305RSlc

I was thinking about doing a quick engine mod to gain a little power. Has anyone ever done a rocker arm swap? I was thinking about going with 1.6 rr. The L03 has 1.5, right? And would I have to change the valve springs, and if so, which ones should I go with and the cost, ect. ect.???? Just trying to think of weekend power adders that dont' break my bank....any help would be nice
Thanks!
Lc

brodyscamaro

Going to 1.6RR would give ya a little more lift. You wouldn't have to change springs. Power increase probably wouldn't be huge though.

vjo90RS8

iTrader: (1)

I just installed some stamped steel 1.6 rocker arms and i noticed that it does pull alittle harder now, im going to the track on wednesday, well see how much they helped then.

Youll be able to use the stock valve spring because even with 1.6s, the lift is still small (.373/.409).

miacamaro305

a lt1 cam will be great with 1.6 rockers but then u need vale springs to good for like 60 hp i think good mod

305RSlc

Excellent...that makes this whole thing a whole lot easier....so it seems. Still gotta get by all that air conditioning and smog crap just to get the passenger side valve cover off though...
As far as cam swapping goes....how long does it take and is it actually worth it to pull the engine??? Thanks all!
Lc

305RSlc

Also, should I go with the roller rockers or stamped rockers? Do either offer any pros or cons, any one easier to install????
Lc

brodyscamaro

Go full rollers.

305RSlc

Ugh, sorry about all the questions but I keep thinking of something as I walk away.
Should I get self-aligning or does it matter with the L03 heads?
Lc

brodyscamaro

SA

vjo90RS8

iTrader: (1)

self realigning is a must, i went with stamped steel Federal Mogul rocker arms because they were only $68, i couldnt see spending almost 300 on full rollers for a L03. You can also look at Comp Cams Magnum roller tip rockers, run 192 through summit.

92rsv8

also you don't pull the engine to do a cam swap!
also i already have the lt1 cam and i would like to go to 1.6 rr's i am going to get the screw in studs and also what is a good spring to get that i don't have to modify the seat? i want some that will swap right in.

Dewey316

the best you are probably going to get in a 1.25" spring si the HD z/28 springs through scoggin dickey.

92rsv8

WOULD THEY WORK WITH THE LT1 CAM THOUGH?

Dewey316

easily they claim to be good to .550 lift, though i would not trust them at that lift for too long.

92rsv8

Well my lt1 cam is out of a 95 firechicken... how do i do the math to see if that would work

Dewey316

it will work, none of the LT1 cams are anywhere near .550 lift, in fact none of them are even close to .500 lift.

92rsv8

i think it was around 475 or so but with the 1.6 rockers doesn't that change the numbers.

Dewey316

no, the LT1 specs are with 1.6 rocekrs, because the lt1 had 1.6 stock.

brodyscamaro

No, the LT1 had 1.5 stock. Therefore those .450/.460 lift numbers you see are using 1.5 rockers. You are getting mixed up; the LT4 came stock with 1.6 rockers.

Keep in mind that actual lift on the LT1 and LT4 cams are very similar.

Dewey316

blah, its to freakin' early.

brodyscamaro

Just got outta class. I'm feeling smart lol

Dewey316

well, i didn't stay at a holiday inn express last night maybe that is my problem

92rsv8

what are you talking about... i know those are the numbers with 1.5's but i am asking if i use the 1.6's if that will make those springs useless...

Dewey316

do that math dude.

( lift / 1.5 ) * 1.6

THEY WILL WORK.

brodyscamaro

Yup, that's what rockers do. Increase the life and move it to the valve. 1.5 rockers multiply the lift they receive by 1.5, 1.6 does 1.6 times the lift...

Chuck!

The average LT1 cam (I say that because they changed lifts a few times but nothing drastic) will be about .475/.490 with 1.6's. Nothing at all to worry about with a decent set of springs.

92rsv8

cool thanks...

305RSlc

So how do you get the cam in without yanking the engine??? What do you pull off the front end or something....looks kinda small an area to be installing a cam, but I have never done it so please do enlighten me.
Lc

305RSlc

You aren't talking about the LT4 Hot Cam, are you??? Because with 1.5rr's it has .525/.525 lift....that doesn't seem close to the LT1's .450/.460. Just making sure.
Lc

brodyscamaro

Search, both this site and the internet. Also might want to get a book.
No, I said the LT4 cam... But you are incorrect on another figure. The LT4 HOT CAM has .525" of lift with 1.6 ratio rockers. It has .492" lift with 1.5 ratio rockers.

Dewey316

no you remove the radiator, and move the AC evap, and you can just sneak a cam in there

305RSlc

Ooops, my bad, you're right. I was going by Pace Performance catalog and they advertise the LT4 hot cam as .525/.525 with 1.5rr at the top of the page. Just went to check it, and at the very bottom is says rated with 1.6rr. stupid subscript
Lc

92rsv8

yes you remove the rad and i moved the evap...

BronYrAur

iTrader: (1)

If you're using an LT1 cam with 1.6's being close to .500" of lift with stock LO3 heads aren't you just wasting the extra lift the 1.6's gave you because the heads can't flow enough for that kind of lift anyway? I always thought an LT1 with 1.5's was close to the most lift that the LO3 heads would take and still flow OK.

miacamaro305

the a/c evap is the radiatior lloking thing on front of the water radiator right?were do u move it to the front do u have to disconnect the lines that run to it or is there enough space to move it ?

Chuck!

You can pivot it, or hang it up or whatever you want to do with it. You'll have to drop your oil pan in the front so you dont mess up your oil pan gasket. Obviously the distri and intake will have to come off, so you minus well get a decent new manifold - carb style or the Edelbrock tbi. Id take the front accessories off if it were me, but everyone is different I guess. If you do you dont have to disconnect the a/c.

The engine if out of my car in this pic but you get the point:

305RSlc

So it's feasable to just put 1.6rr on the original L03, or just put int the LT1 cam, but not both? Shucks, that saves me money on a possible weekend power adder......hehe yay. 60hp for around $150 and about a weekend worth of work...sounds good to me! Thanks all!
Lc

BronYrAur

iTrader: (1)

Actually, I'm really surprised someone didn't dispute that post by that guy above about 60hp. That isn't going to happen. If it were me I'd go with just the LT1 cam and some new springs and keep my stock rockers on there. Also, about getting a new intake manifold that's a very good idea too as well as a new timing chain. The stock LO3 cam isn't good even with 1.6 rockers, go with the LT1 and wait to get 1.6's or a bigger cam until you have aftermarket heads or upgrade to a 350. Just an LT1 cam and an aftermarket manifold on an otherwise stock LO3 will give you nowhere near 60hp maybe 30? it differs engine to engine.

rsscoty

How much do you have to shorten the dowel pin on the front of the LT1 cam before installed. I have the cam and heads waiting to be done.
Scoty

txhotRS

you only have to shorten it so that there is about 1/4 left on the cam... good luck with that... I had my cam for 2 years... but I didn't put it in until I yanked the engine and did a rebuild also... if you are going to spend the money on rocker arms.... JUST GET ROLLER's... if you have 2 engines with the same lift and duration and same rockers... and one is roller lifter/rocker, and the other is flat... the one with roller with have an almost 25% HP increase over the one with out... (given that everything else is the same)... it makes more difference than many people realize