I've got a set of crane springs, the specs are as follows:
Max net lift w .060' clearance: .487
Seat pressure: 114# @ 1.700" seat; 340# @ 1.200" open
coil bind at 1.153"
Rate: 432 lbs/in

The cam is a .442 / .465 lift

These should work fine with 1.6 rocker right?

Also, I have a set of heads from a Gen 1 block, if I go with non-sa roller rockers, i shouldn't need guide plates, correct?

 

.465" with a 1.5 rocker = .496" with a 1.6

I'd suggest not doing that.... you're treading on mighty thin water there. Especially if your current installed height happens to be less than 1.700".

 

If you want yo run 1.6 rockers, you need to clearance the pushrod holes. other wise your pushrods will hit the heads. which brings the need for screw in studs and guide plates. Just in casr you didn't know.

 

hmmm guess I didn't know that... I'm beginning to reconsider the 1.6's

Changing the springs doesn't really bother me, its just going through the work and $$ of screw in studs and guide plates and clearancing the holes.

 

Pushrod holes have very little to do with screw in studs/guide plates.

Screw in studs relate to the spring pressures. As you increase the spring pressure, you increase the upward "pull out" pressure on the fulcrum point, which is the stud. Lift has a role to play in this as well.

Also, pushrod clearance, on factory castings, isn't as big of an issue (although still important and shouldn't be overlooked) as the guide boss-retainer clearance. Most factory castings of the Gen. I era slam the bottom of the retainer into the guide boss at somewhere around .460-.480" lift. Every casting can be different, so it would be in the best interest to have them measured out or better yet, milled for more room.

Mr. Gasket sells a screw in stud kit that doesn't require the milling and threading of the stud boss for screw in studs and guide plates. You just tap them holes yourself and thread the studs in. Sorry, don't know the part number off hand.

You can get retainers that add .050" to the installed height.