rocker ratio and cam choice

[Anonymous]

I was wondering....... can the cam specs be "altered" by using a different ratio of rockers? I have been looking at 351c roller rockers on ebay and they come in 1.73, 1.80 and other ratios. If I end up using a stock cam in an attempt to save money would a non stock ratio give me some of the benefits of a hopped up cam? If so what would I go with.

Also is valve cover clearance usually an issue when going with full rollers on a crossflow? I will be using an alloy efi cover and really don't want to deal with a spacer.

 

[addo]

Yes the cover will foul. Use the steel cover for a little more room to move, or get a billeted spacer - but that may be out of budget.

You'll get higher lift and marginally more duration; like what you folks call a "RV" cam. Heed the experiences of people who've had the fixings pull out of the head, and prep accordingly.

 

[Anonymous]

Addo, what ratio rockers would you reccomend with the stock cam and steel cover?

 

[MustangSix]

Spyke, the stock rockers are 1.73 and 351C/429/460 pedestal rockers will bolt on. Unless you've ported the heads to improve flow, there's probably not a lot to be gained by opening the valves much more than .500 inches.

 

[alloydave]

If your using a alloy rocker cover you can get a rubber rocker cover gasket that is about 4-5mm thick .The normal gasket is a paper 1mm .
#JN639R

Dave

 

[Anonymous]

If I stick with the steel cover will the full rollers hit? If they do I will probably do the next best thing and go with roller tips....

 

[MustangSix]

At least with a steel cover you can easily add clearance with a hammer ala some of Smokey Yunick's experimental engines. I recal one picture of a SBC with lots of bumps in the valve cover to clear the BBC rockers he was using.

 

[DYNOED250]

yes ive done that before :> nice dents in the rocker cover