How do I install Roller rocker arms?

Rexxkar · Spanner Necoa #: 1240 Joined: Jul 17, 2003 Posts: 6

Greetings
I need some comprehensive directions on how to install a set of roller rocker arms on a GM "Fastburn" 350 engine. I bought a complete cam kit that is recommended for this engine but I have never done this sort of thing. Would someone direct me to some VERY GOOD directions/instructions,work manual,book, or any website that has a good explnation on how to do it, and also inform me of any special tools needed to do the job too.

Joe

bgstk · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:25 am Post subject:

No offense, Joe, but if you're installing a new cam, lifters, push rods, etc., I think it's a job for a mechanic that knows what he's doing. The settings are critical, especially the cam timing. A small mistake or oversight can mean an expensive repair. If you do it yourself, I would think any GM motor manual would have the instructions and the cam kit should include all the setting specs. Good Luck.

theelcaminofactory · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 9:48 am Post subject:

Although there are several good books available on how to hot rod small blocks that'll run you around $15 from Summit, Jegs, OPGI and others (also if you have a local speed shop), I would have to agree with "bgstk" if you have never done this before, don't attempt it on your own...even with a manual! Setting up the valve train correctly is critical and if you miss something or do something wrong you could cause some serious damage or at the very least have to take it all apart again to correct something. If you know someone who has some knowledeable engine assembly experience, who can watch you and check over your work as you do it then go for it.
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ElkyPete · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 11:16 am Post subject:

Roller Rockers and Roller Lifters are a good way to upgrade the valve train and free up some pent up horsepower. I would get with a person that has experience. First time I went through a CAM brake in it totally freaked me out. I though that the thing was going to just explode.

Installing just Roller Rockers is not very difficult but doing everything all at once is a little bit more complicated. The geometry of the cam, lifters and rockers is a critical point and at the very least, you will not get the power out you really expected if it is not done correctly. Hell, sometime you do it all by the numbers and still don't get the power you expected.

The tips of the rockers are to be centered on the valve stem at half lift, which could mean different pushrods. Cam Angle is critical to producing power and brake in is critical to the longevity and health of the valve train in general and Cam specifically.

Do the new heads decrease the combustion chambers? Say from a seventy something cc chamber to a 60 something chamber. Are you changing the Ratio of the Rockers, going from a stock 1.5:1 to say a 1.6:1, did you install an adjustable timing set or a stock GM timing set all that is consideration for the task at hand.

With the AFR Heads I have on the 80 I had to measure for the pushrod length, which meant getting a tool from Comp Cams, if you know someone who’s' already went through this there are lots of stuff they could have that you will not have to buy, like those adjustable pushrods or two solid lifters, decreeing wheel, etc....

Here is Comp Cams technical pages. Lots of good stuff here to give an understanding of just what you will need to do.

http://www.compcams.com/Technical/Instructions/

Sounds like fun good luck.
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