Roller Rockers DIY or not?

[bwhitmore]

I've been considering roller rockers, headers, and high flow cats as my next wave of mods. I see their is a write up for the roller rocker install (Crowers in this case) on this site, but the whole second part about "lash" has me concerned.

I mean I'm no rookie when it comes to installing stuff, and I pride myself in having done everything to this car and many others, but this seams a little disconcerning...

Also, what are you guys finding are the best manufacturer for this mod? Price is certainly an issue, but so is performance, and the DIY factor...

 

[J DAWG]

Rockers can easily be a DIY job.


JACK B posted a topic(installing T&D's or Mopars) just a few days ago going into detail on the install. It should only be a few pages back in this forum or do a search for it.

 

[bwhitmore]

Thanks!

 

[TOOOFST]

DIY=NO.Not unless your a good wrench and have done em before.Problem is you have to get the correct pushrod length.The answer is using a pushrod checker.All tuners will agree.Most cases of crower use the stock length,most cases of T&D use 7.70's,and most cases of harmen/sharps use 7.40.It's important that the roller is centered or slightly forward on the valve stem.The pushrod length will affect that.
Another problem is you could easily use the wrong pushrod and your car would seem to run fine,and or Dyno ok.Lifter,rocker assembly failure could result down the road,because of incorrect geometry.
If your not an ace mechanic,stick to MGW,zeroflight,K&N,vipair for your install hobby!
Yesterday we did three cars at once.Took 4-5hrs with Two quality mechanics and a runner.
A positive note is:Roller rockers are awesome mod.

 

[viper spray]

Check the stands!

 

[J DAWG]

Here's the link.

 

[TorQ Junkie]

If warrantee is an issue, I would recommend Mopar/T&D RR's and having a Viper tech do the install. My tech had no problem with doing this and covering me for future problems related to it.

Stories about dropping the push rods into the engine steered me away from DIY.

 

[kverges]

If the concept of valve lash is foreign or confusing to you, don't DIY.

 

[bwhitmore]

I don't think the concept is foreign to me, but there are a couple things I don't understand.

First, is the only way to find TDC with a remote starter? That doesn't seem like the most precise way to do it, but maybe that isn't a huge deal.

Also, in the how-to it mentions having to go 3/4 of a turn past zero lash twice over, I assume this would be the same as 1-1/2 turns past zero lash on Jack B's write up? And is it a different amount of turns past zero lash for different rockers?

Also I would go with new pushrods recommended to compliment whatever rockers I bought for geometry purposes.

I guess my reason for wanting to go

 

[J DAWG]

"First, is the only way to find TDC with a remote starter? That doesn't seem like the most precise way to do it, but maybe that isn't a huge deal."

- remote starter makes the job so much easier and one is still able to properly adjust the lash with a starter. TDC is one option, but one can also follow the vavles as they open and close. Kinda old school, but the same principle and the same adjustment.


"Also, in the how-to it mentions having to go 3/4 of a turn past zero lash twice over, I assume this would be the same as 1-1/2 turns past zero lash on Jack B's write up? And is it a different amount of turns past zero lash for different rockers?"


- once zero lash is obtained (not allows 1 turn as it can and will vary from one vavle to the other) then you want to adjust an additional 3/4 turn. The range from what I have heard from most tuners is 1/2 to 1 turn after zero. It is very important not to exceed 2 1/2 to 3 total turns from the start so oil flow is not compromised.


ps - torqjunkie, I dropped a pushrod and it wasn't fun, , but I learned my lesson and have not done it since.