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when to upgrade stock rockers?

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Old 08-19-2012, 10:57 PM
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Default when to upgrade stock rockers?

I read that the stock rockers were not designed for anymore than .550 lift. So what about .600 or more lift....what then?

Just trying to educate myself here before making any decisions.
Old 08-19-2012, 11:31 PM
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When you get to higher lift cams, a good roller rocker will perform better. They will keep the valves from deflecting and keep the tip of the rocker more centered on the valve tip.

Last edited by sepsis; 08-21-2012 at 10:03 PM.
Old 08-20-2012, 06:28 AM
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I think you abandon stock rockers when the cam you are going to run requires open spring pressures in excess of about 400 pounds, or you have aftermarket heads with bronze valve guides.
Old 08-20-2012, 10:02 AM
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.646/.651 on stockers here
Old 08-20-2012, 10:12 AM
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.624/.624 and 8,000 rpms here on stock rockers with the upgrade....if running a bronze valve guide you definetly want to upgrade to a good roller rock, and if you do do it, do your self the favor of only doing it once and spend the $1,500 on Jesel or the like
Old 08-20-2012, 10:15 AM
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as said above the lift is fine i run .605 in my daily driver ive got well over 5k miles on it with no issues and i beat on it as well with around 6700 rpm shifts.......to confirm above yes bronze guides require roller tip rockers or they will wear VERY fast
Old 08-20-2012, 12:14 PM
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The bronze guides wear out fast with stock rockers because the stock rockers on high lift causes a lot of valve deflection. Powdered metal guides will be needed with the stock rockers.

Last edited by sepsis; 08-21-2012 at 10:18 AM.
Old 08-20-2012, 03:33 PM
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how many have had first hand experience with stock rockers wearing the bronze guides? How much lift/RPMs/miles did you have on the setup?
Old 08-20-2012, 04:32 PM
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I have over 250,000 miles on a set of stock rockers. Its a dailey driver and I have used 2 different cams. One with a lift of .588 the other with .598 lift. Car makes 542/418 I've never had a problem with stock rockers, the valve train, or valve guides. If I was going to run higher than .600 lift I would go to roller rockers.
Old 08-21-2012, 01:10 AM
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thanks for the info
Old 08-21-2012, 07:16 AM
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upgrade when,high mile,high rpms,high lift,bronze guides.
Old 08-21-2012, 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by RezinTexas
how many have had first hand experience with stock rockers wearing the bronze guides? How much lift/RPMs/miles did you have on the setup?
Brian Tooley has posted his findings more than once on this subject.
Old 08-21-2012, 08:39 PM
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Is their a point where lift necessitates a roller rocker?
Old 08-21-2012, 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by TT427
Is their a point where lift necessitates a roller rocker?
I personally use .630" as the break point to use roller rockers when using 15 degree rockers, the OEM 12 degree rockers can go .660" or so. I've seen numerous heads with high lift cams using stock rockers end up with damaged valve tips.

Heavier roller rockers require more spring pressure and more pushrod.

I would rather run less lift, stock rockers, less open spring pressure and standard pushrods. Most times the difference in power between .620" lift with stock rockers and lower spring pressure, compared to .650" lift with roller rockers and higher spring pressure, is negligible.

I just had a turbo car go 135 mph in the 1/8 with stock rockers and my Platinum springs, .620ish lift and gentle ramp lobes.
Old 08-22-2012, 02:56 AM
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Brian, you haven't seen any advantages to the lower rolling resistance of a roller rocker vs stock rocker? I know Tony Mamo and PatG both have advocated for this in the past, but I haven't seen any hard numbers to back it up.

Personally, I wouldn't mind running the Yella Terra Ultralites with your max pressure springs and some 11/16" pushrods and Morels even with a smooth lobe like the EPS or LSL
Old 05-01-2022, 05:06 AM
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hi guys sorry to just jump on here,
i’m new to all this so i’m a little lost.
I’m in the process of having an LS1 rebuilt and i thought some mild upgrades would be nice whilst it’s apart. I was looking at the Brian Tooley stage one cam kit, and upgrading my rockers to the trunion stock ones. Would this work? I’m in the UK and we get hammered with shipping and taxes so trying to find a compromise on performance and cost. I’ve already had to buy all new suspension, brakes, T56 and 4:11 LSD for my 75 firebird, plus loads of other stuff too. I had to import this motor from florida to the uk.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated
Old 05-01-2022, 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by andyedgar1970
hi guys sorry to just jump on here,
i’m new to all this so i’m a little lost.
I’m in the process of having an LS1 rebuilt and i thought some mild upgrades would be nice whilst it’s apart. I was looking at the Brian Tooley stage one cam kit, and upgrading my rockers to the trunion stock ones. Would this work? I’m in the UK and we get hammered with shipping and taxes so trying to find a compromise on performance and cost. I’ve already had to buy all new suspension, brakes, T56 and 4:11 LSD for my 75 firebird, plus loads of other stuff too. I had to import this motor from florida to the uk.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated
Yes that will work. Stock rockers are good for up to about 0.630" lift with a trunnion upgrade.
Old 05-02-2022, 02:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Bob570
Yes that will work. Stock rockers are good for up to about 0.630" lift with a trunnion upgrade.
Hi thanks, i’m now actually going to go with the stage two cam as these are specific for cathedral ports, im also going to get the trunion rocker kit too.
I was also thinking about the fuel delivery so upgrading the injectors and fuel pump, is this a good idea? would i be looking at 36lb injectors? and what fuel pump would i need?
Old 05-02-2022, 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by andyedgar1970
I was also thinking about the fuel delivery so upgrading the injectors and fuel pump, is this a good idea? would i be looking at 36lb injectors? and what fuel pump would i need?
You should start a build thread… this is a 10 year old thread about rockers. 😉
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Old 05-02-2022, 03:37 PM
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Definitely agree 👍

Please do a build thread. Your project deserves one.

We like following along too.


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