Roller Lifters on 3.1

[LTZbeast89]

Hey all. I've been wondering if putting roller lifters on a 3.1 from a 3100 is possible. I know that the 3100 uses a roller tappet cam. If I can't use just the lifters, will a 3100 cam fit??? Also, will putting 1.6 ratio rocker arms do anything? Thanks

Ryan

[robertisaar]

IIRC, it's possible to use the roller stuff on a gen2, but it's a LOT of work for not a whole lot of benefit...

the 1.6:1 rockers would essentially give you a higher lift cam though.

[Superdave]

the 3100 cam has pretty much the same specs as the old 3.1 cam so your only gain would be the less resistance of the roller lifters. 1.6 rockers are an upgrade, a very cheap upgrade too. Find a set from a 94/95 3100 and stick them on the 3.1 heads. It's a direct swap and an easy boost in power.

[LTZbeast89]

So putting 1.6 rockers from a 3100 onto a 3.1 won't bind up the valve springs?

[LTZbeast89]

Adding to the post from earlier. I looked at the Chiltons manual for the Corsica/Beretta. It explains the 3100 a TON better than the Haynes does. I found that the rocker arms on a 3100 have a slot on the cylinder head. Is this just for certain years or are all 3100s like that?

[robertisaar]

that "slot" may be for the roller rockers that started getting installed in late 95 3100s...

[LTZbeast89]

So if I find a 3100 that was made before '95 I should be fine?

[robertisaar]

i think only the last 4000 or so A or N cars in 1995 got the roller rockers and then they started becoming standard in 96, and by 97 they all had them.

so yes, find a 93-94 and you'll definitely have the regular rockers. most 95s and SOME 96s would work as well, but it's better to err on the side of caution IMO.

[LTZbeast89]

Cool, works for me. I always see 3100s out at the junkyard so that shouldn't be a problem finding one. Funny thing is, I see more 3100 then I see 3.1s.....hmmm.

[robertisaar]

that's probably because all of the 3.1s have gone and died already...

[bszopi]

Its pretty easy to tell the difference between the rockers even if you don't know the year of the engine. The early stamped rockers will look just like your existing rockers, while the later rockers have a ball-bearing fulcrum (hence the "roller rocker"). Also note, just because the heads have notches does not mean they will have the roller rockers. As stated above, the heads started rolling out mid-year, but not all engine got the roller rockers. So yes, there are some heads out there with the notches, but still have the stamped rockers.

[96lumina]

I also wanted to point out that a roller cam profile is way different then the standard tappet cam...so to swap a roller set of lifters into a tappet cam block will cause some problems...but if you swap both cam and lifters all should be good but you never want to mix the 2...rockers are a whole 'nother story though.

[bszopi]

I am under the impression he is just swapping the rockers, not the lifters. The biggest issue with the lifters, besides the cam, is the hold downs for the lifters. Robert mentioned that in the first thread, and I don't think the lifters have been mentioned since.

[96lumina]

Sorry, I thought he wanted to swap out the lifters too, I stand corrected.

[LTZbeast89]

Sorry to cause the confusion you guys. I had originally wanted to do the lifter swap before the rocker arms. but after realizing how much of a pain it would be, I'm going to stick with the rocker arms only. But again. Thanks for the responses and simple answers. I've been part of other forums for different vehicles and have gotten nowhere with them. This site is great!