Roller rockers????
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Easton pennsylvania
I am in the same sort of boat. (Not to hijack the thread)
The PO changed verything but the heads on my 74 350. So I am going to do a mild top end refurb and throw new heads on it. Looking at the E-Street heads right now. So do you suggest just swapping my current rockers from my stock heads or going to rollers? And stamped rollers are out of the question? Was not expecitng to pay an extra 300 on the top of heads... Anyone know what specs I would need if so?
The PO changed verything but the heads on my 74 350. So I am going to do a mild top end refurb and throw new heads on it. Looking at the E-Street heads right now. So do you suggest just swapping my current rockers from my stock heads or going to rollers? And stamped rollers are out of the question? Was not expecitng to pay an extra 300 on the top of heads... Anyone know what specs I would need if so?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
I am in the same sort of boat. (Not to hijack the thread)
The PO changed verything but the heads on my 74 350. So I am going to do a mild top end refurb and throw new heads on it. Looking at the E-Street heads right now. So do you suggest just swapping my current rockers from my stock heads or going to rollers? And stamped rollers are out of the question? Was not expecitng to pay an extra 300 on the top of heads... Anyone know what specs I would need if so?
The PO changed verything but the heads on my 74 350. So I am going to do a mild top end refurb and throw new heads on it. Looking at the E-Street heads right now. So do you suggest just swapping my current rockers from my stock heads or going to rollers? And stamped rollers are out of the question? Was not expecitng to pay an extra 300 on the top of heads... Anyone know what specs I would need if so?
Rockers are easy to replace at anytime so it's up to you.
Stamped rollers have their place (even though most folks don't care for them for some reason) so again, it depends on what you are trying to get out of the motor and how much you want to spend.
Stamped rockers on an otherwise stock motor are pretty bullet-proof.
Roller tipped rockers offer a little more strength and perhaps a more accurate ratio but I wouldn't use them on a High HP motor.
Full rollers are if you want/need the best without going to shafts.
Elm
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Easton pennsylvania
As far as my goals. I should be aiming for low to mid 300 Hp when I am done. Nothing radical. Looking to bump the compression up a bit over the stock 8.5:1. Aiming more towards torque.
EVERYTHING has a budget. Or does it....... Heck, this was just going to be a head gasket fix. At this point I am 500 in the hole and I have not even taken 1 bolt out of the motor. HaHa. Took everything out, bebuilt the front suspension, detailed the bay, bought headers. Trust me, I would rather see the car sit for a year rather than put it back together and kick myself for not spending the extra hundred. But trust me, I know all too well. 100 this week, 100 next week. 100 the week after that... End up with a lot of explaining I need to do.....
EVERYTHING has a budget. Or does it....... Heck, this was just going to be a head gasket fix. At this point I am 500 in the hole and I have not even taken 1 bolt out of the motor. HaHa. Took everything out, bebuilt the front suspension, detailed the bay, bought headers. Trust me, I would rather see the car sit for a year rather than put it back together and kick myself for not spending the extra hundred. But trust me, I know all too well. 100 this week, 100 next week. 100 the week after that... End up with a lot of explaining I need to do.....
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
As far as my goals. I should be aiming for low to mid 300 Hp when I am done. Nothing radical. Looking to bump the compression up a bit over the stock 8.5:1. Aiming more towards torque.
EVERYTHING has a budget. Or does it....... Heck, this was just going to be a head gasket fix. At this point I am 500 in the hole and I have not even taken 1 bolt out of the motor. HaHa. Took everything out, bebuilt the front suspension, detailed the bay, bought headers. Trust me, I would rather see the car sit for a year rather than put it back together and kick myself for not spending the extra hundred. But trust me, I know all too well. 100 this week, 100 next week. 100 the week after that... End up with a lot of explaining I need to do.....
EVERYTHING has a budget. Or does it....... Heck, this was just going to be a head gasket fix. At this point I am 500 in the hole and I have not even taken 1 bolt out of the motor. HaHa. Took everything out, bebuilt the front suspension, detailed the bay, bought headers. Trust me, I would rather see the car sit for a year rather than put it back together and kick myself for not spending the extra hundred. But trust me, I know all too well. 100 this week, 100 next week. 100 the week after that... End up with a lot of explaining I need to do.....
I started after the holidays with just wanting to have my heads ported for a little more power and now I've bought new heads, rockers, headers, intake, carb and a new oil pump.
I need help.......
