Roller motor

[HOTSIX]

Does anyone here have any experience with roller rockers or cam on their car ? I was looking at getting the Harland Sharp 1.5:1 kit....maybe even a new roller cam. Prob install it in the winter.....

How much HP can you gain from using the roller rockers ? How bout add a roller 206/206 cam to that as well....? Is it worth the bucks ?

 

[FWD turbo]

I think opinions will vary on this one. I don't have roller rockers, so I can't give an experienced opinion on those, although I believe anything that reduces friction will be worth some power. I just don't know how much power the rockers will give you.

Personally, I am a big fan of roller cams. I have a roller in mine. It has a 215/215 duration, 112 lobe separation, and 503 lift. I like it alot. It continues making power as high up in the rpm band as I am willing to rev the engine. I haven't reved it high enough to feel it start to drop off yet. Probably won't.

If you compare a flat tappet cam and a roller side by side, you will see a large difference. The roller cam has a much steeper ramp on it, so it opens and closes the valves alot faster. I believe this translates into having the valve fully open for a greater period of time during its open "duration" than is possible with a flat tappet of the same grind. (I'm not positive about this, but it seems to make sense) Also, since it is a roller, there is less friction and drag. That alone has to be worth some horsepower. How much I don't know, but I'm sure someone on this board has a good idea. Maybe they will chime in. A friend of mine told me he thinks a roller is probably worth 15-20 hp over a flat tappet with a similar grind. I have no cold hard facts to back that up though. That's just his opinion. Another good thing about rollers is that they wear very little. It should last you as long as you want to use it, maybe even longer.

IMHO, a roller cam is worth every penny.

 

[HOTSIX]

Hey thanks for the reply !

Not sure yet if I wanna spend the dough....might be better spent elsewhere - plus I just took the intake off!!!

Could be a winter project for me.

 

[daddyed73]

my motor is just being finished up right now, and i went with the roller rockers. My engine guy did have to do a bit of machine work on the heads because they won't bolt right on, so that cost a little more. But like hotsix said anything you can do to reduce friction should let the engine produce more power. The least it will do is increase the wear life on the engine parts. So that translates to you pay more now and the motor lasts longer, or you pay less now and rebuild it sooner.

 

[turboclam]

206 Roller cam

I have a Comp 206-206 roller cam brand new for sale. They list for $299 i will let it go for $235 + shipping. I also have 1.55 roller rockers used in good shape. You would have to get studs and nuts for them. Available through Jeg's or Summit. $40 Email me at Clendmik@aol.com. I accept Paypal through turboclam@cs.com Thanks Michael

 

[HOTSIX]

Why are you selling it ?

Where can u find the specs on that cam - I looked on Comp Cams website but cant find it...same for Jegs and Summit

 

[Jerryl]

I belief you need to get the valve guides reworked for the higher lift or the retainer will bottom out and break something, or purchase the special retainers.

Higher lift (I belief on these motors) may be defined as anything over 0.438" Not sure of this number but max lift is advertised at 0.408" for the 87.

 

[FWD turbo]

I belief you need to get the valve guides reworked for the higher lift or the retainer will bottom out and break something, or purchase the special retainers.

Higher lift (I belief on these motors) may be defined as anything over 0.438" Not sure of this number but max lift is advertised at 0.408" for the 87.

I believe that the issue has to do with the installed height and the diameter of the valve springs. Depending on what type of springs you use, I suppose you might have to have the "seat" where the valve sits on the heads machined so the springs will fit properly. But it's probably not something you will have to worry about. I am sure that if you order a cam, set of lifters, springs, pushrods, etc. from a place like comp, they will be able to sell you something that you will be able to use without having to do any machining to your heads. Also, make sure you realize that alot of cam specs are listed @ 1.5 ratio. Stock ratio for the buicks is 1.55, so it may be a higher/lower actual lift than you think it is. Make sure you are clear on what you are getting before you buy it. Just as an example, consider this: my cam is a 487 lift with 1.5 ratio. But since the buick rockers are actually 1.55, the actual lift ends up being 503. I doubt that with stock heads and pistons etc, that you will choose a large enough cam that you will have any kind of clearance issues though, so probably won't need to worry about it. If you go with that 206/206, you won't have any issues to worry about. That is a very popular grind for these cars and alot of people have had great success with it as well.

 

[Jerryl]

I believe that the issue has to do with the installed height and the diameter of the valve springs. Depending on what type of springs you use, I suppose you might have to have the "seat" where the valve sits on the heads machined so the springs will fit properly. But it's probably not something you will have to worry about. I am sure that if you order a cam, set of lifters, springs, pushrods, etc. from a place like comp, they will be able to sell you something that you will be able to use without having to do any machining to your heads. Also, make sure you realize that alot of cam specs are listed @ 1.5 ratio. Stock ratio for the buicks is 1.55, so it may be a higher/lower actual lift than you think it is. Make sure you are clear on what you are getting before you buy it. Just as an example, consider this: my cam is a 487 lift with 1.5 ratio. But since the buick rockers are actually 1.55, the actual lift ends up being 503. I doubt that with stock heads and pistons etc, that you will choose a large enough cam that you will have any kind of clearance issues though, so probably won't need to worry about it. If you go with that 206/206, you won't have any issues to worry about. That is a very popular grind for these cars and alot of people have had great success with it as well.

FWD Turbo,
You are correct. I am sure the Comp folks have this figured out. Merely wanted to “caution” while not insulting anyone's intelligence. As you will agree, it can be a tightrope.

Anyway, as far as clearance is concerned, I am no expert and was repeating my read in an old post. See Lee's comments on clearance. Now I know the number.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66026&highlight=valve

Then see Lee's recommendation on cam and turbo selection
Another nugget from Lee.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8447&highlight=cam

HOTSIX,
You have been around here a log time and realize you already know this.
Sorry for hijacking. :frown:

 

[FWD turbo]

You always dig up the best old threads Jerryl! I just love that statement - "a cam's too big when it won't go through the holes in the block." That's awesome. I feel the same way, as you can probably tell by my cam selection.

That was a good discussion on grinding out the valve guides as well.

 

[HOTSIX]

Jerryl

No worries on the Hijack thing... I am considering a cam swap so I am glad to have any / all input on the issue.

I dont consider it a hijack at all!

Thanks for the link to Lee's threads too.

 

[turbo6x2]

Jerryl rules again on the killer links to the older posts. I know I've been happy with my roller rockers and cam set up. But I have re worked 87 heads, due the fact my stockers were a bit on the bad side. It's all in what you want to do and accomplish. But those are great posts that Jerryl located.