When I bought my camaro the dealer told me that the previuos owner put a different camshaft in it. my guess, is that the extra lift in the engine is causing the rocker arms to hit the top of the valve covers. has anyone ever had to install taller valve covers on their engine for this reason? If so i am going to get taller ones.

 

souds like a bunch of BS to me. iam runnin a taller lift cam with roller rockers and i am using stock centerbolt valve covers, i didnt even have to tweak the breathers.

 

I think the rocker would fall off of the valve stem before it could get pushed into the valve cover that way.. Its possible that some 1.6:1 ratio rockers were installed and are rubbing on the inside edge of the valve cover (had that problem when I had 1.6 crane roller rockers with tall elite series edelbrock covers) and thats what you are hearing.. But just from a different camshaft?? I don't think so..

Usually people get slightly taller valve covers if they can't clear the poly locks that usually get installed with premium rocker arms...

 

maybe i just need to adjust the rockers. could this be the prob?

 

It could be if they're out of adjustment..

 

How can the rockers hit the valve cover? When the cam opens the valve, the rocker tip goes down, not up. Either way you roll the dice, the installed height (closed position) remains the same.

 

I guess I should clarify by saying that I did have a small problem with the rockers rubbing on the inboard side of the valve cover (thicker wall cast aluminum cover combined with large body roller rockers).. Not really a hit, but caused noise nonetheless until I took some material off of the inside of the valve cover.

edit: it does go up on the pushrod side, then the rocker pushes down on the valve.