I've got a 94 Z28 with a stock LT1, and I notice a lot of ticking coming from the engine bay, I'm pretty sure it's lifters clicking. A while back my knock module was bumping my timing down by like 20 degrees, so I tuned that out. Oil is full, and decent oil pressure, so I assume one's just loose.

I figured that since I was going to pull the valve covers, I might as well do some maintenance. I was wondering would be involved in switching to roller rockers, and what I'd need to replace with it (valve springs? eh I don't know). This is my first time messing with any internals, other than adjusting valves on my SBC.

 

greased lighting works really good and would be a cheap fix

my lifters were ticking becuase of old oil in it when i bought it. i changed the oil and poured greased lightning in it and now it works great

 

Sure its not an exhaust leak? I would pull the valve covers and make sure nothing else sticks out, such as a loose rocker arm.

 

Well I do have an exhaust leak, and I can distinctly hear that... but I also can hear what seems to be lifter clicking. I figured that one of the rocker arms came loose and just needs to be tightened up.. but if I'm going to go through the trouble of taking off the valve covers, I might as well put in a set of roller rockers while I'm at it. Just like when I go through the trouble of fixing that exhaust leak, I might was well put long tubes on. What sorts of gains would I see from a set of 1.6 roller rockers? They're certainly more of a painless install than headers, I'd assume.

 

You could see gains of 10-15hp with the roller rocker upgrade. I would say they are easier to do versus the headers. You will want to upgrade the springs as well though.

 

What would all be involved? Would I need new pushrods, or what? Like I said, never messed with anything internal except some valve adjustment on a crate SBC, that's it lol. Are there kits that come with the rockers and valve springs, and if I recall aren't there different size studs?

 

pulling valve covers takes like 5 minutes. its not bad at all. replacing rockers and springs will take a few hours. i would pull the vc off and see if any are loose. if there not then your going to have to go a little deeper into the engine.

 

Some people upgrade their pushrods as well when doing a roller rocker upgrade.

 

I thought you had to pull the alternator and a few other small things in order to get the passenger valve cover off? I haven't really looked at it since I'm away at school right now, so I don't know.

 

Yes, you have to pull the alternator, nothing too difficult about it though.