curtis75

My Dad is looking into building a big block. He would like to make it a full roller motor but wants to keep the stock valve covers. Will roller rockers clear the stock valve covers, if not will roller tipped rockers or are you pretty much stuck with the stamped steel ones? thanks

RHD '68 L89

I had 1/2 inch spacers made the shape of the rocker gasket. Gave me the clearance needed while retaining the stock look. Used silicone to glue them to the heads and then gaskets to the covers.

baxsom

You may also see some issues clearing the vacuum booster and the alternator. I have seen premade spacers for this on ebay. Or you can use two gaskets.

Corey_68

as stated not with stock valve covers unless some spacers are used.

curtis75

so full rockers won't fit are roller tipped alright?

baxsom

roller tipped fit perfectly but there really is no advantage of using them. Most of the friction is at the stud.

Les

I just use double thick gaskets- pretty sure they're made by Fel Pro. Any good parts store should be able to set you up.

mudbone64

When I installed roller rockers on my 454 I figured I would just get some of those "cheater" valve covers to clear the rockers. I didn't want to cut up my originals so after I remembered my buddy had a set of aftermarket covers (no drippers) I simply bummed his. I measured the height of the new set and they seemed to be the same height as the originals. I then placed the covers over the rockers and had my wife to turn the engine over to check the clearence. To my suprise there was no rubbing at all even with only one set of gaskets. Who knows, maybe mine are minutely taller but I couldn't tell even after measuring. YMMV

Cobra R

I used those locks with a different brand of roller rockers. No issues and used fel-pro blue rubber gaskets with the steel core. No clearance issue with stock heads and stock finned covers.

GOSFAST

Hi Curt, we do these "full" roller builds all the time for our "100% stock-appearing" customers, most get hyd-roller lifters and 100% "real" roller rockers, Comp Cams. I'll put a couple shots below here!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. On these type builds we can NOT even use any "double-thick" V/C gaskets, it all must appear stock looking from the outside!

OldCarBum

My engine builder does full big block restomods all the time just like GOSFAST has pictured above.
They remove the oil drippers in the valve cover and modify the rocker locks for clearance.
They told me that some manufacturers roller rockers just won’t clear, but others do so you will need to do some research.
I used Crower stainless steel roller rockers which allowed plenty of clearance.

Gale Banks 80'

I am also interested in this Thread. And probably more and more of us in the future. With the issues with modern Oils and Camshaft Lifter wear going to Hyd Roller Lifters like all modern Engines will become more common. I will be rebuilding a BBC soon and intend to build the Engine to be judged. The Engine currently has Crane Aluminum Rockers which I assume will not work. I have used the above Crower Stainless Rockers on SBC with good results. I would think a low profile lock nut system is next.

leigh1322

I used stainless steel roller rockers on mine and kept the drippers on the valve cover. It is the ploy-lok nut that is too tall and interferes. My engine builder ground 3/16" off the bottom of the poly lok nuts, No problems now. There are also some short poly loks available, Crower IIRC.

GOSFAST

On a side note, the nice part of using a roller cam (retro-hyd OR solid) on the BBC platform is most of the BB's are already set up for the stepped-nose cam and thrust-plate mounting, the early ones that weren't pre-drilled/tapped can easily be done?

This thrust-plate mounting allows builds to finished without any cam end-play checking or the need for any buttons. Timing cover choice no longer matters either!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. Today we also use the later stepped-nose cams in most of our early SBC builds, we've developed the tooling a few years ago to modify these early blocks to accept the later SB thrust-plate setup! Have sold numerous tool kits for the modification, block must be done during "normal" machining however, cannot be done while installed in the ride. Here's some reading over on another forum how we pulled it off, https://www.chevelles.com/threads/sb...-block.903098/

Gale Banks 80'

Will most of the Cam Manufactures make a Stepped-Nose Cam ? I assume the correct Timing Chain Sprocket with a smaller bolt circle is also easy to come by ?

SteveG75

I used the CFR stock style steel valve covers on my 496 with full roller. 3/4" tall than stock. No clearance issues at all with the poly-locks. No drippers either (not needed with full rollers). They have all the tabs for plug wires.

Chrome: https://www.cfrperformance.com/CHEVY...z-9504-t-c.htm
Orange: https://www.cfrperformance.com/CHEVY...z-9504t-po.htm

71chimera

fit, form & function for under $100; that's the ticket !

centuryoldracer

I use Scorpion as they have a very low profile adjuster, and they are made in USA. I know there are some others out there that will clear also. I also use thicker VC gaskets if necessary on certain builds with much bigger cams than stock.

Sigforty

I used the same thing except in orange.

Sqr

What about the drippers if there are any?