upgrading Rockers

[Mavrick70004]

Has anyone here upgraded to roller rockers before and knows about install.
We have a 1973 302 that is going into a ranger but wanted to do some mods while the engine was still on the stand, we took the heads, intake, and oil pan off to visually check everything, and thought about maybe going all roller but it seems like too much work maybe to convert to a full roller motor, so we decided we would just upgrade the Rockers to some 1.6 rollers from Ford Racing, we prob wont have any clearance issues but wondering about a guide plate? we would need to install those too right since the rod and move all around now that it is on a rolling tip. Reading about it just makes it more confusing since they all talk about the what if's, that was the main reason we didnt want to go full roller, but if anyone has converted to a full roller engine and or has experiance with valvetrains let me know. I thought i knew alot about engines until i started researching the valvetrain more

 

[baddad457]

If you've got unmodified 73 302 heads, you'll need rail type roller rockers to work. To install guide plates, the rocker studs will have to be changed to screw in types, guide plates don't work with stock rocker studs.The stock studs are pressed into the head and have no way of holding the guide plates down. If you do change to screw in's, then std roller rockers will work. With the stock rocker studs, there's no adjustment, these have a shoulder below the threaded portion thats called a positive stop. When installed, you just torque the nuts down when the stop is encountered.

 

[Mavrick70004]

so if we switch to some screw in studs are there adjustments that would be needed? dos anyone sell a kit to convert to screw in or would we just have to get a Tap?

 

[baddad457]

The swap to screw in studs really needs to be done by a machine shop and on a mill to insure the studs go in perpendicular to the heads. I've seen em done by hand on the vehicle, but you run the risk of cock-eyed studs. Once it's done, you just use std 1.6 or 1.7 full roller rockers and you'll have the choice of 3/8" or 7/16" studs (same bottom thread for both)

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

got a set of magnum roller tips ill let go cheap.
like baddad said youll have to go with screw in studs and guide plates as well as hardend push rods.
these are 3/8 stud 1.6.have a couple of hours run time on them.
let me know

 

[Mavrick70004]

sweet, ok ill talk to my buddy about it since its his engine going in his ranger haha ill see what he says