Roller rocker arms on a roller 307 Olds?

[kustomkyle]

Has anyone used aftermarket roller rocker arms on a later (85/86+) Oldsmobile 307 with the roller cam?

Found Comp Cams 1442-16, which are roller tipped, and are claimed to fit all 307's. But I wasn't sure if there would be a different pushrod that would be required, etc.

 

[bracketchev1221]

My experience has been a roller tipped rocker is not worth the effort.

 

[kustomkyle]

My experience has been a roller tipped rocker is not worth the effort.

I was thinking that too, but if they were straightforward without having to buy a bunch of parts to make them work and reduced friction etc.

A 307 Olds isn't much, but was just a thought for added smoothness and possible durability.

 

[pontiacgp]

The advantage of a roller tipped rocker isn't just the reduced friction, the stocked stamped rockers ratio is anywhere from 1.43 to 1.48 while the aftermarket are all 1.5 or whatever ratio you have chosen. I have roller tipped rockers that are 1.5 and the difference bewtween them and the stock stamped rockers was apparent after the change.

 

[kustomkyle]

The advantage of a roller tipped rocker isn't just the reduced friction, the stocked stamped rockers ratio is anywhere from 1.43 to 1.48 while the aftermarket are all 1.5 or whatever ratio you have chosen. I have roller tipped rockers that are 1.5 and the difference bewtween them and the stock stamped rockers was apparent after the change.

Maybe you can elaborate some on what advantages there would be on an otherwise stock rebuilt Olds 307? We're talking VIN 9 cam, Thornton headers/manifolds, and dual exhaust. More geared toward everyday reliability and economy. And also the ability to go on longer trips where the highways have 70MPH speed limits. The cars obviously could do it when they were new, but I'd be trying to get the most out of it (and obviously not into making it a hot rod).

Would the difference in ratio only really make a difference in a higher performance, higher RPM engine?

 

[fleming442]

The difference in ratio will make it seem like it has a slightly larger cam in it. I think what pontiacgp was referring to was the consistency of the aftermarket pieces vs the variations of the factory rockers.

 

[pontiacgp]

Maybe you can elaborate some on what advantages there would be on an otherwise stock rebuilt Olds 307? We're talking VIN 9 cam, Thornton headers/manifolds, and dual exhaust. More geared toward everyday reliability and economy. And also the ability to go on longer trips where the highways have 70MPH speed limits. The cars obviously could do it when they were new, but I'd be trying to get the most out of it (and obviously not into making it a hot rod).

Would the difference in ratio only really make a difference in a higher performance, higher RPM engine?

fleming442 explained it perfectly, the engineeers who designed the engine designed the rockers to be 1.5 but the stamped ones never get there so wtih 1.5 rockers your rockers would be to specs. The ratio will affect every engine at any rpm, my engine isn't a perfomance engine but like I said I noticed it and I normally drive the car keeping it under 3,000 rpm.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I think Olds factory rocker arms are bit more accurate than Chevy and I love the torque down and go set up. I and others have had some issues where rocker arms don't torque as they should. I personally think an adjustable valve train is a pain in the *ss. I have used Comp roller tips, came with a set of heads. They were noisy with my aluminum valve covers. I then went to Ford Windsor Scorpion true roller rocker arms in a 1.72 ratio. I had 3/8" to 5/16" conversion studs and guide plates. I am not sure if it helped the too small 204/214 cam I had on my 9.6 to 1 Olds 350, I ran a 9.44 in the 1/8 with more in it. The easiest conversion is pedestal mount rocker arms, I believe no guide plates are needed with them. Scorpion and Harland Sharp make Olds specific sets, in factory 1.6 and also 1.7 ratio. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/scc-scp1096/make/oldsmobile
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/scc-scp1089/make/oldsmobile
You could try these for a more budget approach to gain, as I said SBF rocker arms are very close to Olds, many of the aftermarket sets are actually Ford sets sold for Olds. Just look them over real good before installing, the quality looks hit and miss.
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/pro-66878/

 

[pontiacgp]

I think Olds factory rocker arms are bit more accurate than Chevy and I love the torque down and go set up. I and others have had some issues where rocker arms don't torque as they should. I personally think an adjustable valve train is a pain in the *ss. I have used Comp roller tips, came with a set of heads. They were noisy with my aluminum valve covers. I then went to Ford Windsor Scorpion true roller rocker arms in a 1.72 ratio. I had 3/8" to 5/16" conversion studs and guide plates. I am not sure if it helped the too small 204/214 cam I had on my 9.6 to 1 Olds 350, I ran a 9.44 in the 1/8 with more in it. The easiest conversion is pedestal mount rocker arms, I believe no guide plates are needed with them. Scorpion and Harland Sharp make Olds specific sets, in factory 1.6 and also 1.7 ratio. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/scc-scp1096/make/oldsmobile
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/scc-scp1089/make/oldsmobile
You could try these for a more budget approach to gain, as I said SBF rocker arms are very close to Olds, many of the aftermarket sets are actually Ford sets sold for Olds. Just look them over real good before installing, the quality looks hit and miss.
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/pro-66878/

I never knew the rockers on an Olds 307 were not a 1.5 ratio....

 

[kustomkyle]

I think Olds factory rocker arms are bit more accurate than Chevy and I love the torque down and go set up. I and others have had some issues where rocker arms don't torque as they should. I personally think an adjustable valve train is a pain in the *ss. I have used Comp roller tips, came with a set of heads. They were noisy with my aluminum valve covers. I then went to Ford Windsor Scorpion true roller rocker arms in a 1.72 ratio. I had 3/8" to 5/16" conversion studs and guide plates. I am not sure if it helped the too small 204/214 cam I had on my 9.6 to 1 Olds 350, I ran a 9.44 in the 1/8 with more in it. The easiest conversion is pedestal mount rocker arms, I believe no guide plates are needed with them. Scorpion and Harland Sharp make Olds specific sets, in factory 1.6 and also 1.7 ratio. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/scc-scp1096/make/oldsmobile
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/scc-scp1089/make/oldsmobile
You could try these for a more budget approach to gain, as I said SBF rocker arms are very close to Olds, many of the aftermarket sets are actually Ford sets sold for Olds. Just look them over real good before installing, the quality looks hit and miss.
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/pro-66878/

The ones I stumbled upon were the Comp Cams 1442-16. Sounds like the ones you had.

Some of the full roller rockers are a bit more than I would want to spend. Plus, they may/may not fit under the factory valve covers.

Also, I am concerned with how complicated (additional parts, machine work) it is to use them. As in little to no complications.

EDIT: Also, it seems like the factory setup is completely changed when you use an aftermarket rocker? As in you don't use the bridge anymore?