Roller Rockers in Stock

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

Why are so many against this ?
There's no real performance advantage ( ok... 3 HP )
I for one, welcome this with open valve covers.
My engine will damage a stamped steel rocker on the intake side, about every 4 runs.
Last year, I put on a set of rollers, with intention of going to Edmonton ( IHRA )
Engine is absolutely trouble free since then.

[Jim Kaekel]

I'm personally against because of the added expense to upgrade. I already spent a fair amount of money to get the stock stuff to work, and now they (NHRA) turn around and legalize roller rockers. To update my Olds, I'll have to get guide plates, screw-in studs and new hardened pushrods as well. Plus, it's just one step closer to Super Stock.

[Chuck Beach]

Originally Posted by Jim Kaekel

I'm personally against because of the added expense to upgrade. I already spent a fair amount of money to get the stock stuff to work, and now they (NHRA) turn around and legalize roller rockers. To update my Olds, I'll have to get guide plates, screw-in studs and new hardened pushrods as well. Plus, it's just one step closer to Super Stock.

Jim your car already runs like a Super Stocker ...

[442OLDS]

Originally Posted by chuck beach

jim your car already runs like a super stocker ...

x2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[442OLDS]

Maybe now they will legalize the Olds Edelbrock head for Stock,since they are already allowed on some Fords and Chebbies?


Olds Edelbrock Head:


ROCKER ARMS: Roller rocker arms are required- stock
rocker arms will not fit!

And before anyone thinks that I am for these changes,I am NOT!

Anybody needing Edelbrock heads,roller rockers,metric 200 trans (in cars that never came with one),trick lifters,etc should have been put in Super Stock LONG ago!

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

I agree, Alan....
It' these ridiculous intake lobes on this camshaft !!!!!!!!

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Aubrey N Bruneau

I agree, Alan....
It' these ridiculous intake lobes on this camshaft !!!!!!!!

Aubrey, I doubt yours are any wilder than ours. If you're breaking rocker arms, and you upgraded as we discussed a while back, then you have some sort of control problem, I'd bet it is costing you horsepower. If the lobe is so radical you can't control the valvetrain, I'd be surprised if it is making as much horsepower as it could be.

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Aubrey, I doubt yours are any wilder than ours. If you're breaking rocker arms, and you upgraded as we discussed a while back, then you have some sort of control problem, I'd bet it is costing you horsepower. If the lobe is so radical you can't control the valvetrain, I'd be surprised if it is making as much horsepower as it could be.

Exactly what I was told...5-6 years ago...when I was running 10.50 - 10.60's in D/S...by those that were 3 tenths slower than me.
It's almost funny. You guys will scream about roller rockers but not one of you are screaming about $850 BBC rockers with 9/16" studs or $500 to $850 Tool steel or Schubeck / Smith lifters. And the $950+ billet steel cam cores on 50mm or 55mm journals are silently ignored.
Maybe, just maybe, those with the exotic stuff, don't want the little guy that can't afford the trick stuff to "catch up" with the allowance of roller rockers or their $89 lifters and $150 camshafts?
Any of you break a rocker in eliminations at a NHRA national event? I have. Lucky it was my bye run into the semi-finals. Had there been somebody in the other lane, I would not have made it to the finals. And lucky I had my bucket of spares with me too. My runner up finish was over $5,000 in winnings. I don't think $279 rockers sound like a lot of money when stamped rockers breaking can keep you out of the next round.
And I'm sorry, but NHRA didn't allow crate motor factory Super Stockers in Stock 30 years ago either.
Allowing standard $279 Crane Gold type rockers in Stock is actually good for the little guy. And so are a set of solid lifters with EDM hole oiling for around $89 over the $850 composite lifters and $950 billet cams.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Aubrey N Bruneau

Why are so many against this ?
There's no real performance advantage ( ok... 3 HP )
I for one, welcome this with open valve covers.
My engine will damage a stamped steel rocker on the intake side, about every 4 runs.
Last year, I put on a set of rollers, with intention of going to Edmonton ( IHRA )
Engine is absolutely trouble free since then.

Aubrey, if you're damaging a stamped rocker every 3-4 runs, you have a serious problem, and the roller rockers are merely a band aid. How many passes do you have since the roller rockers were installed?

Do you have an old Chevrolet Power Manual? If you do, go back and read the section on valvetrain for the big block Chevy, since your valvetrain is very similar. Pay particular attention to the part about roller rockers and 7/16" rocker studs with high valvespring pressures.

I think we figured up we had about 500 passes on our original rockers when we replaced them. They did not have an insert welded in them, I polished the burr off of the pierced hole over the pushrod cup. We eventually wore the rockers out, the tips, balls and ball seats were just worn out. We ran near 550# open pressure, and turned 7700 or more in the lights every pass.

[treessavoy]

Simple question: does adding roller rockers make the car any faster?

That is the defining question.

JimR