street but most racers I know either go to Comp's Pro Magnum or Crower's steel pieces when lifts and spring pressures get high. Once you get to the point where you really need a stud girdle, you should really consider shaft mounts from T&D or Jesel, IMHO. HTH
#3
Le Mans Master
More like 4-5 hp with a stock cam and only if you go from a 1.5 ratio to 1.6 ratio.
Also, a Corvette is just a Chevrolet. Buy performance engine parts from Jegs or Summit unless you want to pay a 30-50% markup to a Corvette specialty dealer.
Also, a Corvette is just a Chevrolet. Buy performance engine parts from Jegs or Summit unless you want to pay a 30-50% markup to a Corvette specialty dealer.
#4
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St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by SteveG75
More like 4-5 hp with a stock cam and only if you go from a 1.5 ratio to 1.6 ratio.
Also, a Corvette is just a Chevrolet. Buy performance engine parts from Jegs or Summit unless you want to pay a 30-50% markup to a Corvette specialty dealer.
Also, a Corvette is just a Chevrolet. Buy performance engine parts from Jegs or Summit unless you want to pay a 30-50% markup to a Corvette specialty dealer.
#7
Race Director
Originally Posted by sjmaster
Is the roller rocker kit for 350 small blocks, offered by Ecklers worthwhile? They claim a 15hp gain, and decreased wear. Are they a straightforward bolt on, and are any special tools required? Any adjustements afterwards? I will guess no, since these engines have hydralic lifters.
#8
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St. Jude Donor '07
"Constant maintenance" ... yeah. That's why GM started using them in new engines. They put on more expensive parts for no improvement and more warranty work. Suuuuuure.
#9
Race Director
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
"Constant maintenance" ... yeah. That's why GM started using them in new engines. They put on more expensive parts for no improvement and more warranty work. Suuuuuure.
From what bench did you get your racing experience?
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St. Jude Donor '07
Umm...probably the messy one in the garage. Anyway, the LT4 used bowtie-branded Crane Gold roller rockers, and I believe most of the LSx engines use a rocker with a roller trunion and a conventional tip. The roller parts require quite a bit more manufacturing work and expense. If it wasn't worth it, they'd still be running cheap stamped old-school rockers. Same logic goes for roller lifters - if they weren't better, GM would still be using them in their engines. Flat tappets are quite a bit cheaper...but rip apart most any GM engine for the last 15-20 years, and there are roller lifters.
Carbs, flat tappets and stamped rockers...gotta love the 1920s. Don't worry, new technology won't hurt you. Old dogs can learn new tricks!
Carbs, flat tappets and stamped rockers...gotta love the 1920s. Don't worry, new technology won't hurt you. Old dogs can learn new tricks!
#11
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by sjmaster
Is the roller rocker kit for 350 small blocks, offered by Ecklers worthwhile? They claim a 15hp gain, and decreased wear. Are they a straightforward bolt on, and are any special tools required? Any adjustements afterwards? I will guess no, since these engines have hydralic lifters.
Maybe you could post what you have now and what you are looking to do with it. Engine details, tranny, rear gear ratio, etc.
-Mark.
#12
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by Ironcross
Just from the nature of your questions, I would forget about roller rockers. Nice for bench racing at the local cruise but not for a practical street engine. The HP improvement is just hype. It is more of a necessity and practical with all out race engines, you dont need something that requires constant maintenance. But if you do this, then buy some taller valve covers too for clearance and learn how to adjust poly-locks. There is really nothing wrong with the stock rocker arm assembly. All of the "stock" so called anyway, 550HP plus fractory engines { L88-LS7 ect.} work fine right out of the box without rollers day in and day out. Plus they are trouble free. If your asked and it`s important, just say you got um, no one will know the difference. If i`m asked ,I say, I have roller tip pushrods.
#13
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
"Constant maintenance" ... yeah. That's why GM started using them in new engines. They put on more expensive parts for no improvement and more warranty work. Suuuuuure.
there is a difference in adding rollers to the old block vs using a newer roller block. the roller block is built to accept a roller lifter that is "flattened" so it can't twist. the conversion rollers usually have two "tied" together to stop them from twisting around..
for me, i spent a little more and got a newer block because i think they are better if you're going roller....
as far as roller rockers, i agree, there are better ways to get more bang for the buck (heads)
Last edited by Avette4me; 08-06-2006 at 10:08 PM.
