LT1 rockers, self aligning or not??
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LT1 rockers, self aligning or not??
OK, my stock LT1 heads have guide plates, but I'm reading that the LT4 hotcam kit uses self-aligning rockers. Does that mean the guide plates must be removed? If I'm only buying rockers, should I get non-aligning rockers?
Confused....
Confused....
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Charleston SC
For almost the exact amount you can get 7/16 studs, guideplates and harden pushrods with non-self alinging rockers. I went this way because if I ever need to replace the rockers I have a lot more choices and they will be cheaper.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Charleston SC
I don't know about all valve covers but there is a diference. The Pro-Mags use larger trunions and the problem is not with hitting the top but rather they hit the baffles. The cranes fit better and require no mods other then the drip tabs you already removed. The Pro-Mags are not that big a deal to get in there and here is a link to better explain.
http://www.hotss.com/Members/scott_vaca/pro-mag.htm
http://www.hotss.com/Members/scott_vaca/pro-mag.htm
Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by ztrips
OK, my stock LT1 heads have guide plates, but I'm reading that the LT4 hotcam kit uses self-aligning rockers. Does that mean the guide plates must be removed? If I'm only buying rockers, should I get non-aligning rockers?
Confused....
Confused....
Thread Starter
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Mine I guess... 1992. It had them on there when I took the heads off. No indication that the previous owned put them in. Factory cam, lifters, pushrods, why add guide plates... I've heard that GM used guide plates with self-aligning rockers to make assembly easier. Not sure if there is any truth to that...
Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by ztrips
Mine I guess... 1992. It had them on there when I took the heads off. No indication that the previous owned put them in. Factory cam, lifters, pushrods, why add guide plates... I've heard that GM used guide plates with self-aligning rockers to make assembly easier. Not sure if there is any truth to that...
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Safety Car
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From: VA
Originally Posted by ztrips
I've heard that GM used guide plates with self-aligning rockers to make assembly easier. Not sure if there is any truth to that...
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
What LT1 ever had guide plates stock?
The purpose of the guide-plates was to hold the push rods in position until the rockers were put on.
The later LT1 engines had heads with smaller holes in them that supported the push rods until the rockers were assembled.
So, the early LT1 heads are different than the later LT1 heads.
My '92 LT1 came from the factory with guide plates and self-aligning rocker arms.
Tom Piper
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From: Lake Lure NC
Originally Posted by Tom Piper
The early LT1 engines had guide plates from the factory -- they also have self-aligning rocker arms.
The purpose of the guide-plates was to hold the push rods in position until the rockers were put on.
The later LT1 engines had heads with smaller holes in them that supported the push rods until the rockers were assembled.
So, the early LT1 heads are different than the later LT1 heads.
My '92 LT1 came from the factory with guide plates and self-aligning rocker arms.
Tom Piper
The purpose of the guide-plates was to hold the push rods in position until the rockers were put on.
The later LT1 engines had heads with smaller holes in them that supported the push rods until the rockers were assembled.
So, the early LT1 heads are different than the later LT1 heads.
My '92 LT1 came from the factory with guide plates and self-aligning rocker arms.
Tom Piper
Everything he said. My 92 had guide plates as well stock.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Charleston SC
Originally Posted by fixit
The link mentioned for modifying valve covers deals with the older metal covers, what the h-ll do you have to do with the plastic covers????
Here are some pics of what I had to remove, notice i only had to mod one side (The side the R/R trunions sat on.
Pro
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From: Syracuse Utah
The LT1s that came with guide plates are not really guide plates. Like Tom Piper said, they are factory guides to hold the push rods in place during assembly, but they are not real guide plates in that they are loose fitting and they are not hardened. It makes no sense to put real guide plates on heads with self-aligning rockers because they will conflict with each other and cause premature wear. One will be forcing the push rod into the other. That is why the ones you have (if they are true factory pieces) will be loose fitting, because they are meant to hold things in place for assembly and not to actually align and hold the rods. I suggest you stick with the self-aligning rockers and don't worry about the assembly plates. Hope this helps.
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Originally Posted by Hotred94
The LT1s that came with guide plates are not really guide plates. Like Tom Piper said, they are factory guides to hold the push rods in place during assembly, but they are not real guide plates in that they are loose fitting and they are not hardened. It makes no sense to put real guide plates on heads with self-aligning rockers because they will conflict with each other and cause premature wear. One will be forcing the push rod into the other. That is why the ones you have (if they are true factory pieces) will be loose fitting, because they are meant to hold things in place for assembly and not to actually align and hold the rods. I suggest you stick with the self-aligning rockers and don't worry about the assembly plates. Hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by fixit
The link mentioned for modifying valve covers deals with the older metal covers, what the h-ll do you have to do with the plastic covers????
