I'm currently building a procharged 383 and I have converted dart sbc heads with (i believe) 3/8 studs and 1.65 Crower RR's. I don't plan on spinning the motor past 6500 rpm, but I have read where people are picking up 30 hp and a quieter valve train from switching to shaft mounts. I know the base cost is a little over $800, but would it be beneficial for me to run shaft mounts?

 

Do a search in this section. There is a long informative thread in here on the subject.

 

For a Hydraulic setup, I have yet to find a compelling reason to run shafties.
The real gains come from high-revving motors, specifically those with sollid rollers where you are adjusting on a regular basis.

Use 7/16" studs, a quality set of rockers (I like Comp Promags) and you'll be just fine
No rev kits, stud girdles or other junk should be required.

I've heard those rumors as well, and no one has been able to prove it.
In most cases, the gains are a result of not having set up the valvetrain properly to begin with
or having used 3/8" studs, junk rockers and/or springs. See the link below
Note that there is a gain of <2rwhp by switching to shafties, and only above 6100rpm.

http://www.circletrack.com/techartic...t_results.html

 

I too have a 97ss 383 D1 M6 FI app. I was using 3/8 studs and Crane gold SA RR's on afr 190 heads. I switched to hardened PR's, guide plates, and Comp ProMag RR's with 7/16 studs. Comp Pro's have a larger trunion bearing. The valve system is much more stable with 7/16 studs. I also run an AFR rev kit, which, I like. It works very well for agressive cam lobes. One thing I noticed during assembly... The stock hyd_lifter retainers can come very close to releasing the lifter flat on high lift cams. The rev kit loads the lifters onto the cam, so, the chance of float is greatly diminished. I run about .560" lift, and, the flat is very close to disengagement on the lifter retainer. B.

 

Shaft rockers are as JM suggested - to be considered for wild solid grinds. If it is going to have a hydraulic cam, don't give shaft mounts another thought.

Rich

 

I run Jesel SS shafts with my HR cam. I was previously running Comp NSA aluminum rockers, 3/8 stud with AFR guide plates. Yes, my valve train did get MUCH quieter with the shafts. As for HP gains, I have heard around 20 to 25HP increase, although I do not have any before and after dyno tests after I made the swap. There is someone that posted in the LT1 Tech section that did show a 20 HP gain switching to shafts, but I don’t recall his setup, HR or solid. I agree with James Montigny, use a 7/16 stud and a good NSA rocker with guide plates, don’t worry about running a rev kit or girdle. I would get away from the 3/8 setup. As for the benefits of going with shafts, yes, there are some. I think they are a benefit for hydraulic or solid roller setups. There is some more reading you can do here on Jesel's website: http://www.jeselonline.com/v2/index.php?categoryid=52



Nick