i'm kinda curious because i need to know which ones to buy. my roomate is a pretty good mechanic so i will prolly have him install them, but i need to know if this is something that only a professional should do. He says he can do it, but i've heard a ton os storys on here about people never being able to get them aligned right, and then they throw a rod. Also what do i need for the installation? do i need new lifters, pusrods, and springs? i dont plan on doing a cam any time soon if that helps. Also could you point me in the right direction of were i can buy everything i need?
sorry i have so many questions but i'm kinda new to this.
p.s. will i need new valve covers?

 

It would help a lot to know what kind of motor you are planning on installing new rockers on.

Rich

 

an LT1, its a 97 z28 if it matters.

 

Self-Aligning Rockers use a mechanism on the rocker itself to keep aligned on the pushrod...so they dont require the use of guideplates.

NSA's require hardened guideplates and hardened pushrods to maintain alignment.

It's not a particularly tough job to swap out rockers, unless you are changing rocker ratio. If you are, you need to consider piston-to-valve clearance, spring rates, coil-bind height, pushrod geometry, etc.

If your room-mate cannot adequately explain all of the questions in your post...include the Self-Aligning vs. Non-Self-Aligning issue...then do NOT let him under your hood.


Scott

 

is it true teh self alighning ones are loud?

 

do i have to change the springs or worry about valve clearences if i upgrade to 1.6 rr's? my roomate explained to me how to change the rockers but he just didnt know what the differnece betweenthe 2 were. He changed the tranny in my mustang in 3 hours, hes done all the work on my car so i wouldnt have a problem letting him work on my car.

 

Stock springs and 1.6 rockers will put you within .002" of coil bind...not a good thing. To answer your question, yes. You should replace the valve springs with at LEAST the LT4 springs, especially for as cheap as they are.

Self-aligning rockers use small "nubs" or "tabs" at the roller tip to locate themselves on the top of the valve stem.

Non self-aligning rockers use guideplates (metal "fingers" installed under the rocker stud) that locate the pushrods and align the rockers on top of the valve springs. A NSA setup is typically more stable in the higher RPMs, but requires the use of hardened pushrods and guideplates (93-95 cars already had hardened pushrods). Rocker studs will need to be removed and reinstalled to install the guideplates. I'm using Crane Gold NSA rockers with GM guideplates. In this picture, you can see the guideplates locating the pushrods.

Hope this helps.

 

I suppose it is possible to understand the difference without actually knowing how they work. So, sure why not, if you trust him, go for it.

You probably should get some stronger springs. Have fun changing them

 

lol thanks for all your help, but from what you have told me i'm now thinking that this is a little more involved then changing a tranny, i think i'm just going to take it to a professional, like a speed shop.
but one more question, could you point me to a site that sells what i am going to need. am i just going to need springs and the rr's or should i change out the lifters and push rods while its torn apart?

 

You don't really have to replace them. In fact, I wouldn't replace the lifters unless you're doing a cam swap....

Actually, now that I think about it. you really don't even need to replace your springs. Thats more of my own personal thing, not really a standard procedure. I would do the whole valve train if you replace the cam though.

 

When going to 1.6 rocker arms, I would consider changing the springs standard procedure and not changing them "gambling".

 

Good, then I'm not some methodical freak. After that first post, my friend insisted that you really don't need to. I always figured it would be a good idea.

As for changing them. If you're comfortable changing spark plugs, it's not to bad. you'll need a spring compressor, an air compressor, and a air fitting that threads in to the spark plug holes.