I also posted this in tech engine general...
Has anyone used the summit brand 1.6 roller rockers? I just installed a set on my brand new motor and it sounds like a badly adjusted solid cam!! This is a new gm shortblock, trickflow heads, origional STOCK L98 camshaft out of the first motor (which was quiet) and a brand new gm roller lifter kit. I've gone down the pass side twice (back off until noisy, tighten till quiet and one full turn after) and it sounds like s--t! Both sides. Good oil pressure and oil at all rockers. Am I missing something here? Has anyone else had this issue with these?

 

Come on.....am I the only cheap f--k that bought these??

 

First of all one full turn from zero lash is a lot of preload. Most cam manuafacturers suggest 1/4 turn, 1/2 turn at most preload with the stock adjusters. 1 full turn is probably 40 thousandths or more preload which is unnecessary and can make the engine more prone to valve float. Rollers themselves shouldn't be making any noise though.

Here's what your problem most likely is:

The pushrod angle changes when you change to 1.6 rockers. Most TPI heads DO NOT have long enough pushrod guide slots in the heads to accomodate this angle change. Your pushrods are probably smacking the edge of the guide slots in the heads. Do not run your engine without checking this! You will break ****! You may need to elongate the pushrod guide slots with a die grinder.

 

This would be a very logical solution except that these are not TPI heads. Hence the trickflow description. These heads (3030005) come with guide plates. I am using the trickflow pushrods for this (GM roller) motor and the rockers are the NON self aligned narrow body rocker offered by Summit. Not knocking your suggestion, but its in the description already. Thats what is so frustrating. I origionally set the motor up with .040 preload and they lifters/rockers were noisy. So I pulled the pass side cover and adjusted that side twice. The sound hasn't changed. I am about to re install the stock 1.5 steel rockers just to eliminate any other causes. Its a good used cam that was in the first L98 before I built this one. Ran great with no valvetrain noise. Cam failure shouldn't be an issue seeing as #1 its a roller that I have used previously and #2 its a roller!

 

Which Trickflow heads are you running? I have used several brands of roller rockers. ALL are what you would consider "noisy" compared to standard rockers. I have used Crane Gold 1.5s, and am currently using Comp Pro Magnum 1.6s.

I too went the "theres got to be something wrong with the adjustment" route, but that does not seem to be the case. My heads are the original Trickflow Twisted wedge G1s using Comps pushrods and retro roller lifters. It could be because the rocker angle and pushrod length is not standard. I have run this motor for 4 years with hundreds of track runs and no problems. I have read other posts, disassembled and looked for abnormal wear and all is good. So I basically came to the conclusion that yes, roller rockers are noisier than standard type rockers.

 

The head is basically a corvette 113 replacement except its a 56cc chamber not 58 and its a 175cc runner not 163. Standard valve locations and stock size valves. The noise is high up in the head not down low in the motor. I'm just about to swap the steel rockers back in to eliminate or prove the rockers are the problem. I'll let you know. Thanks for the info.