Why use roller rockers?

[Boattail455]

I see roller rockers are much more expensive, and pretty. :LAUGH:What advantage is there to using roller rockers? Do they decrease wear on the valvetrain or camshaft? At what point do you NEED roller rockers instead of stock rockers? Do you need to run a roller camshaft too? Just trying to learn.:TU:

[Yardley]

You can run roller rockers with even a stock cam.

But they are really designed for high RPM application with lots of HP and torque. Basically a "race only" item. But many of us have them regardless. They are the last thing you'll want to spend your money on. A cam, valve springs, converter and gears come first.

[Smartin]

If you're going with anything smaller than a 413 cam, stick with stockers. UNLESS you have the aluminum cast rockers (1971 crap). Then you'll want to upgrade to stamped steel rockers with HD shafts.

Or you could just over-do it like I did and waste your money:LAUGH: I was told by a knowledgeable source that I don't need rollers for my application, and even went as far as getting the correct parts list for steel rockers...and I got the rollers anyway.

Pretty? Oh yeah!

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/engine_rebuild002.jpg

[kingfish]

Adam,

would those be aluminum heads hiding under the red paint...:LAUGH:

TA rocker assy's Iassume.


Regards,

george

[Smartin]

Unfortunately, no...maybe next year!

[71stage1conv]

So I was right, the aluminum rockers are weak. Funny though, my 71 350 had the stamped steel rockers. I guess the cheap big carss got the crap...:ROLL:

I suppose it really was a mid year running change from steel to aluminum.:RE:

[Smartin]

On my tan 71 LeSabre, I had one stamped steel set and one aluminum set. Weird..

[Boattail455]

I knew 73's were better, and not just because the A.I.R. pump or EGR. :BROW:I can't say I've ever checked any of my cars. It'll be interesting to see if the were replaced during the "rebuild."

I hope Dan doesn't mean Electra when he says cheap big cars. I heard the 71 GS Stage 1 Bittersweet convertibles were cheaper than the opels on the lot. :T:

[71stage1conv]

Big advantage of roller rockers, easy to adjust.:BEERS: