rocker question

[rx191]

i'm working on my 95 3100 tonight, i have to change the lower intake gaskets so i decided to swap to a big port lower and 3500 upper and i have run into a question, my motor has the ball style rockers, i have a set of factory roller rockers but... my heads do not have the grooves for them, so i ground down the grooves on the rocker a pedistal and it does bolt on just fine, the motor does have factory metal pushrod guides and will hold the pushrod steady, i was wondering if anyone has ever tried this before! any input you could give me would be greatly appreciated Thanks

[WrathOfSocrus]

http://60degreev6.com/forum/f96/gen3-rollers-on-94-gen3-heads-t42648

There is a link discussing what you are talking about. The problem seems to be with the way it is bolted down. If you are willing to put a washer in there and loc-tite the bolts into the head and hope it doesn't come apart, then go for it. A torrington bearing between the two would be even better. But for that much work you could just pick up the proper heads and be done with it.

Also you have to be careful with how you take off the tabs. If you grind the whole surface flush then you will have removed material from the base reducing the height between the fulcrum and where it bolts to the head. That would mess up its geometry with the valve stem when used with stock pushrods.

[rx191]

thanks i seachered for 2 hours yesterday and didn't find that, i'm just trying to find a way to not have to grind the lower on my motor but, i do think it is going to be too much work

[WrathOfSocrus]

Yeah there are lots of ways to go with that and each has its own drawback. u can get the large port heads but that means finding good heads and replacing head gaskets and bolts. You can get full rollers but they too need clearance. I know they take some material off of the full rollers, not sure if there is enough strength in the stamped rockers to take a little out of there and a little out of the LIM. And after seeing how many people have extreme difficulty clearancing manifolds and putting holes in them, it certainly isn't a task to be taken lightly.

If you look at the large port LIM it has a very flat grind done on two of the runners. Most of the horror pics of people grinding through the runners had very concave grinding done to it. Take your time and make smaller, flatter grinds and check for clearance often. Don't take off more than needed or the paper thin aluminum will break through.