Yep, what he said.
LT1 and LT4 Rocker arm studs, question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
LT1 and LT4 Rocker arm studs, question
The stud hole on my LT4 heads are 7/16-14 threads. Now comes the question: When buying the GM hot cam kit with roller rockers, what thread will the top of the stud be? 3/8" or 7/16" ? I think the OEM LT4 has 7/16" thread on the top of the rocker stud. Am I right or wrong?
I need to buy rocker studs and need to know what to buy. Thanks guys.
I need to buy rocker studs and need to know what to buy. Thanks guys.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,060
Likes: 1,165
From: N. Alabama
IIRC, when I installed the HOT cam in my LT4 I used the same rockers/studs. No adjustment needed. I did, however, go to adjustable studs when getting the heads ported and going to trick flow push rods and pro comp rockers. I am unfamiliar with the particulars of the 'kit'.
Actually, I still have the studs and rockers that came with the original LT4. They have 127K miles on them but you are welcome to them if you can use them. Perhaps you only need the HOT cam?
Actually, I still have the studs and rockers that came with the original LT4. They have 127K miles on them but you are welcome to them if you can use them. Perhaps you only need the HOT cam?
Last edited by SouthernSon; Aug 23, 2011 at 09:02 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,007
From: Texas
Since you need to buy both rockers and studs, buy what you want....3/8" or 7/16" on the top. All are 7/16" on the bottom.
The nice thing with the 3/8" studs is that you can use self-aligning rocker arms and traditional pushrods. This eliminates the need for guide plates and hardened pushrods.
If you go the 7/16" route, you will need both guide plates and hardened pushrods. This negates the cost savings of non self-aligning arms vs the self-aligning.
If you plan to regularly beat on the engine and add additional power in the future, I would go 7/16". For a basic mild street engine, 3/8" studs are more than sufficient.
The nice thing with the 3/8" studs is that you can use self-aligning rocker arms and traditional pushrods. This eliminates the need for guide plates and hardened pushrods.
If you go the 7/16" route, you will need both guide plates and hardened pushrods. This negates the cost savings of non self-aligning arms vs the self-aligning.
If you plan to regularly beat on the engine and add additional power in the future, I would go 7/16". For a basic mild street engine, 3/8" studs are more than sufficient.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 195
From: folsom california
The LT4 "hot cam" is a drop in direct replacement nothing else needed upgrade for an LT4.
On my LT4, I reused my rockers, studs, lifters, pushrods, the whole enchilada. Only replaced my LT4 valve springs with new LT4 valve springs, installed new valve seals and upgraded my timing chain to an LT4 "extreme duty" chain .
If you don't have an LT4 (too bad) then things do get more complicated.
On my LT4, I reused my rockers, studs, lifters, pushrods, the whole enchilada. Only replaced my LT4 valve springs with new LT4 valve springs, installed new valve seals and upgraded my timing chain to an LT4 "extreme duty" chain .
If you don't have an LT4 (too bad) then things do get more complicated.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
After carefully reading what is in the GM Hot Cam Kit, I found that it includes the rocker arms for a LT1 motor(heads) as the kit is labelled Hot cam kit for LT1s. I could buy LT4 rocker arms and studs from a GM stealership as my heads are true OEM LT4 heads, but the studs from them are 8.99 each! 
I currently have Crane's self alligning roller rockers(1.5 ratio) on my LT1 and they work just fine. As suggested I'll just go with the full hot cam kit and use the supplied parts. Adjusting valves is easy for me. I'm doing a top end swap on my 92 LT1 to the LT4.
I currently have Crane's self alligning roller rockers(1.5 ratio) on my LT1 and they work just fine. As suggested I'll just go with the full hot cam kit and use the supplied parts. Adjusting valves is easy for me. I'm doing a top end swap on my 92 LT1 to the LT4.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
IIRC, when I installed the HOT cam in my LT4 I used the same rockers/studs. No adjustment needed. I did, however, go to adjustable studs when getting the heads ported and going to trick flow push rods and pro comp rockers. I am unfamiliar with the particulars of the 'kit'.
Actually, I still have the studs and rockers that came with the original LT4. They have 127K miles on them but you are welcome to them if you can use them. Perhaps you only need the HOT cam?
Actually, I still have the studs and rockers that came with the original LT4. They have 127K miles on them but you are welcome to them if you can use them. Perhaps you only need the HOT cam?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,060
Likes: 1,165
From: N. Alabama
I don't have the pictures at my present location but perhaps I can get a picture or two to you next week. I also have the 28# injectors that I replaced with 32#'s last Dec. They, too, have 127K miles but were working perfectly. Email me if you like and I'll see what all I may have that might be of use to you.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
I don't have the pictures at my present location but perhaps I can get a picture or two to you next week. I also have the 28# injectors that I replaced with 32#'s last Dec. They, too, have 127K miles but were working perfectly. Email me if you like and I'll see what all I may have that might be of use to you.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,060
Likes: 1,165
From: N. Alabama
Atlanta Center 84-88, went into FSS in Mississippi 88-96, Nashville FSS 96-2005, and, finally, Lockheed Martin FSS 2005-2010 (please don't blame me for LM's total screw up of FSS, we old heads did all we could in spite of LM).
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,007
From: Texas
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
You only need guide plates if you use non self-aligning rocker arms. I ran the HOT Cam for many years on my LT4, swapping out the OEM rocker arms and studs for 3/8" studs and self-aligning rockers in order to gain adjustability. This is what's in the HOT Cam kit, and as such you do not need guide plates.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
We probably talked with each other back then. Again thanks for the offer, but Sat I'm heading to the auto Fair at CLT motor speedway where there are many vendors selling the Hot Cam Kit, I hope.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,007
From: Texas
When I did the HOT Cam swap, the car was pretty mild from an exhaust standpoint and lots of people talked about rocker arm clatter when remaining with the OEM non-adjustable rockers. With that in mind, I figured for an extra couple hundred dollars..."Why not?". 
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
I found that I can use my LT1 magnesium valve covers on the LT4 heads. They fit just fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,337
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
Rocker arm chatter? Hummmm......never hear of that problem on a LT4. Maybe that's why the LT4 has a different knock sensor. My Crane self aligning gold rockers on my LT1 are just as quiet as the stamped arms.
I found that I can use my LT1 magnesium valve covers on the LT4 heads. They fit just fine.
I found that I can use my LT1 magnesium valve covers on the LT4 heads. They fit just fine.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,261
Likes: 85
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Midwest