woodsdesign

Guys,
I have been thinking of installing roller rockers on my 65 L-79. I have been looking at Harland Sharps. Has anyone done this and used the stock valve covers? Also, do you see any advantage installing these.
Larry

bosshog8

Your either going to need valve cover shims or several thick gaskets with reinforcement in between. Stock covers and stock gaskets won't cut it. If you have power brakes then you have to check clearance there also but it should be ok.

woodsdesign

Can you recommend a thick gasket or shim. Are they worth installing?

midyearvette

i would go with the comp cams roller tipped rockers..great for street reliability and no problems fitting a stock cover set up...

NOM61

I'll be installing a set of Comp ultra pro magnums shortly.
I think a spacer or tall covers are in my future.

DT

larrywalk

Problem with a full roller rocker is that the poly-lock style rocker nut is too high to clear the underside of the stock valve cover. Unfortunately, there is no short poly-lock style rocker nut which doesn't stick above the top of the rocker stud (as far as I know).

Alternately, one can't use a self-locking nut because the slot in a full roller rocker is not wide enough.

I've used the Comp Cams roller-tipped rockers successfully for many years as long as the valve spring pressures at full open have not been above ~300 lb.

woodsdesign

I have stock valve springs. Are these OK?

Plasticman

Absolutely.

Plasticman

bigearl56

NOM61 I am currently using Comp Cams roller tip rocker arms on a 427. I used two cork gaskits glued together and have plenty of clearance. Not sure about a small block?
Whats the story behind the MGA avatar?

Earl

NOM61

bigearl56,
These are full rollers with poly-locks. I'm going to use aluminum spacers.
The MGA is just me being contrarian.
I'm actually using it temporarily as a daily driver.

DT

BADBIRDCAGE

I run Comp Cams Pro Magnum full roller rockers on my small block. I have a set of Pep Boys chrome valve covers (stock in dimension) and run the THICK Fel Pro valve cover gaskets. Everything clears fine.

macs65

I have these rockers with stock valve covers and a Fel Pro thick gasket, no problems with fit. Don't know how to put a photo on here but check out my garage there are photos of the rollers and covers.

L79vette

I have GM performance parts self-aligning roller rockers under stock valve covers, with Mr. Gasket thick cork gaskets.

Are they worth having? I don't know. I have seen a few dyno sheets that claimed something like 10HP, as I recall. I did not dyno mine with the rockers as the only change.

Vogie

Check Jeg's or Summit. They sell a cast aluminum spacer to fit under stock valve covers.

NEVERL8

I have Comp Cams pro magnum full rollers. I use Felpro performance cork/lam valve cover gaskets, .301" thick. Works great.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FPP-1604/

simard

My 60 had these installed when I bought the car. Fit fine under the stock valve covers with standard gaskets. (1.5 to 1 ratio.)

GUSTO14

I ran this set up back in the late 60's on my '63 with no issues... I guess I just didn't know better back then.

Unfortunately this is what things tend to look like after 36 years in storage...

I'm now in the process of restoring the car to be period correct with a hydraulic roller and the same rockers. However this time I'm using these covers from PML...

The covers are much more substantial than the stock covers and provide about a half inch additional clearance.
http://www.yourcovers.com/valve_covers_11026.php

Good luck... GUSTO

Kerrmudgeon

Hey Wayne, beauty car eh! What size holley are you running? and what sort of HP is it making? Sorry to jack thread but I figure it's pretty well answered.