Thread: Valvetrain recommendation - low 13's

Ticking is not going away so lifters gotta be done, while I am in there...

This motor will never get cammed & I don't wish to run higher than stock redline, but, I do wish to eventually run low 13's. I pulled the rockers today and was thinking of upgrading as I never ever want to go back into this particular motor (I think low 13's will not require a Gen V SC if I eventually get an intercooler). I am looking for recommendations on what to do with the valvetrain.

1) Keep stock rockers (not worth $300 investment vs gains), stock pushrods, replace lifters
2) Find some used 1.9's, stock pushrods, replace lifters
3) New 1.9s, stock pushrods, replace lifters

4) What about 1.84's? or other alternatives?

I ordered yesterday, the LS7 lifters & reuseable comp cams bolts - just need rockers now if they are worth it & which ones.

Also I am having some thoughts on the springs & pushrods. Could they be making the ticking noise? The pushrods appear straight & the springs appear tight and in tact. Does any of that need replacing?

Rockers will only be worth it if you push the rev limit a bit.

It isn't going to kill the car, especially if you are upgrading the valvetrain at the same time.

Think Crow 105's with matching retainers and either modded 1.9's (which have known to be noisy over time) or get some 1.95 rollers...set shift points around 6k~...that is only a few hundred more than stock with the Performance Shift on (I think its around 5700-5800).

Pushrods?

I recommend the stock length Intense Oil Restricted pushrods.

They help bump pressure a bit and are a bit lighter than stock so you lose some weight off the valvetrain, and paired with lighter rockers, it'll rev faster as well. Titanium retainers really help that, but they are pricey.

I would like to only replace springs & pushrods if they could be causing the ticking. I figured while in there replace the rockers with some higher ratio ones but I don't want the cost to get too high by doing springs/PR's/Retainers if I don't have to. With a goal of low 13's I figured rockers, intercooler, headers, pulley down & tune should get me there. In the end I want to upgrade rockers for some HP but want them quiet & don't want huge costs. Thinking rockers used are about $150, bolts & kit was $40 + lifters $110.

Originally Posted by darkhorizon

put a cam in... biggest "gotcha" in a cam swap is pulling the LIM, and you are already there anyway.

Cam only you can run in the 12s.

To be honest, I suspect I would mess something up with a cam install on my own. Plus the cost is dramatically different by the time you get everything.

Elite, just ignore that post above yours.

Originally Posted by darkhorizon

put a cam in... biggest "gotcha" in a cam swap is pulling the LIM, and you are already there anyway.

Cam only you can run in the 12s.

Cam only will not just "net you 12's".

Yet another Dark Horizon post with no backing.

are you wanting low 13s on pump gas or race gas? that will probably have a larger impact than what rockers you go with (and the tune of course)... personally I went with 1.84s with comp cams rods and left everything else alone in the valvetrain...

Pump gas, are the 1.84's quiet?

If they are roller rockers they are usually quiet.... gonna have a hard time getting low 13s on street tires and pump gas with the setup youre talking about though trust me... Ive been this route before...

you will wish you went with a cam instead of rockers down the road.... again.... been down this road...

Originally Posted by gtpsleeper

you will wish you went with a cam instead of rockers down the road.... again.... been down this road...

This.

Listen to the guy that has my old rockers because I was smart and got rid of my 1.84 rollers in favor of an XP.

Then went with a stout ported heads/large cam combo.

Down the road i am sure my trans will take a dump. I plan on building a motor outside the car that i can drop in eventually which will have a cam. For now i am thinking a used set of 1.9's that i will sell down the road. I just want to know if i can run higher ratio rockers on stock pushrods? I have new lifters coming as the ticking is the number 1 problem to fix at the moment. Maybe mid 13's is a more realistic goal for a rockered car.

Stock pushrods work on the modded 1.9's from zzp I'm on the stock springs as well but wouldnt recommend it.

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

This.

Listen to the guy that has my old rockers because I was smart and got rid of my 1.84 rollers in favor of an XP.

Then went with a stout ported heads/large cam combo.

Originally Posted by darkhorizon

its pretty obvious that "cam only" refers to at least valvesprings, a pulley.... Which has been in the 12s before.

Didn't know we we're on LS1Tech.

Good to know.

modded rockers are cool and all, but the power gain is very disapointing, even more so with an engine that has a piss poor cam and heads that have ports the size of a lego.

Previous owner put harland sharp 1.9's on the Daytona, rocking those (pun intended, mother****ers) with headers and a 3.4 pulley makes the car boogie, but those "gains" would get destroyed by an XP/S1X cam instead of the rockers. Even having the rockers now, I'm still planning a NIC cam install since I'm looking for more power. That, with headers/gen V/meth I'll be balls deep in the 12's.