Is it worth using rocker arm stud girdles? I picked up a 383 LT1 that has 1.6 Harland Sharp rocker arms and I have professional products rocker arm stud girdles but I do not have the right nuts/bolts for it. What are the benefits for using the stud girdles and is it worth it to install? I'll need to figure out what nuts/bolts I need and I will need some tall valve covers. Also, how are these things installed? Anyone got photos? Thanks

I use a stud girdle because my valve springs have around 300# of seat pressure. When the valve is open, there's around 800# of pressure. The girdle keeps the rocker studs from deflecting under those extreme loads.

Having a stud girdle is about the only reason you need tall valve covers. Longer than stock valves is another reason. Roller rockers on stock length valves should fit under a stock height valve cover.

This is a BBC stud girdle. SBC valves are all on the same plane.

I would need to get the correct poly lock nuts for use with stud girdles correct? What holds the stud girdles to the nuts? Thes one I have are two-piece with 4 allen screws to tighten the two pieces together and there are springs between each half of the stud girdle at the two center screws (make sense?)

It looks as if you tight the stud girdle to the wider (upper) shaft nuts but I do not see how they would be held on and prevented from moving up or down. Here are some pics of what I have...

You need special poly lock nuts that the stud girdle fits over. You then just tighten the stud girdle over the nuts. Yours has allen screws. Mine uses 5/16" bolts. I'm not sure on the purpose of the springs. Probably just makes it easier to install by holding the 2 sections apart as you slide it over the rocker studs.

This is what you need. $8 each and you need 16 of them.
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/20502/10002/-1