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Reply With QuoteI have nothing to offer you here Rich, except sympathy; I know what you're going through. They tell me it'll all be worth it, but when it'll all come together I don't know just yet.
roller rockers for centerbolt valve covers?
Yet again, I'm confused.
Continuing the trend of "Nothing on this engine is ever easy," I discovered that my roller rocker arms are self-aligning (they're the PN that Lingenfelter recommended) but my heads are set up with guideplates and the valve stems WILL NOT WORK with self-aligning rockers (not enough stem above the retainer so the rocker won't roll). So I need new rockers. Again. However, suddenly I am seeing different ones (in the Summit catalog) for SOME BRANDS that say "narrow body, for centerbolt valve covers." Is there really a clearance issue? What do people here use? I'm looking at a Comp Cams that's equivalent to their Race Gold, but isn't gold anodized - and is not self-aligning. However, in one catalog it says for all SBCs. In the Summit catalog, it's listed only for perimeter bolt valve covers, and there's another part ($75 more) for centerbolts.
Help! I don't want to order the wrong parts AGAIN.
[RICHR]
I have nothing to offer you here Rich, except sympathy; I know what you're going through. They tell me it'll all be worth it, but when it'll all come together I don't know just yet.
The best thing would be to call them and give your year and specs. You don't want it all apart to find out you have the wrong parts. We've all been there before!!!
Heh. 86er, that's my entire problem. Call up someplace and say "I've got an 86 Corvette with a 91 block, Pro Topline heads, blah-blah springs, etc" and they''ll hang up on you. Or try to sell you the most expensive item, whether or not you need it.
[RICHR]
have you tryed calling up comp cams?
if not give them a call
Im not having any trouble w/ rollers, im using the bulky pro-forms.
Do you have centerbolt valve covers? I thought the Malcolm Konner cars were all early 86's, still with cast iron heads.
[RICHR]
They were early Iron headded cars.. mine had them, but i had a set of the Edelbrock centerbolt heads, and thought it would be a good upgrade along w/ the mini ram, and a lot of other bolt ons.Originally Posted by rrubel
I'm not sure if I exactly understand the question here, but, (and sorry I haven't followed your project), but you can get the Promag, non-self aligning and no prob, accept you may have to clearance the valve covers. Lots of guys have to do it. It's not a big deal. Post here or e-mail me. You probly (?)can't use the stock valve covers. Not sure. Oh yea, don't F up like I did. Get the 7/16 stud instead of the 3/8
See, part of my confusion is that I can't see WHY you'd need narrower arms for centerbolt covers. It doesn't look like the bolts even come close to the arms anyway. But *somebody* thinks you do, since they're being offered for sale (and I swear, I did not see them last year when I was looking).
By 'clearancing' the covers, you mean grinding the drip tabs, right? The covers I've got don't have them so that's not an issue. And it's too late for 7/16ths... the heads are assembled. Also, I was told that unless I was seeing 6500+ RPMs then 3/8''s is just fine. I don't plan on going much over 6k - the engine isn't being built for high-RPM power.
Moonunit, you're the guy who had the stud disintegrate, right? How did that turn out?
L98vette1986, you had no probs with those centerbolts and the big arms? Interesting... Yet again I wonder why there are two models. If you call Comp Cams, they just say their party line - one for center, one for perimeter.
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I've never heard anything like that.See, part of my confusion is that I can't see WHY you'd need narrower arms for centerbolt covers. It doesn't look like the bolts even come close to the arms anyway. But *somebody* thinks you do, since they're being offered for sale (and I swear, I did not see them last year when I was looking).
Or that, Comp Cams never suggested anything like that to me, but I can tell you one thing for sure. If you go with Comp Cams get the right thing the first time out. They won't do you any favors. And there is no reason why they should, but to have to pay about $180 to rebuild rockers with only a thousand or so miles on them seemed way outa control to me. I wanted to upgrade to the 7/16" and there was no mercy for my mistake.L98vette1986, you had no probs with those centerbolts and the big arms? Interesting... Yet again I wonder why there are two models. If you call Comp Cams, they just say their party line - one for center, one for perimeter.
