im thinking my next upgrade may be roller rockers. how beneficial are they? ive found 1.52 and 1.6 for my 88, 2.8. what ones should i go with? is there anything i need to do to the pushrods or anything else to be able to use them? ive heard something about drilling out the pushrods or getting longer ones or something like that to accomodate for those. whats up with that? thanks for any input.

 

I've heard the the 1.52 rockers fit, but you need to get fiero covers if you want to use the 1.6 ratio. Don't know about the need to change pushrods, but better springs may be needed.

 

what is the need for the fiero valve covers? ive heard a lot of people say that, but never said why? are they too long or too tall or what? how much more will i gain with the 1.52 rockers as opposed to the 1.6 rockers?

 

The fiero covers have better clearence on the inside. If you've ever taken the covers off your car, you'll notice that there are what look like little oil sheilds, I don't think that the Fiero covers have these...plus they are spiffy looking. Don't know about the gains though, I want to do this my self, just don't have the money.

 

It is not essential to get pushrods, but it wouldn't hurt to get some hardened pushrods with those roller rockers. The stock ones may not hold up to the roller rockers. You will probably want to get some stronger valve springs too.

Roller Rockers by themselves are beneficial, but since I have not done it yet, I don't know how much of a difference you will feel. At least your engine will have one area with less friction and stress.


1.52 ratio rockers fit without modifications. 1.6 rockers require modification to the valve covers.

 

WE did not go roller with mine. There would be a difference, but not really that noticible...

On the fiero valve covers...there is more clearance. The are a smigen taller and shaped a touch different. And they do look cool, polished and repainted candy apple red!

 

I have been told that you will need valve springs that can handle the additional lift with the 1.6:1 rockers, along with the taller valve covers from the fiero. Someone above was asking about the oil baffles. Yes, the Fiero covers have them, but the covers are taller and shaped different so that they have a lot more clearance than the stock F-body pieces. I recently bought a set for my car for $20, with the bolts. You have to get those, because they are unique to the Fiero covers. Mine look crappy, but are not dinged up at all. I will strip them and paint them. Hopefully they will look as good as RedRaif's when I am done.

I have also thought about getting the upper intake piece from a Fiero, making myself a neck from aluminum, and welding it on there. That way, the upper intake would match the valve covers. I have also heard that the 'neck' behind the throttle body is a big flow restriction in both cars. Remaking that piece out of aluminum tubing could help that a lot. It would be a lot of work, but hey, it would be unique and pretty sharp.

 

Yes when you get new rockers make sure that valve springs are on your list too. They are essential with this mod.

 

i've got 1.6 roller rockers on my 3.1 and the valve covers are not stock but i'm not 100% sure what they were made for (they are chrome and edlebrock's). i had to grind the valve spring seats on my heads but i have a high lift cam, i'm not sure if this would be neccessary on a stock cam or not. if you are going to change the valve springs, go on ebay...350 springs will work and should have the required lift available. you have to pull the heads and the valves for this so, you might as well go ahead and do a good port and polish job while you're right there. any questions just email me or post here....i have a brand new HIGHLY modded, home built, 3.1 in my 91 rs. anybody ever hit 9s in the 1/8th mile on a v6 fbody with gears or shift kit or posi?....i did on street tires. there was a guy out there with a 91 rs and a 305 runnin 11s in the 1/8th.....my v6 was MUCHH faster!

 

oh yea, my 1.6 roller rockers are for a sbc also....fit fine but, use OEM stamped style and your original v6 pivot *****.