Roller rockers....worth it??
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Instructor
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From: Austin TX
Roller rockers....worth it??
While im looking at replacing some springs and intake....What about adding in some roller rockers....hehe. What are you guys running/suggest/hate? Ive been eyeballing the harland sharps. Thanks again. :flag
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
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Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (jaggeedfire)
If you are planning on building an engine that is going to see 6000+ alot then go for it, but for a 5500 normal engine seems to me they arent really all that necessary. Of course I may be in the minority.
Le Mans Master
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (Guru_4_hire)
Guru: I agree 100%. Lots of other stuff more beneficial than roller rockers for a street engine.
Considering Chevy used STANDARD rockers on their L-88 and other hot engines, and they put out well over 500 horsepower with them, I don't see them as being all that essential for a street engine. Put on a roller rocker maker decal and tell everyone you've got them. Works just as good ;)
Dep
Considering Chevy used STANDARD rockers on their L-88 and other hot engines, and they put out well over 500 horsepower with them, I don't see them as being all that essential for a street engine. Put on a roller rocker maker decal and tell everyone you've got them. Works just as good ;)
Dep
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
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Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (Dep)
if you have say a 350 circle track engine which spends most of its time in the 7-8K range, you might want the roller rockers and maybe an oil cooler to keep the oil temperature down.
I am not really sure if they do much past keep oil temps down, and maybe just maybe less mass on the valve train.
To me those needle bearings seem just like one more thing to break.
I am not really sure if they do much past keep oil temps down, and maybe just maybe less mass on the valve train.
To me those needle bearings seem just like one more thing to break.
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From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (jaggeedfire)
These daze it depends on the cam lift...for the taller the life the more deflecton/side loading presented to the valve guides..mostly eliminated with roller rockers, and less friction to the valve train....which is more important at high rpm's than lo...BUT that side loading of the rocker over the valve stem tip is another thing allways there, and accentuated....
now with a roller cam you can get less duration and higher lift angles, more lift...and so having a roller cam it only makes sense to have roller rockers...
but if you have a mild flat tappet cam...save your bux....
the BBs at 500 hp are not all that radical....close, but still maybe not needing a roller cam/rockers....don't forget they are 454 ci....so the hp/ci ratio is not all that demanding.....
I have roller rockers, because the rest is roller, ahd a fairly high lift....so having spend the money, well why NOT???
GENE
now with a roller cam you can get less duration and higher lift angles, more lift...and so having a roller cam it only makes sense to have roller rockers...
but if you have a mild flat tappet cam...save your bux....
the BBs at 500 hp are not all that radical....close, but still maybe not needing a roller cam/rockers....don't forget they are 454 ci....so the hp/ci ratio is not all that demanding.....
I have roller rockers, because the rest is roller, ahd a fairly high lift....so having spend the money, well why NOT???
GENE
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (mrvette)
mrvette/GENE: I wasn't talking about the NEW big blocks. I was referring to the 427 L-88/ZL-1. They are/were WELL OVER 500 HP using stock rockers and a fairly radical solid lifter cam. Yes, a set of roller rockers would be beneficial if you are consistently reaching the upper limits of RPM. And certainly, if you have a roller cam, you HAVE to have roller rockers. But a lot of this big $$$ high tech gizmos people install are just keeping parts houses happy and not adding any major benefit to an engine that is used mainly on the street. I suspect because the new engines (EXCEPT for Vettes) are going to roller rockers, many folks feel they are being "left out" or somehow handicapped with standard rockers. One option that DOES exist and is a lot less than full roller rockers is the roller-tipped rockers. These also have the benefit of being able to be used under stock valve covers. I plan on them for my big block build.
Dep
[Modified by Dep, 4:09 PM 10/25/2003]
Dep
[Modified by Dep, 4:09 PM 10/25/2003]
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From: Forked River NJ
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (Dep)
Roller rockersare not needed until open spring pressure is approaching 350 pounds. This is where roller cams are usually running. If you have an aggresive roller cam yes you need them. Other than that spend your money on something that will help out your HP. They will add a couple of HP but for your dollar there are better HP builders. I am running 300 pound open pressure with double springs and am running a roller tip and my motor sees 6500 a lot and 7000 on occasion. If it is setup correctly they will work fine. My brother in law ran his 302 to 8000 all the time with stock steel rockers and never missed a beat. Some disagree with me on this but that is my .02 cents.
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
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Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (Gordonm)
I mean do want to add a rocker arm that has the feature "rebuildable" in it. this translates to me into "Will break."
Drifting
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From: Manchester, Dead Center in the Middle of TN 25 miles to Jack Daniels,10 miles to Geo Dickle, and .8 mile from the Liquor Store at I-24 Exit 114
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (Guru_4_hire)
What Gordon said is true, but remember they also drasticly cut friction and friction cost HP. The std. rocker arms are probably the largest producer of friction in an engine. I have read the report on this and can't quote the ammount but, the oil temp was also greatly reduced just by going to the roller rockers.