Yes the drip tabs and I had to do some additional work as well. Yes the 3/8's are probably OK, but it is zero cost insuranse to go big! Unfortunately I didn't realize this until I broke my wimpy 3/8 stud.By 'clearancing' the covers, you mean grinding the drip tabs, right? The covers I've got don't have them so that's not an issue. And it's too late for 7/16ths... the heads are assembled. Also, I was told that unless I was seeing 6500+ RPMs then 3/8''s is just fine. I don't plan on going much over 6k - the engine isn't being built for high-RPM power.
Ya, that was me, which is why I have some opinions on this issue. I did a few stupid things just in order to learn the hard way as usualMoonunit, you're the guy who had the stud disintegrate, right? How did that turn out?The motor came with the BIG ole crane golds on it, they were on 3/8" studs and the guy who I bought the motor from had futzed around grinding on them for some reason
I can't recall what he said. At any rate I decided to put the Pro Mags on, (I went with the nonself aligning cause the guide plates were on there already) and I failed to replace the studs
They were apparently damaged and probly cheapo to begin with, I'm guessing cause they had the selfaligning RR's on there with the guide plates and one busted off while I was cruising (thankfully) on the freeway.
Moral of the story, if I'd of replaced the studs when I put the new RR's in, for all of $60 that I ended up spending anyway I could have put the big studs on and never had to worry about it again!
Rich, I know you said the heads are all set up, but all we're talking about is getting the larger studs and RR's since you still don't have them yet and having a stronger setup for the same price...you're choice
ARP ONLY!
i agree with Colin,
all they do is screw in and screw out. if you are getting new rockers anyway would be nice to do it since you may not go over 6k in rpm but still have harder springs with a bigger cam putting more stress on the 3/8" studs.
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I assume I'd need new guideplates, too... I am *SO* over budget on this. <sigh> let me do some pricing...
I did get the name of a place that has probably any plug/fitting you could possibly want for TPI and LT1 cars - called "Street and Performance." They had my 9th injector blockoff plug for $15 instead of Accel's INSANE $75. Plus they've got the vacuum ports I need.
Moonunit, those arms were probably ground to avoid hitting the spring retainers. That's one problem I'm currently facing, aside from the roller not even contacting the valve stem...
Oh, for the wide/narrow arms, look in the latest Summit catalog on page 150. They've got Crane and Summit brand both (think they're the same) listed as wide for normal valve covers and narrow for centerbolt. But get this! You can't get the narrows for a 7/16" stud!
[RICHR]
I assume I'd need new guideplates, too... I am *SO* over budget on this
Sorry Rich, couldn't help myself - been there, done that, and I'm still spending money (that I don't have).
Rich there shouldn't be any need to change the guide plates. Or get rid of them all together and get selfaligning RR's.I assume I'd need new guideplates, too... I am *SO* over budget on this
I did get the name of a place that has probably any plug/fitting you could possibly want for TPI and LT1 cars - called "Street and Performance." They had my 9th injector blockoff plug for $15 instead of Accel's INSANE $75. Plus they've got the vacuum ports I need.
Moonunit, those arms were probably ground to avoid hitting the spring retainers. That's one problem I'm currently facing, aside from the roller not even contacting the valve stem...
Oh, for the wide/narrow arms, look in the latest Summit catalog on page 150. They've got Crane and Summit brand both (think they're the same) listed as wide for normal valve covers and narrow for centerbolt. But get this! You can't get the narrows for a 7/16" stud!
[RICHR]
Man I KNOW what you mean about over budget. Don't make the mistake I did of trying to save pennies at the end. You'll go through less grief in the long run.
I think I was the one that posted that link to Street and Performance for ya. I hope you spoke with them. I got the wrong part first time around, but they sent me the right one at no charge when I called them about it. Oh yea the Cranes and Summit RR's are huge, spent the extra bucks and go with the Promags doodHang in there, thinngs will get better.
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