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Can I do a ROCKERS ONLY upgrade?

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Old Jan 23, 2011 | 11:50 PM
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Default Can I do a ROCKERS ONLY upgrade?

Curious.... can I do a rocker swap only, uprade to 1.8s.... has anyone done a rockers only upgrade.. no cam no nothing else..?

I am completely stock internals with 143k miles...

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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 01:03 AM
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Its possible, but I just wouldn't do it. I don't think youd see a gain worth it without tuning the computer and not only that youre changing the valve train geometry but not factoring in anything else to help fix it. not to mention you MUST change valve springs. I could be wrong though. Hopefully theres someone who has done it and can tell you yea or nea
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 01:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Whiteaw57
Its possible, but I just wouldn't do it. I don't think youd see a gain worth it without tuning the computer and not only that youre changing the valve train geometry but not factoring in anything else to help fix it. not to mention you MUST change valve springs. I could be wrong though. Hopefully theres someone who has done it and can tell you yea or nea

Ok, I have a noisy rocker and was looking into a trunion upgrade but i figured id see if i could upgrade rockers all together... thanks for the info man..
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 01:27 AM
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SLP had the higher ratio rockers they used to sell. I think they were good for 10 or 15 hp. The stock valvesprings are maxed out with the stock set-up though, so you would have to upgrade to a decent beehive spring. Then there is a tuning issue along with that. For all that work, I'd use the rocker money for a cam and keep the stock rockers. Much better way to spend your money. If you have a noisy rocker, look for a set of stockers on the used market or do the trunion upgrade.
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 01:30 AM
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^^^x2 perfect plan. Im not saying it cant be done. and please dont think im bashing the idea, but I dont think it would be efficient, cost effective, or good for the longevity of the motor. Theres just better options
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 01:31 AM
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Originally Posted by 01ssreda4
SLP had the higher ratio rockers they used to sell. I think they were good for 10 or 15 hp. The stock valvesprings are maxed out with the stock set-up though, so you would have to upgrade to a decent beehive spring. Then there is a tuning issue along with that. For all that work, I'd use the rocker money for a cam and keep the stock rockers. Much better way to spend your money. If you have a noisy rocker, look for a set of stockers on the used market or do the trunion upgrade.

thats what im gonna do... trunion DIY here i come...
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 01:34 AM
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Originally Posted by ANTICOP RAM AIR
Curious.... can I do a rocker swap only, uprade to 1.8s.... has anyone done a rockers only upgrade.. no cam no nothing else..?

I am completely stock internals with 143k miles...
Yes, you can do it. I changed to the 1.8 Yella Terra roller rockers because I was worried about my stockers giving up and puking their bearings into my engine. You do have to change the springs, I went with the PAC 1518s but 1218s would have worked as well. Neither spring will bother your lifters as their seated and lifted pressures aren't that much more than stock. The stock push rods will probably be the right length but for $100 I'd throw in a new set of Comp High Tech rods to be safe. Great time to put in some Viton valve seals too.

The Result - Little or no additional peak horsepower. You do gain some, about 12 hp, under the curve. Since I track my car I was happy with the results because under the curve is where I use the power and a more reliable valve train was all I was really after in the first place. If you're not pushing your engine all that hard and you're not worried about your valve train, then it's probably not worth the time and expense.
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Old Jan 24, 2011 | 01:47 AM
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^^^ good info. thanks for it
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Old Jan 25, 2011 | 03:11 AM
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There are some 1.9 ratio rockers available here in Australia, meant to be good for around 20-25hp I've heard. The same company was doing some testing on 2.0 ratio rockers as well, but need some rocker arm mods or something similar
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Old Jan 25, 2011 | 07:34 AM
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Originally Posted by S2VYSS
There are some 1.9 ratio rockers available here in Australia, meant to be good for around 20-25hp I've heard. The same company was doing some testing on 2.0 ratio rockers as well, but need some rocker arm mods or something similar

Are you talking about yella terra rockers...?
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Old Jan 25, 2011 | 08:18 AM
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Originally Posted by ANTICOP RAM AIR
Are you talking about yella terra rockers...?
I bought my car with the slp 1.85 rockers/918 springs already done... its a good mod for somebody looking to maximize a bolt-on only setup or not willing to change cam. it will give you roughly 8-10whp/15-18wtq gain across the board. If u can find a deal on the rockers I say go for it! With my mods in sig Im running side by side with my brothers srt4 from a roll and it traps 115... wich makes sense because I run 12.50 @ 120 on the gtech and it has always read about 4-5mph high on every car I have used it on.
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Old Jan 25, 2011 | 10:55 AM
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^^ thanks. I appreciate it..
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Old Jan 25, 2011 | 11:03 AM
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Can these rockers be installed if i decide to use an 03 LS6 cam???
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Old Jan 26, 2011 | 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Average Joe
Can these rockers be installed if i decide to use an 03 LS6 cam???
yes they can, just make sure to get some pac 1218 or comp 918 springs. I originally was going to put a zo6 cam in with those rockers. Puts you right at .600 lift. Pretty sure slp designed these rockers for all gm stock cam's. Im going to get a custom grind from eps to work with these rockers instead(someday lol). Its not really worth 10-15hp gain(zo6 cam) when I can get 35-40hp from a eps cam and not loose any drivability or reliability. Do some research on eps and you will probably change your mind about the z06 cam...I did anyways.

Last edited by kinglt-1; Jan 26, 2011 at 09:44 AM.
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Old Jan 26, 2011 | 04:36 PM
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@ kinglt-1, I have seen upwards of 25 rwhp with an ls6 cam and spring upgrade, with rockers i'd expect at least 30 rwhp.
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Old Jan 26, 2011 | 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Average Joe
@ kinglt-1, I have seen upwards of 25 rwhp with an ls6 cam and spring upgrade, with rockers i'd expect at least 30 rwhp.
well good luck with that and don't be suprised when you don't see those gains... Out of 15 ls6 cam swaps there might be 1 that sees more than 15whp gain. Its usually a 25-30whp gain swapping over to the stock untouched 243 heads and 02+ ls6 cam. Think about it...A 03' zo6 puts down 350-360 whp stock... a 02' camaro ss m6 puts down 320-325whp stock. The vette's usually dyno a bit higher aswell due to more efficient drivetrain.
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Old Jan 26, 2011 | 06:42 PM
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Are you sure about that, every ls1 vette vs ls1 f-body shows they corvette dynos a bit lower due to the IRS while the solid rear axle is more efficient. And the 25 rwhp was with supporting mods thus making it more than a cam only setup.
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Old Jan 26, 2011 | 06:53 PM
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lol but its all good.. keep going guys.. youre answering all the questions i dont feel like typing..
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Old Jan 26, 2011 | 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Average Joe
Are you sure about that, every ls1 vette vs ls1 f-body shows they corvette dynos a bit lower due to the IRS while the solid rear axle is more efficient. And the 25 rwhp was with supporting mods thus making it more than a cam only setup.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...ck-02-ls1.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...cam-gains.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...cam-gains.html

Some say the vette's dyno a lil higher others don't... The point is the ls6 cam is not worth 25whp... Read the threads above!
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Old Jan 26, 2011 | 09:25 PM
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Just let him get an ls6 cam in there and be slow lol
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