Rocker Arms- LT-1

chevy620 · 07-29-2009, 08:20 AM

Started cracking some of these and wondered if there is a good brand that lives or have I just cycled these long enough I need to replace a whole set?
Valve springs and retainers for LT-1?
Can pushrods be the root of the problem?
My engine builder retired and looking for some help on the right parts. I know I can count on you guys, right?

Thanks,

Jok

Rich Biebel · 07-29-2009, 01:29 PM

Crane Nitro-Carb...if you can find any......and there were supposed to be some decent ones available from Competition Products......but I am not sure on that. I had Bullet springs...dampners broke.I Installed a set of Competition Products electroplated units and they held up fine. Comp cams springs and retainers are also good. There might be some beehives that would work well......PAC I think is the name that sells those and they have a website.....I was looking into those.......

Tom Turner · 07-29-2009, 06:46 PM

If you cant find any Crane Nitro Carb units, I am told that Elgin has comparable units and the guys at Competetion Products always have something good. I have used stock LT-1 units that have been nitrided and cryroed and never broke any.Kinda expensive to build though. I think the trick with the rockers is to get the lifter travel under control. If you stop the lifter from taking a .150 run at the rocker, the breakage seems to stop. The spec is .015, I run mine at .018 or so.
The best valve spring setup for LT-1 in my opinion, is the Comp Cams beehive setup. They have the springs (I use the stout ones) retainers, spring locators and locks that solve all problems that these heads seem to have. They last forever, even with harsh use and rpms in the 8000 area.
Jason Line told me to use as big a pushrod as I could get into the engine. I use Smith Bros 3/8 units because the 7/16 test unit I tried will not clear the port without offset lifters; not really legal in stock.
If you need more help, my email is KVIAUTOGUY@aol.com

Ross Family Racing · 07-30-2009, 07:11 AM

Get ahold of Jim Bailey at Finished 330-858-1842. He has a process that greatly helps these parts. Call him. He told me that he does these for an engine builder on the west coast and does them by the gross. Must work!!
Jeff Ross

Bub Whitaker · 07-30-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross Family Racing

Get ahold of Jim Bailey at Finished 330-858-1842. He has a process that greatly helps these parts. Call him. He told me that he does these for an engine builder on the west coast and does them by the gross. Must work!!
Jeff Ross

Yes by all means, Jim Bailey is the one...Helped one of my customers who was breakin rockers every pass. Ford 429 solid lifter with fulkrum and pivets, use to break at the bottom or send the pushrod thru...no more

chevy620 · 08-03-2009, 06:49 PM

Thanks guys.
Got a good connection at Comp Cams, looks like I better call them for some springs, retainers and heavy wall pushrods.
I heard pushrods are sometimes a bigger culprit than the springs??

See ya at the stripe.

Jok

Jesse Knapp · 08-03-2009, 08:30 PM

Call Tim Cole at Comp Cams. He is very knowledgable about this stuff. I had been running 3/8ths pushrods in my engine and wanted to go to larger ones without cutting heads more. He sent me a set of 7/16ths rods that are tapered to 3/8ths on each end. Worked great for me. They are expensive, tho. He really educated me on what happens to a pushrod with todays spring pressures.

07-29-2009, 08:20 AM	#1
chevy620 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 188 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rocker Arms- LT-1 Started cracking some of these and wondered if there is a good brand that lives or have I just cycled these long enough I need to replace a whole set? Valve springs and retainers for LT-1? Can pushrods be the root of the problem? My engine builder retired and looking for some help on the right parts. I know I can count on you guys, right? Thanks, Jok

07-29-2009, 01:29 PM	#2
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,306 Likes: 25 Liked 537 Times in 211 Posts	Re: Rocker Arms- LT-1 Crane Nitro-Carb...if you can find any......and there were supposed to be some decent ones available from Competition Products......but I am not sure on that. I had Bullet springs...dampners broke.I Installed a set of Competition Products electroplated units and they held up fine. Comp cams springs and retainers are also good. There might be some beehives that would work well......PAC I think is the name that sells those and they have a website.....I was looking into those....... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R Last edited by Rich Biebel; 07-29-2009 at 01:33 PM.

07-29-2009, 06:46 PM	#3
Tom Turner Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lake Tapps, Washington Posts: 137 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Rocker Arms- LT-1 If you cant find any Crane Nitro Carb units, I am told that Elgin has comparable units and the guys at Competetion Products always have something good. I have used stock LT-1 units that have been nitrided and cryroed and never broke any.Kinda expensive to build though. I think the trick with the rockers is to get the lifter travel under control. If you stop the lifter from taking a .150 run at the rocker, the breakage seems to stop. The spec is .015, I run mine at .018 or so. The best valve spring setup for LT-1 in my opinion, is the Comp Cams beehive setup. They have the springs (I use the stout ones) retainers, spring locators and locks that solve all problems that these heads seem to have. They last forever, even with harsh use and rpms in the 8000 area. Jason Line told me to use as big a pushrod as I could get into the engine. I use Smith Bros 3/8 units because the 7/16 test unit I tried will not clear the port without offset lifters; not really legal in stock. If you need more help, my email is KVIAUTOGUY@aol.com

07-30-2009, 07:11 AM	#4
Ross Family Racing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St.Clairsville, Ohio Posts: 464 Likes: 0 Liked 52 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Rocker Arms- LT-1 Get ahold of Jim Bailey at Finished 330-858-1842. He has a process that greatly helps these parts. Call him. He told me that he does these for an engine builder on the west coast and does them by the gross. Must work!! Jeff Ross

08-03-2009, 06:49 PM	#6
chevy620 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 188 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Rocker Arms- LT-1 Thanks guys. Got a good connection at Comp Cams, looks like I better call them for some springs, retainers and heavy wall pushrods. I heard pushrods are sometimes a bigger culprit than the springs?? See ya at the stripe. Jok

08-03-2009, 08:30 PM	#7
Jesse Knapp Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Rocker Arms- LT-1 Call Tim Cole at Comp Cams. He is very knowledgable about this stuff. I had been running 3/8ths pushrods in my engine and wanted to go to larger ones without cutting heads more. He sent me a set of 7/16ths rods that are tapered to 3/8ths on each end. Worked great for me. They are expensive, tho. He really educated me on what happens to a pushrod with todays spring pressures. __________________ Jesse Knapp 4899 STK, SS