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Old Aug 14, 2014 | 03:38 PM
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Default Roller rockers

Does anyone know why GM never put roller tip rockers in the LS1 engines. Is it worth the upgrade to roller tip rockers?
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Old Aug 14, 2014 | 05:07 PM
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Not needed. The roller tips slide, they don't roll. The stock heads also have powder metal guides which won't wear like a bronze guide so the wipe pattern is less critical. The stock rockers are also very light requiring less valve spring to maintain valve control. Only time I would switch to a roller tip rocker is high valve lift from an aftermarket cam or aftermarket heads with bronze guides.
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Old Aug 14, 2014 | 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by DKTK56
Does anyone know why GM never put roller tip rockers in the LS1 engines. Is it worth the upgrade to roller tip rockers?
If you had the time/inclination, you might want to install the CompCams rocker trunnion upgrade kit.
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Old Aug 14, 2014 | 07:12 PM
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Easy stuff to install
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Old Aug 14, 2014 | 07:18 PM
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I have a 610 lift cam supporting 450 RWHP and utilize the stock rockers. I agree, the comp cams trunion upgrade is excellent.
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Old Aug 14, 2014 | 09:30 PM
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I want to Thank everyone for the input.
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 08:00 AM
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Originally Posted by DKTK56
I want to Thank everyone for the input.




That's what we're here for!!
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 09:30 AM
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Trunion upgrade kit won't stop what happened to me in post #6 of my yella terra rockers install. https://www.corvetteforum.com/c5-tec...r-install.html
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 11:53 AM
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How did that rocker jump out of the saddle in the pedestal?
Any clue? Seems like the bolt would have to be loose, or was apart at one time and not reassembled correctly.

Those factory pedestals are like $5 new.

Ron
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
Not needed. The roller tips slide, they don't roll. The stock heads also have powder metal guides which won't wear like a bronze guide so the wipe pattern is less critical. The stock rockers are also very light requiring less valve spring to maintain valve control. Only time I would switch to a roller tip rocker is high valve lift from an aftermarket cam or aftermarket heads with bronze guides.

That pretty much sums it up....

.
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by RonSSNova
How did that rocker jump out of the saddle in the pedestal?
Any clue? Seems like the bolt would have to be loose, or was apart at one time and not reassembled correctly.

Those factory pedestals are like $5 new.

Ron
bolt was tight. The saddle itself twisted. The rocker did not jump out.

only idea is the previous owner did autocrossing. So the constant high rpm the motor would stay at is my guess to it twisting.

why would i want to spend 5 bucks to have it potentially happen again?
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 01:22 PM
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In a recent issue of Hot rod magazine , they help out a C5 owner with long term problems on his boosted engine .

One of his problems was the added mass of roller rockers was limiting rev's high in his power band. They go through the guys valve train , you might find the article entertaining, I did. It restates what has been posted here, but with pictures and more story.

I think the copy is off the newstands by now, it had a cover with barn finds and a picture of of an old beat down buick or oldsmobile, if I remember correctly. If I found crap like that in a barn, I would leave it there , just like everyone else except the guy writing about barn finds. I guess the pickin's are slim .
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 02:30 PM
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And guess whose rockers they clearly showed in the article?
Called them brand X offshore rockers.
I laughed out loud. And I bet the manufacturer was pissed!
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 03:10 PM
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would like to find the article. been looking online.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 04:07 PM
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http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/1408_hot_rod_to_the_rescue_ls7_fuel_syst em_fix/
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 04:42 PM
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Over time, Ive learned that you should replace that rocker pedestal when you install a new cam or if you start seeing the rockers off center on the valve. They are pretty inexpensive and can cause you all sorts of valve noises and issues.

Bill
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 04:59 PM
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Doesn't someone make nice machined steel ones?
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 05:33 PM
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let's see
1. wrong ratio rockers (weird they would make a 1.7 for a LS7 when it is 1.8 stock)
2. 5 year old springs not able to control the valve train
3. wrong length pushrods (by .200 too long. that's huge)
4. they went with titatnium retainers that are 9 grams lighter than the old ones.

and it was the weight of the rockers that was the problem?? granted i do agree keeping things light helps, but that wasn't the real problem. rockers were only .317 grams heavier over the valve. that's nothing compared to the retainer difference.

Last edited by mrr23; Aug 16, 2014 at 06:03 PM.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by RonSSNova
Doesn't someone make nice machined steel ones?
Jesel makes a beautiful set, but they are over $2K (ouch).


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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 08:33 PM
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he may have been asking about the pedestal stands.
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