Roller rockers on SBC?

[yellowfiero88]

Anyone running roller rockers on their SCB? I am putting together mine and am having major problems with fitment of parts. With the stock style exhaust manifolds you can not run the tall valve covers needed to clear the full roller arms. Any one have experiance? What covers are you using?

 

[Gimme Fuel]

Big blocks have the same problem...I picked up a set of tall tapered Imco valve covers from ebay. Those are designed to fit with marine exhausts. They are tall enough to clear roller rockers and stud girdles. Regular tall valve covers for a street car won't fit.

 

[rhmapes]

What heads, manifolds and rockers are you using?

 

[yellowfiero88]

Stock heads that are port matched and polished, summit aluminum 1.6 roller rockers, and GLM performance manifolds (stock design but with the runners in them).

 

[wca_tim]

That's a tough one. The imco manifolds are mad with enough room for a set of tall valve covers to fit under... with stock type manifolds, it's a tough nut to crack. You're really limited in terms of valve cover options (and hence rocked arms...). I've heard that the slanted ones mentined above help out, but haven't got any personal experience with them... Good luck with it

 

[88Mate]

I have used the Crane Gold Race roller rocker arms on my SBC for ten years - never a problem. I specifically bought them because they offer a narrow body version that is self-aligning and would fit under the stock Merc valve covers. Part number for the 1.5 ratio set of 16 is Crane 10751-16.

 

[Big Red]

I run double valve cover gaskets the good thick felpro gaskets no leaks and works good but expensive. BBC

 

[PayCheck]

I run double valve cover gaskets the good thick felpro gaskets no leaks and works good but expensive. BBC

I think you found the cheaper way out, Big Red. If you shop around, you're into $350/pr for one piece BBC marine covers, and $450/pr for 2-piece. The two piece are slick, but I have twin BBC's.

I'm putting them together over the next month - hyd rollers, KE roller rockers, so it will be interesting to see how much room I'll need once I get the valve geometry down.

 

[Big Red]

I think you found the cheaper way out, Big Red. If you shop around, you're into $350/pr for one piece BBC marine covers, and $450/pr for 2-piece. The two piece are slick, but I have twin BBC's.

I'm putting them together over the next month - hyd rollers, KE roller rockers, so it will be interesting to see how much room I'll need once I get the valve geometry down.

You misunderstood me paycheck I run 2 thick felpro gaskets with the steele in them so my roller rockers clear. I can not run a taller valve cover they hit my imco exhaust.

 

[wca_tim]

Which imcos? and yours are on a bigblock, right? The powerflow's on my small block leave plenty of room for a set of tall valve covers... that's what I have on it and there's plenty of room to get them in and out. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized how much room they left. Hope this is helpful

 

[yellowfiero88]

Ok I got the setup. 2- 3/8" header flanges and fabricated valve covers from ebay. With no header gaskets, there is still enough room to pull the valve covers off without removing the manifolds. I think I can run 1 flange with a thick set of gaskets and it will work also but I want some room too remove the covers.