I would go out and look, but to get my valve covers off would be a giagantic PITA. Removing the A/C compressor and blah blah blah...

Do stock L05 heads (swirl port I guess) have the "cast-in" pushrod guides?

I'm going to get a set of the Crane Gold roller rockers and they say not to use them with those heads. If the heads do have the cast-in pushrod guides can I use hardened pushrods?

 

Van Man,

The 350 TBI heads may have been "swirlies" in the early years ('87-'89), but I think that was abandoned around 1990, or so. I could be WAY wrong on that, but I seem to recall the end of the swirl ports about that time in favour of the up-and-coming Vortec head design (like the LT1, LT4, L99, etc.) The swirl ports were an early '80s phenomenon, and the trucks may have held on to them a bit longer. I know some of the smaller engines continued to use them, but not the V-8s, to my recollection.

Regardless, the L05 should be a roller cam design, and thus should have self-aligning rockers with enlarged push rod holes in the heads - e.g., no guides in the heads. Instead if the inferior Crane aluminums, consider the Comp Cams 1317 (1.52:1) or 1318 (1.6:1) forged CrMo rockers. They're self-aligning, lighter, stronger, and smaller (and unfortunately, more expensive). Just an option. If you want some feedback, check with Ede - I think he's running at least one set.

 

So even if my L05 came with a flat tappet it will have the enlarged pushord holes?

 

"Mongo no know... Mongo just pawn in game of life..."

(I've gotta see that movie again)

I'm not sure. I'd ask you to get the casting number from the heads, but then you'd have to remove the rocker covers, and , well, you see where that is going.

 

Hey Vader...I bit the bullet and took my valve cover off. I wanted to be 100% sure that I wouldn't have any problems. I do have the round "unguided" pushrod holes.

I looked for a casting number while I was in there but engine compartment space is slim so I couldn't see around the valve springs.

Thanks for your input.

 

"Mongo pretty sure you had self-aligning rockers - but Mongo no genius..."

In that case, you really might need to look at the Comp 1317/1318s for your solution.