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Easton pennsylvania
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
Oh, yeah.. Well, I don't actually tell my wife what I'm buying...
What happens in the garage, stays in the garage...
Like the saying goes-
When I die, I hope my wife doesn't sell all my toys for what she thinks I paid for them!
What happens in the garage, stays in the garage...
Like the saying goes-
When I die, I hope my wife doesn't sell all my toys for what she thinks I paid for them!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 911
Likes: 5
From: TN
yes, but you will need to install taller valve covers or double gasket your existing ones to gain clearance for the lock nuts. You should also check your valvetrain geometry.
If you're just changing them for the sake of having roller rockers, save your money and leave the stock rockers on.
If you're just changing them for the sake of having roller rockers, save your money and leave the stock rockers on.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Point Texas
I guess I'll just kick back for a little while, save some money, and read the stuff everyone has to say and by then I might deside to go with a 5 speed!!!!!! Tha motors plenty quick
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
And if a 5 speed trans were the same price as a set of roller rocker arms, buy both. But they're NOT. Not even by a factor of 10.
There's been quite a bit written on mouse motor OEM rockers not measuring up to what ratio they're supposed to be. I've read that most are 3.8 to 4.2:1 when the factory specs call for 1.5:1. So even installing inexpensive aftermarket roller-tipped rockers will produce a horsepower gain since they claim to be true 1.52:1 ratio. And since the valves open farther, more air/fuel gets in/out to produce more power.
I have not read of the same situation with the rat motor's 1.7:1 ratio however.
There's been quite a bit written on mouse motor OEM rockers not measuring up to what ratio they're supposed to be. I've read that most are 3.8 to 4.2:1 when the factory specs call for 1.5:1. So even installing inexpensive aftermarket roller-tipped rockers will produce a horsepower gain since they claim to be true 1.52:1 ratio. And since the valves open farther, more air/fuel gets in/out to produce more power.
I have not read of the same situation with the rat motor's 1.7:1 ratio however.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 691
Likes: 1
From: gilboa ny
It describes the transference of the lift from the lumps on the cam to the valve. For simplicitys sake say a camshaft has 1" of lift. A 1.5 ratio rocker would push the valve down 1.5" when pushed up on by the 1" lift cam. For a theoretical 2" lift cam the 1.5 rocker would push the valve down 3" and so on. So a 1.7 rocker would give you more lift with the same cam than a 1.5 ratio rocker.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 691
Likes: 1
From: gilboa ny
No problem, when Xterrable asked I thought well theres finally something in my rusty old brain that someone here wants to know!
Been learning so much on this forum while its too cold to start work on my project car.
Been learning so much on this forum while its too cold to start work on my project car.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Easton pennsylvania
Thanks. When it comes to working on cars, I usually ask for a hand from my buddy. But he not the teaching type. Once I make a mistake he just takes over. Works well in some situation but it bites me when he is not around..
So how do you know which ratio rockers you need?
So how do you know which ratio rockers you need?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 691
Likes: 1
From: gilboa ny
Lol that part of my info is 25 years out of date. Back then rollers were an expensive vanity choice and if you wanted more lift you bought a lumpier cam!
The roller rockers in the engine of my new project car were an unattainable daydream last time I put a wrench to the insides of an engine!
Tech has changed Im sure someone can give you a better answer
The roller rockers in the engine of my new project car were an unattainable daydream last time I put a wrench to the insides of an engine!
Tech has changed Im sure someone can give you a better answer
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Easton pennsylvania
Lol that part of my info is 25 years out of date. Back then rollers were an expensive vanity choice and if you wanted more lift you bought a lumpier cam!
The roller rockers in the engine of my new project car were an unattainable daydream last time I put a wrench to the insides of an engine!
Tech has changed Im sure someone can give you a better answer
The roller rockers in the engine of my new project car were an unattainable daydream last time I put a wrench to the insides of an engine!
Tech has changed Im sure someone can give you a better answer
Naa. 1 out of 2 isnt bad. HaHa.
About 15 years ago, my old next door neighbor tried teaching me all about cars. I got through most of the mechanics but when it came time for the motor building, Imy mind was on to Girls 101....
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 5
From: Naperville Illinois
...I've never put anything like this together but I imagine you could wipe a lobe real easy if you weren't careful about your choices--maybe the guys who build a lot of these things could comment?
>>never mind, I was talking about small blocks, I just looked at your avatar and see you have a BB
Last edited by Rally68; Jan 23, 2012 at 01:42 PM.