The 385 Fastburn will go from 385 to 410 HP on the Dyno by just adding 1:6 ratio rockers. I do realize that this changes them from 1:5 to 1:6, but the majority of the HP comes from cutting the friction. Jim
The 385 Fastburn will go from 385 to 410 HP on the Dyno by just adding 1:6 ratio rockers. I do realize that this changes them from 1:5 to 1:6, but the majority of the HP comes from cutting the friction. Jim
Drifting
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From: Shore NJ
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (PROSOUTH)
:iagree: I plan on changing the standard rockers with roller rockers this fall with 1.52 lift. Even though I still have the OEM cam in the engine less friction means more HP....But with the help of Gordonm looks like I won't have that OEM cam for long! :lolg:
Le Mans Master
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (PROSOUTH)
JIM: Take a look at the original poster's engine. Maybe with a full blast race engine you would see that dramatic gain. But this guys engine is barely warmed up. There are other much more effective changes that can be made for much more noticeable gains before going to roller rockers. Plus they DO have a much shorter lifespan than stock or roller-tip rockers. Hardly a modification that is worth the $$$ spent.
Dep
Dep
Drifting
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From: Manchester, Dead Center in the Middle of TN 25 miles to Jack Daniels,10 miles to Geo Dickle, and .8 mile from the Liquor Store at I-24 Exit 114
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (Dep)
JIM: Take a look at the original poster's engine. Maybe with a full blast race engine you would see that dramatic gain. But this guys engine is barely warmed up. There are other much more effective changes that can be made for much more noticeable gains before going to roller rockers. Plus they DO have a much shorter lifespan than stock or roller-tip rockers. Hardly a modification that is worth the $$$ spent.
Dep
DEP your point is taken and to a degree I concur, but if we used that logic in all of the modifications we currently are in process of we probably wouldn't be doing any of them. Kinda like all of the extra bucks a friend of mine is spending to buy an aluminum block. He could probably gain a lot more HP spending that money somewhere else.
I think the engine is warmed enough to benefit from a set of 1:6 roller rockers. However, I do see the opportunity for several other upgrades as you state that would provide as much or more to advance the performance of the engine.
New Baby,The 383 forged stroker crank and 6"H-beam rods came in Friday, looks like a new baby has just been conceived. It will go into the Malibu coupe with maybe a twin turbo on top. The next long term project after the Vette.
Jim:lol:
Dep
DEP your point is taken and to a degree I concur, but if we used that logic in all of the modifications we currently are in process of we probably wouldn't be doing any of them. Kinda like all of the extra bucks a friend of mine is spending to buy an aluminum block. He could probably gain a lot more HP spending that money somewhere else.
I think the engine is warmed enough to benefit from a set of 1:6 roller rockers. However, I do see the opportunity for several other upgrades as you state that would provide as much or more to advance the performance of the engine.
New Baby,The 383 forged stroker crank and 6"H-beam rods came in Friday, looks like a new baby has just been conceived. It will go into the Malibu coupe with maybe a twin turbo on top. The next long term project after the Vette.
Jim:lol:
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From: I'm bleeding, making me the victor!
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (jaggeedfire)
It really all depends on the size of your wallet. They will help to reduce some friction, and I think that every little bit adds up. You would be better off putting that same money towards a roller cam setup, IMHO.
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From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (jaggeedfire)
One other reason to change out the stock rocker arms is that they can very is actual ratio. After market rockers have tighter variance standards. Just to head off a Dep attack, no I have never done a study myself but I have read this info in few books and magazine articles.
Le Mans Master
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (PROSOUTH)
JIM: My buddy is putting a 383 in his car too! I like the idea of a front mounted distributor, although seeing it laying sideways IS kinda strange.
But the big valve heads he is using and all the other aftermarket and factory stuff available for it make it a nice swap. Sure better than the smallblock he had in his car. So what MOPAR body style do you have? :)
Dep
But the big valve heads he is using and all the other aftermarket and factory stuff available for it make it a nice swap. Sure better than the smallblock he had in his car. So what MOPAR body style do you have? :)
Dep
Le Mans Master
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Re: Roller rockers....worth it?? (Fevre)
"One other reason to change out the stock rocker arms is that they can very is actual ratio."
Hmmmm...now where did I recently read that EXACT same message. Let me just look up a few posts. Ahhhh...there it is....
"The 385 Fastburn will go from 385 to 410 HP on the Dyno by just adding 1:6 ratio rockers....Jim"
Oh well...one man's explaination is another man's extra star :lol: :lol: :lol:
Dep
:lol:
Hmmmm...now where did I recently read that EXACT same message. Let me just look up a few posts. Ahhhh...there it is....
"The 385 Fastburn will go from 385 to 410 HP on the Dyno by just adding 1:6 ratio rockers....Jim"
Oh well...one man's explaination is another man's extra star :lol: :lol: :lol:
Dep
:lol: