Roller rocker arm question
#1
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Roller rocker arm question
Just picked an LT4 hot cam of my 87 TPI GTA and my question is.....
Will a set of 1.6 roller rocker arms fit and work under OEM valve covers ?
Thanks in advance for all your comments.
Will a set of 1.6 roller rocker arms fit and work under OEM valve covers ?
Thanks in advance for all your comments.
![thumbs up](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#2
Re: Roller rocker arm question
Some times if your heads have the push rod slots in the heads the slots have to be opened up when using 1.6 rockers
#3
Senior Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: N. Ky
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 T/A - 70 Z28/RS
Engine: Broke - 350
Transmission: 700R4 - M22
Axle/Gears: G80, 2.73 - ZQ9 G80 4.10
Re: Roller rocker arm question
I agree with what Hinkson said and also I see you have center bolt rocker covers as well. I know some people have had to trim some of the support bracing inside the covers to clear some roller rockers. Also some roller rockers interfere with the actual bolt tubes. The manufactures should know if their rockers will clear 87 and later rocker covers. The best bet is to call before you buy.
#4
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Roller rocker arm question
Okay... forget the 1.6 roller rockers, I chose to go with 1.5's.
Does anyone know if 1.5 roller rokers with fit under the stock ribbed valve covers ?
Does anyone know if 1.5 roller rokers with fit under the stock ribbed valve covers ?
#6
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Roller rocker arm question
Still looking for an answer on this... the roller rockers i purchased are 1.5 Comp Cams Magnum roller rockers.
anyone ??
anyone ??
#7
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Orange, CA
Posts: 5,676
Likes: 0
Received 109 Likes
on
66 Posts
Car: '90 Trans Am-12.45@110.71
Engine: 355 w/AFR 195's Elem. 400/430 HP/TQ
Transmission: Tremec T-56
Axle/Gears: 12 Bolt 3.73
Re: Roller rocker arm question
If you have stock heads that cam won't work without machine work to the heads. With 1.5 or 1.6 rockers.
Trending Topics
#8
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Roller rocker arm question
Looks like I'll have to buy a set of tall valve covers and hope there's no issues with the AC compressor for clearance.
![Big Grin](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#10
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Chickamauga, GA
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 IROC-Z
Engine: 355ci SBC
Transmission: TH700R4 - 2500 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9 bolt
Re: Roller rocker arm question
They fit, I ran them with my LT4 hot cam in my 355. Not much bigger than the stock stamped steel rockers... no clearance issues
#11
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Roller rocker arm question
I tried to place them on with the roller rockers installed and noticed the bracing / supports for the center bolts are a little think and won't fit between the rocker arms.... bummer....
#17
Senior Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: N. Ky
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 T/A - 70 Z28/RS
Engine: Broke - 350
Transmission: 700R4 - M22
Axle/Gears: G80, 2.73 - ZQ9 G80 4.10
Re: Roller rocker arm question
#18
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Roller rocker arm question
i considered dong this but I was running out of time. I need to get the car up and running already. I'm doing mos of the finishing touches during this week and as soon as the valve covers show up, i should be able to start the car, set timing, check for any leaks and finally get it to an exhaust shop to get the existing y-pipe fitted to the new headers.
#19
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Roller rocker arm question
So the new tall valve covers came in today... they won't go on due to the oil baffles. They're a little too wide and won't let the cover go down in between the roller rockers. So... it looks like I'll have to remove the baffles to make them work.
Do you guys see a problem with removing the baffles ??
Do you guys see a problem with removing the baffles ??
#20
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Orange, CA
Posts: 5,676
Likes: 0
Received 109 Likes
on
66 Posts
Car: '90 Trans Am-12.45@110.71
Engine: 355 w/AFR 195's Elem. 400/430 HP/TQ
Transmission: Tremec T-56
Axle/Gears: 12 Bolt 3.73
Re: Roller rocker arm question
Valve covers will be the least of your problems.
But yes, removing the baffles will cause oil to fly around and be sucked into the intake.
#21
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Roller rocker arm question
How am i going to bend pushrods with a .490 lift cam ?? That's baby cam lift range.
Then I'll have to buy some breathers and then pipe to the intake connections from the breathes.
![Big Grin](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Last edited by TX-SleeperC5; 04-11-2014 at 12:44 PM.
#25
Senior Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: N. Ky
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 T/A - 70 Z28/RS
Engine: Broke - 350
Transmission: 700R4 - M22
Axle/Gears: G80, 2.73 - ZQ9 G80 4.10
Re: Roller rocker arm question
I was thinking they could handle a .480 lift but anything greater you would have to verify retainer to seal/guide clearance and coil bind height.
With the stock 305 heads on my 86 I replaced the springs and retainers with Crane's suggested parts and on the exhaust side I had to shim the spring more to get the proper install height and at .480 lift I still had room to spare between the retainer and seal. My intake lift was at .454 so I didn't verify the clearance on it. I did this back in 2004 so I don't remember the exact numbers on shim thickness or the clearance but everything still looks good on the top end after 9 years.
With the stock 305 heads on my 86 I replaced the springs and retainers with Crane's suggested parts and on the exhaust side I had to shim the spring more to get the proper install height and at .480 lift I still had room to spare between the retainer and seal. My intake lift was at .454 so I didn't verify the clearance on it. I did this back in 2004 so I don't remember the exact numbers on shim thickness or the clearance but everything still looks good on the top end after 9 years.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ambainb
Camaros for Sale
11
04-25-2016 09:21 PM
Mickeyruder
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
3
09-02-2015 02:45 PM
IrocZ'85
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
0
08-17-2015 06:24 PM