Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

when to upgrade stock rockers?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 19, 2012 | 10:57 PM
  #1  
dns87ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
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.
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2012 | 11:31 PM
  #2  
sepsis's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 0
From: Tampa-ish
Default

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; Aug 21, 2012 at 10:03 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2012 | 06:28 AM
  #3  
Darkman's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 6
From: Spring, Texas
Default

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.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2012 | 10:02 AM
  #4  
outkast6991's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 0
From: lancaster,pa
Default

.646/.651 on stockers here
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2012 | 10:12 AM
  #5  
mark21742's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 5
From: PA/MD
Default

.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
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2012 | 10:15 AM
  #6  
quik95lt1's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 12
From: Rhode Island
Default

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
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2012 | 12:14 PM
  #7  
sepsis's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 0
From: Tampa-ish
Default

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; Aug 21, 2012 at 10:18 AM.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2012 | 03:33 PM
  #8  
RezinTexas's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 8
From: Katy, TX
Default

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?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 20, 2012 | 04:32 PM
  #9  
slt200mph's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (42)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 9
From: HOT'LANA, GAWJA
Default

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.
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 01:10 AM
  #10  
dns87ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Default

thanks for the info
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 07:16 AM
  #11  
garygnu's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 4
Default

upgrade when,high mile,high rpms,high lift,bronze guides.
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 07:29 PM
  #12  
vettenuts's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,092
Likes: 13
From: Little Rhody
Default

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.
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 08:39 PM
  #13  
TT427's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 372
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Default

Is their a point where lift necessitates a roller rocker?
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 09:47 PM
  #14  
Brian Tooley Racing's Avatar
FormerVendor
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 7
From: Bardstown, KY
Default

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.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2012 | 02:56 AM
  #15  
JakeFusion's Avatar
Super Hulk Smash
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
Default

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
Reply
Old May 1, 2022 | 05:06 AM
  #16  
andyedgar1970's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Manchester united kingdom
Default

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
Reply
Old May 1, 2022 | 07:34 PM
  #17  
Bob570's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 640
Likes: 297
From: Michigan
Default

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.
Reply
Old May 2, 2022 | 02:43 AM
  #18  
andyedgar1970's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Manchester united kingdom
Default

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?
Reply
Old May 2, 2022 | 09:33 AM
  #19  
grubinski's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 644
Likes: 575
From: Carnation, WA
Default

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. 😉
Reply
Old May 2, 2022 | 03:37 PM
  #20  
99 Black Bird T/A's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,637
Likes: 1,499
Default

Definitely agree 👍

Please do a build thread. Your project deserves one.

We like following along too.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:13 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE