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I have heard that roller rockers can free up 10-20 horsepwer on a 302. Is this true? If so what set would you reccomend and what do I have to do to install them
On a mustang maybe, not so sure about that on a truck. The 1.7 ratio rockers will open the valves more so it should gain throughout the powerband, these are what you want if you get some. The valvetrain is non adjustable on these motors, and the rockers are pedistal mount, so they just bolt down.
The ones you want are Crane Cams part number 44746-16. 1.7 ratio pedestal mount. The power increase is not only due to the increased valve lift, but from the reduction frition in the roller trunion vs the stock rockers sled fulcrum. Ford found a 15 hp increase in using them on the 93 Cobra 5.0. No reason similar increases can't happen on any other motor. The reduced friction also reduces the engine oil temps. Used sets of the Cobra rockers can also be had for about $100. I've bought two sets of these, one set has been used on three of my engines in addition to what the previous owner used them on. They're still working as intended.
Last edited by baddad457; Dec 19, 2007 at 12:21 AM.
They clear the covers fine, however you may need to dimple the oil baffles, that's the contact point. With the 83-85 Stang finned aluminum covers, the baffle only needed a slight adjustment with a small ball peen hammer to clear the rocker under it.
It has new heads, rebuilt carb, cleaned the intake and duel exhaust. I have thought of getting headers but my truck has twin gas tanks and I would have to remove the one I use for them to clear. I also had a new manifold put on and the exhaust fixed so I do not want to cut up the exhaust to put headers on since I had $125 exhaust work done.
I bought a set of those Crane Cams part number 44746-16 lifters from Evilbay which were advertised as new, but turned out to be (ab)used. One had a dent (looked like from coil bind), and several of the pedestals were cracked, no doubt from overtightening. The bolts have quite a low torque specification.
On measuring up the pedestals in preparation to making up a couple new ones, I discovered that there were two different height parts. I forget the actual difference, but it was around .020-.040. Anyhow, it turns out a set of 16 new pedestals from Crane was less than twenty bucks so I bought those instead.
Caveat Emptor with ebay shysters.