I am pretty sure that the 408 I am putting together is going to be a solid roller motor. I have a few questions about the heads and valvetrain though. I was looking at going with the Patriot Stage III LS6 heads, but the realized that I would have to get bigger valvesprings for them and aren't too sure how much it costs to get the spring pockets machined bigger to accomidate 1.550" springs. My next question is what kind of valvesprings are you guys running? I looked into ET Performance heads because you can get them solid roller friendly from Thunder Racing, however they are only rated to .725" lift and I was looking to have cam that big or bigger. Thanks for the help in advance.

 

Stock style heads back up WAY before .700+ lift usually, I don't know if your gains would be worth it to lift that high.... but thats just my opinion.

 

Well I guess that possibly rules out the LS6 heads. Thanks for the info. Right now I'm looking pretty heavily on the ET 245cc heads with 62cc combustion chambers. I would like the AFR 225s but they cant accept a 1.550 spring which I am looking to use.

 

most LSX heads needs machining for the spring pockets. unless you are going with ET OR All Pro heads. i used to have a LS6 heads converted to solid roller, i used K-motion springs and T&D rockers. i have to say all of the parts you wana use for the solid valvetrain needs machining on the heads. even the AFR and TFS heads

 

I've got a set of heads right now that were built for the job. Fully race prepped All Pro Ls2 heads. $2600 plus shipping they come with titanium intake valves and inconel exhaust valves. Heads are new in box. This setup would cost you one heck of a lot more from a dealer. The valves alone are about $1400. PAC has any spring you need.

 

We have any of the TFS heads available in solid roller form for around $2800 complete, and we can also get the new 18 bolt version. For your applicatoin I would use the TFS 235 setup for solid roller, Noyzee on here used our slightly bigger TFS 245 on his solid roller 427 setup and picked up 6 MPH over a competitors 225 head, so they work well. The 235 is all you would want on a 408, anything else would just be too big. Also, we've made over 2 hp per cubic inch with .500" lift cams, so .700" is all you would want. Hope this helps.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...971&highlight=

 

with anything more than 700 lift you are going to run into all sorts of geometry problems and things like custom valves, dual taper wall pushrods to lower the weight, giant springs that barely clear the head rails, not to mention custom pistons to clear the valves unless you run a super soft lobe and that would just be useless.

I just got done with all this crap a few months ago, unless you are building a full race motor its not worth it. and if you are building a full race motor nothing against Patriot but their heads are simply just not going to cut it.

all in all tack on about 4k to your build, the rockers and pushrods alone will be like $2500

 

^^^ Yep this is not an inexpensive project. Jesel's for my heads run $1680, good lifters arent cheap either!

 

Thanks for all of the responses guys - they have all helped. I can definitely see that this is not an inexpensive project at all lol. Right now, my total build is around 11k. I'm not too worried about daily drivability since I have a 2nd car and I just started reading up on solid roller motors over the last 4 months or so and thought the gains would be worth it. What kind of push rods do I need? Thanks again for all the help. Here's my list so far:

HKE 408 Shortblock
Trickflow 235cc Assembled heads
GMPP CARB Intake Manifold
105mm RevXtreme Throttle Body
TSP 1 7/8" headers
Intake Elbow w/ Fuel Rails
Fuel System (Nasty Nate's double pumper and 60lb injectors)
Cam
Tuning
Morrel Solid Lifters
Jessel Shaft Mount Rockers

 

Erik is going to want to have the heads and cam spec'd out before he orders pistons if you are going with a solid setup.

 

subscribing.

Chad

 

I will probably call Erik in the next day or so to talk to him. Are there special pushrods I am supposed to use? I know to be a good solid roller, you want a bulletproof valvetrain.

 

Try PAC-1521 for springs. .700" lift, small nitrided dual.

 

Erik built my 408 and greg good did my heads. Awsome guys to work with!!

 

First of all the quickest way to not get a response is to tell him you want a solid roller. Dont mention it right away and your better off.

Second of all if you cant get through then I can handle it for you. That's what I'm here for, to facilitate.. Same engine ..same builder ...easier person to contact.
He wont put a solid roller with his name on it in just anyones hands.

 

BUT what ever Erik builds, its top notch. If you ever get him on the phone, hang on. He will talk with you forever. Thats what made me feel really good going with him. Awsome guy!! As you can see my motor makes awsome power for a A4!

 

Amen !

 

But geting ahold of him is a pain in the ***. Not worth the wait in my oppion many other good vendors on here that do just as good as work.

 

Its not a pain for me, I can get a hold of him when ever I want to, and anyone can get a hold of me anytime of the day 24/7. His reputation stands for itself.

And just a little FYI.. this is why vendors such as myself make arraingements and deals with builders. TO facilitate..

 

You're going to want a 3/8ths pushrod more than likely. It depends on what springs and their pressure. Use a length checker to verify what size you'll need.