im looking to upgrade my factory rockers to a set of full roller rockers. problem is i dont want to pay $300+ for a set of those Crane "Gold" rockers. they seem to be the only ones made that work with 87 and up valvetrain geometry (narrow body, self aligning) and fit under the centerbolt valve covers. does anyone know of a brand that makes this type of rocker a bit cheaper than that, or are the Gold rockers my only option?

 

you can go w/ others but you would need to modify the valve covers. Not that hard to do.

 

You can go with the Comp Cams Pro Magnum rocker arms. They're made of Stainless Steel and are full roller and wight 5% less at the valves. I prefer them over aluminum rockers any day. They're only around $260.

 

GMPP has some that require no modifications. I'm not sure what they cost, I got a hook up on mine.

 

I got the GMPP 1.6 aluminum roller rockers with my hot cam and they fit under some chrome summit valve covers that are supposed to be the same as stock.

 

Same here, I ran GMPP 1.6:1 aluminum roller rockers under my factory '88 GTA centerbolt covers w/ no clearance problems.

 

Will the comp cams pro magnum rr's fit under the stock valve covers without modification?

 

You know I've done a search on this and I can't seem to remember anyone straight up saying that you don't have to touch the stock L98 valve covers.

So I ordered them anyway and they should be here tomorrow and I'll make a post that tells the truth.

 

Thanks man. Be sure to keep us up to date on everything. I am very interested in seeing your post!

 

I've got the comp cams pro magnum RR's on my Vortec headed 355 in the garage.

Had to grind down a bit of the stamped "supports" in the valve cover to get them to fit between the rockers. Didn't have to modify the stanchions that the valve cover bolts pass through, but the stamped sheetmetal piece that runs from side to side to stabilize the stanchion, and only one half of that sheetmetal piece, since the fat end of the rocker is the problem. If you look at the valvecover underside, you'll see what I mean...GM "rolled" the bottom edge of that sheetmetal brace to strengthen it (I guess) and that rolled edge just needs to be ground smooth.

The widest part of any rocker body is where the stud passes through the center of it, and if you look at a head, you'll notice that the rocker stud and the drilled holes for the valve cover bolts are not along the same line...the valve cover bolt holes are "lower" than the rocker arm studs. Even if the rocker did hit the valve cover on the edge a bit, why would it matter? The widest parts of a roller rocker don't move

 

I have a pair of those 300 dollar pro magnum roller rockers for sale on ebay. Ill take them off ebay right now and sell them to you for 200 bucks total including shipping which can be expensive with heavy items like rocker arms. the part number is 1318-16 if you want to look it up for more info. profit_mic@yahoo.com if your interested

 

Just installed them yesterday. The Pro Magnum 1.6's fit my stock L98 valve covers after I shaved off one side of the support bars. If you're looking at the underside of the valve covers, they're the bars that extend off of the bolt holes. Only shave the long end (you'll see what I mean when you look at them).

15 minutes with a dremel and you're good to go.

 

Harland Sharps work just fine with stock centerbolts.

 

I wasn't aware they made self aligning rr's?

 

My Harland Sharps fit under stock covers with no mods to the covers also. They were not self centering though, and I'm not sure if Harland Sharp makes self centering RRs, so you'd need guideplates. They run around $200 new.