roller rockers
 

Just curious if anybody has changed to roller rockers and noticed any real world improvement in performance (specifically decreased flexing and or horsepower improvement) or durability over oem type rockers. This is on a Pontiac stocker application, but Chevrolet input is also appreciated. Send me a PM if you prefer. Thanks, Ron.

Re: roller rockers
 

We just went to a roller rocker (Comp Cams Stainless) after putting 4 pushrods through the stamped steel rocker push rod pocket. Also damaged 4 Shubeck lifters. Also had to change the push rods because the length changes with the new rocker arms. Will have the car out next weekend and will let you know if we pick up some HP.

Re: roller rockers
 

we haven't seen any significant performance changes. We just wanted some piece of mind after punching a few stamped steel ones. we just have some basic Harland Sharps .

Re: roller rockers
 

We went with the Comp Cams Stainless rockers for two reasons, they are more durable than aluminum and they are rebuildable. They are a bit heavier than aluminum but aluminum fatigues and can break over time. I couldn't get the stories of aluminum rockers breaking and spilling roller bearings into the motor out of my head so, we went with the stainless for piece of mind.
I'm sure the better billet rockers don't have that problem as much as they once did.

Re: roller rockers
 

Ron, you have a PM............

Re: roller rockers
 

Dave, you have a pm.

Re: roller rockers
 

I have tried them all.
It’s interesting with the exact same peak lift my Holroyd ones are faster than my Harland-Sharp ones. Just a matter of the geometry of a stamped steel rocker vs. a roller rocker producing a different lift curve. I’ve never broken one of the Holroyd’s or Harland Sharp (knock on wood). I used to break the same punched steel ones all the time before I had Holroyd modify them for me. Only roller rockers I have ever broke were Crane on a big block Mopar. On that after changing to T&D I never had another problem.

Re: roller rockers
 

Thanks to all who replied here and PM's and to Randy Jr. at HarlandSharp. Bill, did the standard Harland Sharps (s6001) check the same max lift as the oems/Holroyd (ie same ratio or slightly higher) ? Anybody else notice any difference in their max lift after changing to roller rockers?Thanks, Ron.

Re: roller rockers
 

Harland Sharp produced higher lift, a shorter pushrod was required. Even the modified punched steel ones still flex.

Re: roller rockers
 

Thanks, Bill, any particulars (how much more lift and how much shorter pushrods?). Also, were the Harland Sharp rockers the standard ones, diamond series, or HD ones? PM me if you prefer. Thanks, Ron.

Re: roller rockers
 

Comp Cams has a new Ultra Pro Magnum Series chrome moly steel rocker that uses a 1/2"-20 stud, for the big block and small block Chevy. It is the result of some serious efforts by Tim Cole and myself since the roller rocker rule was announced. The new rocker accepts an ARP Pro Series rocker stud that is 1/2"-20 on top as opposed to 7/16"-20, made exclusively for Comp Cams by ARP. The rockers are rebuildable, and the body is guaranteed for life against breakage.

Re: roller rockers
 

My numbers in relation to your situation are totally irrelevant unless everything was exactly the same including seat pressure/spring combo, same stamped steel rockers, head geometry, deck height etc. I’m not sure that Pontiac made these heads all that accurate; I have a couple different sets of 6x heads that are supposedly prepped identically but require different pushrod lengths. That leads me to believe the rocker stud placement is not all that accurate. So what I can tell you is that in my case they produced 0.007 more lift and took almost 1/10” reduction in pushrod length. The Rockers are just the S6001 that’s all you need with your combo, its low lift and low RPM.

Re: roller rockers
 

Thanks for your input, Bill. I understand that apples should only be compared to other apples and not pears, but your real world experience was exactly what I was looking for pertaining to ratio and flex. Thanks again, Ron.