#14
Race Director
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Umm...probably the messy one in the garage. Anyway, the LT4 used bowtie-branded Crane Gold roller rockers, and I believe most of the LSx engines use a rocker with a roller trunion and a conventional tip. The roller parts require quite a bit more manufacturing work and expense. If it wasn't worth it, they'd still be running cheap stamped old-school rockers. Same logic goes for roller lifters - if they weren't better, GM would still be using them in their engines. Flat tappets are quite a bit cheaper...but rip apart most any GM engine for the last 15-20 years, and there are roller lifters.
Carbs, flat tappets and stamped rockers...gotta love the 1920s. Don't worry, new technology won't hurt you. Old dogs can learn new tricks!
Carbs, flat tappets and stamped rockers...gotta love the 1920s. Don't worry, new technology won't hurt you. Old dogs can learn new tricks!
#15
Originally Posted by sjmaster
Is the roller rocker kit for 350 small blocks, offered by Ecklers worthwhile? They claim a 15hp gain, and decreased wear. Are they a straightforward bolt on, and are any special tools required? Any adjustements afterwards? I will guess no, since these engines have hydralic lifters.
factory cam a 1.6 ratio may give you 6/7 HP but its not worth the
price of the parts. You would have to buy new pushrods, rocker arms
and if you go roller rockers tall valve covers.
#16
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St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Ironcross
I would question anyone thinking "Im Batman". Is that statement for the truth, or is there an exception for state of mind? FRE-803. Get your head out of the comic books and hot rod rags. Now read the question in post 1 again and start over! Ok. It asks about roller rocker arms not roller lifters in a stock early 350. And the question is whether there are any benefits for the roller rocker arms. Your score on that question is zero! You cant even read correctly. Oh, and by the way, roller rockers and lifters were available in the late 50`s, not 20`s. And yes I use them in my race cars too, but not for the street. Take the advice of other answers and you wont go wrong. ARF, ARF,
And since you think the name is soooooo funny, I'll explain it - my dad bought the car shortly after the 89 Batman movie was released. He thought it looked kinda like the 89 Batmobile, and he loved the scene where Michael Keaton is holding some two-bit crook over the edge of a rooftop and tells him in a menacing voice "I'm Batman." He put it on the plate, I've just never changed it. There ya go. I'll change it when I finally get aorund to a new paint job.
Last edited by I'm Batman; 08-07-2006 at 01:30 AM.
#17
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In the beginning of the SB Chevy design some thought roller rockers would add hp. Chevy agreed to change the design to roller rockers if any hp was added. Despite the efforts of some including Smokey Yunick, no hp was gained.
Roller tip will work fine for many, which fit under the L-82 Al. valve covers. Any increase is due to the increase of rocker ratio as stock measure about 1.47 so even 1.52 is an increase.
I have posted many times that full rollers are needed for over about 6500 rpm &/or when valve spring pressures are over 350 lbs. to prevent galling of the ball pivot.
Roller tip will work fine for many, which fit under the L-82 Al. valve covers. Any increase is due to the increase of rocker ratio as stock measure about 1.47 so even 1.52 is an increase.
I have posted many times that full rollers are needed for over about 6500 rpm &/or when valve spring pressures are over 350 lbs. to prevent galling of the ball pivot.
#18
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by SteveG75
More like 4-5 hp with a stock cam and only if you go from a 1.5 ratio to 1.6 ratio.
Also, a Corvette is just a Chevrolet. Buy performance engine parts from Jegs or Summit unless you want to pay a 30-50% markup to a Corvette specialty dealer.
Also, a Corvette is just a Chevrolet. Buy performance engine parts from Jegs or Summit unless you want to pay a 30-50% markup to a Corvette specialty dealer.
#19
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Apparently, GM "STILL" considers stamped steel rockers as quite adequate ... even for racing:
GMPP Crate Motor P/N 88958602 has STAMPED rocker arms and FLAT hyd cam ... THOUSANDS sold and they hold up & perform real good ... This is a current motor and is selling VERY well. I shepherded one just LAST NITE! The 602 is a conventional iron SBC with iron vortec heads ... straight from GM! Its stamped rockers do NOT have roller tips ... and do have conventional ball fulcrums ... 1.5:1 RAR ... I KNOW this to be FACT. AFAIK ... 602 is simply a 350HO street motor that's been outfitted with circletrack tin.
