Your opinion on 1.6 Roller Rockers please...
05-30-2007, 06:05 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Your opinion on 1.6 Roller Rockers please...
I am looking at Summit's 1.6 RR's, as they fit my budget nicely. Will I get much more HP or torque by going with the full roller rockers ($159) over the roller tip rockers ($90)? I'm keeping the stock valve springs for now. Also, will I need guide plates for either one? I've been told guideplates are needed for full rollers but not roller tip only. 
Forgot to mention.....'89 L98 engine with hooker headers and true dual exhaust the only major modification so far.
Forgot to mention.....'89 L98 engine with hooker headers and true dual exhaust the only major modification so far.
Last edited by dan0617; 05-30-2007 at 06:11 PM.
05-30-2007, 06:18 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
On your 1989 you will need the narrow self aligning rockers. I would get the aluminum 1.6 full RR's for maximum HP. Also go to GM Perf. Parts and buy a set of 16 LT4 springs and retainers. If you buy the proper RR's you WILL NOT need guide plates or hardened rods. Put that money in full RR's.
05-30-2007, 07:27 PM
#3
Race Director
For me, I would not put expensive rockers on a high mileage engine unless I had a lot of extra money or wanted to compete in racing. Who knows when the engine will need a rebuild, and the money saved would be best spent then on parts. The gain between a roller 1.6 and non-roller 1.6 would be very minor. There are roller tips for $60. Also I would never pay the extra $50ish for narrow body rockers unless I could not grind on the valve covers myself. If you get self aligning rockers you do not need guide plates. I would definetly replace the stock springs though! There are upgraded springs for a very minor cost. The stock springs are twenty years old now and may have many tens of thousands of miles on them. If I thought the engine would hold up a long time and see a lot of RPM then I would use better rockers.
05-30-2007, 08:28 PM
#5
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2000
Location: The Top of Utah
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 0
Received 23 Likes
on
22 Posts
There is not a lot of power to be gained by going to a roller fulcrum in a near stock engine. The advanrage to the swap is in the ratio. Your original rockers are self aligning. If the new rockers are self aligning, there is nothing else you NEED to make them work. If you change to non-self aligning rockers, you will NEED push rod guide plates and hardened push rods. Better springs are highly recommended.
RACE ON!!!