1.6 roller rockers
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Olney, MD
1.6 roller rockers Im thinking about buying comp cams magnum 1.6 s/a roller rockers. Right now my engine is completely stock with 69,000 miles. I have full bolt ons and 4.10 gears with a PCM tune. Would I benefit at all from just rockers right now? And should I get a re tune for the rockers? Thanks in advance
Yes rockers will be a big benifit. The only concern you might have is that the stock valvesprings are really not meant to handle more lift that the 1.6 rockers would supply. I have done 1.6 rockers on stock valvesprings several times on high mileage motors and never broken a spring...but there are plenty of people that will tell you it shouldn't be done. In reality they're right...it's a much better idea to use a better spring. If you're going to stay stock with you're cam the LT4 valvesprings would be a good choice. They'll handle .525 lift and maybe even a little higher, which with the stock cam you wouldn't see lift that high. In short yes you will see a power increase at the risk of broken springs and dropped valves if you don't upgrade the springs. As far as the tune goes if you have an LT4 knock module (less sensitive to noise) you won't need a tune but if you don't have one and you don't have the computer retuned for the noisy rockers then the computer is going to back off timing and you'll lose power. It's like $50 for a retune and most people sell LT4 knock modules for around that price. Hope this helps. Oh and those LT4 valvesprings are $42 from Summit and $37 from Jegs. They even sell lightweight retainers for like $28 extra. Cheap insurance when doing rockers if you ask me.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Olney, MD
Yes rockers will be a big benifit. The only concern you might have is that the stock valvesprings are really not meant to handle more lift that the 1.6 rockers would supply. I have done 1.6 rockers on stock valvesprings several times on high mileage motors and never broken a spring...but there are plenty of people that will tell you it shouldn't be done. In reality they're right...it's a much better idea to use a better spring. If you're going to stay stock with you're cam the LT4 valvesprings would be a good choice. They'll handle .525 lift and maybe even a little higher, which with the stock cam you wouldn't see lift that high. In short yes you will see a power increase at the risk of broken springs and dropped valves if you don't upgrade the springs. As far as the tune goes if you have an LT4 knock module (less sensitive to noise) you won't need a tune but if you don't have one and you don't have the computer retuned for the noisy rockers then the computer is going to back off timing and you'll lose power. It's like $50 for a retune and most people sell LT4 knock modules for around that price. Hope this helps. Oh and those LT4 valvesprings are $42 from Summit and $37 from Jegs. They even sell lightweight retainers for like $28 extra. Cheap insurance when doing rockers if you ask me.
I measured some stock LT1 springs for bind and I only had to go to .480 something before they were maxed out.
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Meaning stock springs are not sufficient for the stock cam especially when 1.6rr are introduced....... I have had stock springs and 1.6s for about 4 years... I am now building a new set up so springs will be added
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 11
From: centerville, ohio
Yup you need a full roller rocker arm. With the rest of the setup being stock...you could go with a 3/8 stud self aligning rocker and be just dandy. Summit sells Scorpion rockers for like $223 plus $12 for shipping, even with springs that's under $300 shipped for a smooth 10-15 rwhp gain with the added lift and massive amounts of friction reduction.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Olney, MD
Yup you need a full roller rocker arm. With the rest of the setup being stock...you could go with a 3/8 stud self aligning rocker and be just dandy. Summit sells Scorpion rockers for like $223 plus $12 for shipping, even with springs that's under $300 shipped for a smooth 10-15 rwhp gain with the added lift and massive amounts of friction reduction.