Horsepower: 350 @ 5,000 RPM
Torque: 390 ft./lbs. @ 3,800 RPM
Max. Rec. RPM: 5,500
Compression Ratio: 9.1:1
Block: 10105123 Cast iron four bolt with 1-piece rear main seal.
Crankshaft: 14088527 Nodular cast iron.
Connecting Rods: 10108688 PM Steel
Pistons: 12361371 Cast Aluminum
Piston Rings: 14089025
Camshaft: 20502476; Lift: .435” I, .460” E; Duration @ .050: 212° I, 222° E
Lifters: Hydraulic Flat Tappet
Timing Chain: 14087014
Valve Cover:: 25534359 Kit With Breather Tubes
Oil Breather:: 25534355 Breather Kit
Cylinder Heads: 12558060 Cast Iron Vortec, 64cc combustion chambers.
Intake Valves: 10241743 1.94”
Exhaust Valves 12550901 1.50”
Valve Springs: 10212811
Rocker Arms: 10089648 1.5 Ratio
Rocker Arm Nut: 25534352 Special, ”Kool Nut Design”
Intake Manifold: 12366573 Aluminum High Rise Dual Plane
Distributor: 01104067 GM HEI
Valve Lash: Zero
Spark Plugs: R44LTS Gap @ .045, Rapid Fire #8 Gap @ .035
Ignition Timing: Max. 32° Total @ 4,000 RPM
Fuel: 92 Octane Unleaded Gasoline
Oil Pan: 25534353 8 Quart Black Powder Coated Circle Track With Oil Filter. It includes a full louvered windage tray, oil scraper, three trap doors, oil level plug, 8” deep sump, a 3-1/2” kickout on the right side, and a 3/4” oil pick up tube.
picture of above:
http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Chev...s/88958602.jpg
GMPP Crate Motor P/N 88958602 has STAMPED rocker arms and FLAT hyd cam ... THOUSANDS sold and they hold up & perform real good ... This is a current motor and is selling VERY well. I shepherded one just LAST NITE! The 602 is a conventional iron SBC with iron vortec heads ... straight from GM! Its stamped rockers do NOT have roller tips ... and do have conventional ball fulcrums ... 1.5:1 RAR ... I KNOW this to be FACT. AFAIK ... 602 is simply a 350HO street motor that's been outfitted with circletrack tin.
Horsepower: 350 @ 5,000 RPM
Torque: 390 ft./lbs. @ 3,800 RPM
Max. Rec. RPM: 5,500
Compression Ratio: 9.1:1
Block: 10105123 Cast iron four bolt with 1-piece rear main seal.
Crankshaft: 14088527 Nodular cast iron.
Connecting Rods: 10108688 PM Steel
Pistons: 12361371 Cast Aluminum
Piston Rings: 14089025
Camshaft: 20502476; Lift: .435” I, .460” E; Duration @ .050: 212° I, 222° E
Lifters: Hydraulic Flat Tappet
Timing Chain: 14087014
Valve Cover:: 25534359 Kit With Breather Tubes
Oil Breather:: 25534355 Breather Kit
Cylinder Heads: 12558060 Cast Iron Vortec, 64cc combustion chambers.
Intake Valves: 10241743 1.94”
Exhaust Valves 12550901 1.50”
Valve Springs: 10212811
Rocker Arms: 10089648 1.5 Ratio
Rocker Arm Nut: 25534352 Special, ”Kool Nut Design”
Intake Manifold: 12366573 Aluminum High Rise Dual Plane
Distributor: 01104067 GM HEI
Valve Lash: Zero
Spark Plugs: R44LTS Gap @ .045, Rapid Fire #8 Gap @ .035
Ignition Timing: Max. 32° Total @ 4,000 RPM
Fuel: 92 Octane Unleaded Gasoline
Oil Pan: 25534353 8 Quart Black Powder Coated Circle Track With Oil Filter. It includes a full louvered windage tray, oil scraper, three trap doors, oil level plug, 8” deep sump, a 3-1/2” kickout on the right side, and a 3/4” oil pick up tube.
picture of above:
http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Chev...s/88958602.jpg
Last edited by jackson; 08-07-2006 at 09:45 AM.
#20
Instructor
Here's a good article with dyno results - roller rockers show 17hp increase over stock stamped rockers.
http://www.compcams.com/Community/Ar...p?ID=521241382
http://www.compcams.com/Community/Ar...p?ID=521241382