1.6 RR's
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Austin Texas
1.6 RR's
Installed them, 12370839, on the 93. I felt remorse about grinding the drip tabs off the valve covers, those were probably the result of some engineer's PhD thesis. Hopefully he'll not be coming up with any more bright ideas anytime soon.
No spring change, engine has 99k. I figured if the valve train can't tolerate another 30 thousandths then it deserves to die anyhow. So far no problems, just a very evident raw torque increase at the wheels. I can no longer operate with the ASR on and go heavy on the gas without the system activating and the rear wheels have surrendered any hopes of having any grip. Manifold vacuum at idle (800) is 19.5 & @ 1500 is 21.5 in. The vehicle definitely requires less gas pedal depression to maintain a steady speed than it required even yesterday. I would have never expected this much increase in performance. Plus, the "puny" 22 lb Bosch III apparently were no bottleneck, since this performance increase occurred in their presence.
No spring change, engine has 99k. I figured if the valve train can't tolerate another 30 thousandths then it deserves to die anyhow. So far no problems, just a very evident raw torque increase at the wheels. I can no longer operate with the ASR on and go heavy on the gas without the system activating and the rear wheels have surrendered any hopes of having any grip. Manifold vacuum at idle (800) is 19.5 & @ 1500 is 21.5 in. The vehicle definitely requires less gas pedal depression to maintain a steady speed than it required even yesterday. I would have never expected this much increase in performance. Plus, the "puny" 22 lb Bosch III apparently were no bottleneck, since this performance increase occurred in their presence.
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From: Austin Texas
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Austin Texas
Stock springs are wholly adequate for a 0.030 increase in lift for an engine that doesn't rev beyond OEM pre-set. For the doubting Thomases, get a vacuum gauge, connect it and rev the motor. A vacuum gauge is probably the single most versatile piece of diagnostic equipment for detecting valve train issues.
Safety Car
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From: Sandhills of North Carolina
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From: Austin Texas
I think with higher-than-stock rpms, one needs different springs but my car won't see anything over stock rev limit. I make this choice for reliability as I don't want to join the club of guys with spun bearings. I got two sets of heads from guys with spun rod bearings recently, and now a third one locally has a 96 vette LT1 he's getting rid of for the same reason. I wonder why all the rod bearing failures ?
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From: Austin Texas
looks like they're stainless steel. Those are the best in terms of long-term lack of fatigue under stressing conditions. I put a set of crowers on my 454SS truck to keep guide wear minimized. Dont overlook to clean the gunk out of the fins on your heat sink for the coil / module. when mine quit, the fins were clogged with grime so air couldn't pass through. Those rockers look nice. It looks like you've also got the GM lightweight spring retainers but I could be wrong. If anybody cares, I weighed the "lightweight" GM LT4 retainers versus the stockers for LT1. The difference ? A measley 0.3 grams !!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Metairie Louisiana
^^^^^
The headers are Exotic Muscle Long Tube's. Thanks for the heads up on the coil heatsink fins. I believe I cleaned it before I put it all back together.
The springs, locks, seals, retainers, and bases I bought as a kit for $250. Patriot Gold Extreme.
Here's some more of the rockers. These were also $250.
All of the above was part of my recent cam install.
The headers are Exotic Muscle Long Tube's. Thanks for the heads up on the coil heatsink fins. I believe I cleaned it before I put it all back together.
The springs, locks, seals, retainers, and bases I bought as a kit for $250. Patriot Gold Extreme.
Here's some more of the rockers. These were also $250.
All of the above was part of my recent cam install.
Last edited by rickneworleansla; Apr 3, 2009 at 11:12 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: West Chester PA
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '25
Rick, great writeup and pictures. Did you replace rocker studs, if so, to what? And did you have to modify valve covers to make the RR's fit? Thnaks for the advice.
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From: Austin Texas
^^^^^
The headers are Exotic Muscle Long Tube's. Thanks for the heads up on the coil heatsink fins. I believe I cleaned it before I put it all back together.
The springs, locks, seals, retainers, and bases I bought as a kit for $250. Patriot Gold Extreme.
Here's some more of the rockers. These were also $250.
All of the above was part of my recent cam install.
The headers are Exotic Muscle Long Tube's. Thanks for the heads up on the coil heatsink fins. I believe I cleaned it before I put it all back together.
The springs, locks, seals, retainers, and bases I bought as a kit for $250. Patriot Gold Extreme.
Here's some more of the rockers. These were also $250.
All of the above was part of my recent cam install.
That looks like a nice spring compressor. Can I inquire as to what brand it is - I need one like that, not the junk in the parts stores.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Metairie Louisiana
http://www.golenengineservice.com/ht...html#valvecmod
I used 7/16 ARP rocker studs.
Since these are NSA roller rockers I had to use guideplates. The guideplates are trickflow.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
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From: Metairie Louisiana
The spring compressor I used is a Moroso. It was a little expensive but it does 7/16, 3/8, and shaft mount rockers(with extra adaptor). It was much much easier than the rented overhead spring compressor I initially tried to use. The overhead type was unable to do the dual coil springs.
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From: Austin Texas
The rr's are rebuildable. Thats probably why the clips are there.
The spring compressor I used is a Moroso. It was a little expensive but it does 7/16, 3/8, and shaft mount rockers(with extra adaptor). It was much much easier than the rented overhead spring compressor I initially tried to use. The overhead type was unable to do the dual coil springs.
The spring compressor I used is a Moroso. It was a little expensive but it does 7/16, 3/8, and shaft mount rockers(with extra adaptor). It was much much easier than the rented overhead spring compressor I initially tried to use. The overhead type was unable to do the dual coil springs.
My car spins the tires in 2nd gear now if I stomp on it. Never did that before and the only change was the RR's. Tires were new last year and aren't worn much.
Yet....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,384
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From: West Chester PA
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '25
And this is why I love this Forum, everything you need to know from a guy who did it. Another great solution that goes into my library of "how to do things for Dummies". You are a good man Rick, thanks again.
Another great solution that goes into my library of "how to do things for Dummies". You are a good man Rick, thanks again.