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any problems running 1.6 roller rocker arms? by TVS
Started on: 01-17-2025 08:24 PM
Replies: 10 (210 views)
Last post by: BillS on 02-02-2025 12:00 PM
TVS
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Report this Post01-17-2025 08:24 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TVSClick Here to visit TVS's HomePageSend a Private Message to TVSEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Hey Guys I have run 1.6 rocker arms on V8 to add a little more power without a problem just wondering how they are on the Fiero V6? Also has anyone found a full roller rocker arm that fits the 2.8L?
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Patrick
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Report this Post01-17-2025 09:31 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post

Be advised... unless restrictions in both the intake and exhaust are dealt with, the 1.6 roller rockers won't do much if anything for your 2.8 engine.

My thread chronicling my 1.6 roller rocker installation.
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82-T/A [At Work]
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Report this Post01-18-2025 12:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 82-T/A [At Work]Send a Private Message to 82-T/A [At Work]Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:


Be advised... unless restrictions in both the intake and exhaust are dealt with, the 1.6 roller rockers won't do much if anything for your 2.8 engine.

My thread chronicling my 1.6 roller rocker installation.



This was the big takeaway from that thread that I got:

"Any slight improvement in the higher revs has been negated by perhaps a slightly less responsive bottom end."


... but I will say, the engine sounded amazing in all of those videos!
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TVS
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Report this Post01-18-2025 01:11 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TVSClick Here to visit TVS's HomePageSend a Private Message to TVSEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Good advice and I can easily do the intake and exhaust mods to match everything
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Patrick
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Report this Post01-18-2025 07:45 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

This was the big takeaway from that thread that I got:

"Any slight improvement in the higher revs has been negated by perhaps a slightly less responsive bottom end."



Bingo!

I don't regret installing the 1.6 roller rockers all those years ago... but would I do it again knowing what I know now? No... not unless I was also planning to open up the major restriction in the upper intake manifold.

 
quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

... but I will say, the engine sounded amazing in all of those videos!


Part of the reason why it sounded (and still sounds) good, is because I did remove the ridiculous restrictions in the factory exhaust logs. I have no idea what Pontiac was thinking leaving those restrictions in place. Shoddy fabricating is all I can figure.
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TVS
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Report this Post01-18-2025 08:54 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TVSClick Here to visit TVS's HomePageSend a Private Message to TVSEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks again Patrick I will be adding both mods to our to do upgrade list
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pmbrunelle
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Report this Post01-18-2025 09:06 PM Click Here to See the Profile for pmbrunelleSend a Private Message to pmbrunelleEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I installed full roller rockers on my Fiero V6; my story begins here:
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...L/142133-8.html#p319
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82-T/A [At Work]
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Report this Post01-19-2025 04:29 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 82-T/A [At Work]Send a Private Message to 82-T/A [At Work]Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
Part of the reason why it sounded (and still sounds) good, is because I did remove the ridiculous restrictions in the factory exhaust logs. I have no idea what Pontiac was thinking leaving those restrictions in place. Shoddy fabricating is all I can figure.


I bought a set of hogged out exhaust logs from Ed Parks many many years ago... and that's what's on my Fiero right now (in storage). I bought a set of stainless shorty headers from WCF about a year ago. It came with a matched stainless Y-Pipe for a Getrag V6 along with EGR... so we'll see when I eventually get the car in my garage and sorted, what that sounds like. I'm nervous I went too big. I went with 2.5" exhaust from the Y-Pipe all the way to the muffler.

Most of the exhaust size charts I see show that I'm on the high-end... meaning that I don't really need 2.5", but that it's not too much. Somewhere between 2.25" and 2.5" would have been better. It'll be going with a 3.4 V6/60 which I'm going to really work over. My goal is to take it to a really, really competent machine shop that can balance everything to an obscene level, even though it won't produce power above ~5,700. I'm going with an H272 cam and 1.52:1 roller rockers, the ARI Racing ported cyl heads with the stainless swirl "tulip" valves. I'm also going with the 3.4 DOHC pistons (so ~9.7:1 compression), plus windage tray and everything I can possibly find. Finally, I'll have to do the DAWG mod on my already bored Darrel Morse intake plenum. We'll see... but I have to make ~200hp for the 2.5" exhaust to make sense... haha.

I've already got a stainless 2.5" catalytic converter that bolts in to the exhaust... but I need to pick a muffler. Goal will be to make the engine look as absolutely stock as possible, minus the obvious fact that it'll have shorty headers.

I'm going for something that would probably do mid-14s... but I'm in my mid 40s now... so I won't be doing any burnouts any time soon. I just want something that can really go in gear fast. I also bought a 5-Speed Getrag from a Quad-4 W41... so it has the crazy gearing.
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Spadesluck
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Report this Post01-19-2025 05:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for SpadesluckSend a Private Message to SpadesluckEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
When I rebuilt my 2.8 I did the Comp Cam's 260H cam, 980 springs, and 1.6 rockers. I also ported my own heads and hogged the exhaust. I did this because just like what is mentioned above is all this stuff worked in conjunction with each other. That motor was a very strong running 2.8.

Moral of the story...you need to plan all the parts out to have the best results.
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Raydar
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Report this Post01-23-2025 12:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for RaydarSend a Private Message to RaydarEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Before adding 1.6 rockers, make sure that you'll have enough spring clearance, with the added lift.
With stock springs, I think that anything much greater than .45 valve lift will cause coil bind. If you're using a stock cam, the 1.6s should work fine.

My take is that, if you already have your engine apart, just buy the cam and kit that have the specs you want, if it's available.

 
quote
Originally posted by Spadesluck:

When I rebuilt my 2.8 I did the Comp Cam's 260H cam, 980 springs, and 1.6 rockers. I also ported my own heads and hogged the exhaust. I did this because just like what is mentioned above is all this stuff worked in conjunction with each other. That motor was a very strong running 2.8.

Moral of the story...you need to plan all the parts out to have the best results.



That was the baddest 2.8 I've ever driven. It had as much "stones" as several 3.4s I've driven.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 01-23-2025).]

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BillS
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Report this Post02-02-2025 12:00 PM Click Here to See the Profile for BillSSend a Private Message to BillSEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
IMHO the higher ratio rockers are something that will only have decent benefit on an engine that has seen a lot more modification to improve breathing, otherwise all it will give you is bragging rights.
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