OK im finally going to do it....now what?

[66StangGuy]

ok decided to upgrade my cam and entire valvetrain. heres where im at now.. i wanted to put in roller rockers. to do that i was told i need the convertion kit for the screw in studs not the pedistal ones i have now. What can i look at on my heads to find what year they are? i know they are 302 heads but the head bolts are in the center between the rockers? does this make sense? anyway if anyone can help me find what year heads i have i can figure out what i need a lot better. so i want the roller rockers and preferable the 1.7 ratio from whatever i have now.. then i would like to put the edelbrock performer cam in to complete the edelbrock performer package. i thought the 1.7rr would help the cam work a little better. my compression now is about 9.5:1. im having trouble finding the convertion kit and i found one from jegs but i dont think its what i need. i also cant find the 1.7rr's ? anyone done this before and know what i need? im getting bored with my stang need more power!!!!

thanks guys

[hobgoblin351]

Ok, to find out what heads you're running you'll have to get a casting number. I dont know where exactly on the head it is, can anyone help on that. As far as I have read those conversion kits, turn your old stamped fulcrum bearing rockers into roller bearing rockers. They do not let you run the aluminum adjustable ones. You would have to have the heads machined for screw in studs. that is not that big a deal, other than the fact you have to remove them. while they're off you could also have them milled to raise the compression. If you do, mill them , and go with a 1.7 ratio rocker, and a bigger cam make sure to check the valve clearences so all that work does not go to waste. Hmmmmmmm as long as the heads are out you can always go for the 3 angle valve job too. Oh and if they are old make sure you have hardened exhaust seats installed.

[trevor'72]

To do all that yo must be made of money.

Are the hardened exhaust seats really all that necessary for a street car?

I was lucky enough to have chosen to stay with my 351 cleveland, for this respect, cause did you know that the BBC (big block chev) roler rockers are the exact same dimentions as the 351C stock rockers. Of vourse they're slightly different, as the always are, 1.7's instead of 1.73 stock ration, but that's ok cause I got a new cam any ways, Ah how that 228/240 @ 50 and .535 lift sounds with 2.19 and 1.71 valves ( in the 2v heads of couse to achieve higher portvelocity).

Anyways sorry I'm not all that much help cause the tipical small block stuff, ie 289, 302, 351 are different dimentions in the valve train, I'm just so pleased with my new combination. Can't wait for this now in Canada to melt so I ca lay down a healthy number.

[hobgoblin351]

If you're gonna run unleaded gas on old heads, yes, you should get the hardened exhaust seats. Will your engine die in a week without them? No, but if you're spending $$$ on a new engine dont you want it to stick around for as long as possible.
That cam sounds cool. If you want even better port velocities try putting on a set of port plates. They'll take away that dead spot in the runner and wont hurt your top end.

What manifold/carb setup are you using?

[66StangGuy]

the heads were built last year so that not an issue i just needed the convertion kit because im worried about pulling the stud when i put my cam in and if i rev too fast or too hard.

[hobgoblin351]

As long as the cam is not to Radical you should be fine with the conversion kit. If it's gets to big ,or you want to run a mech cam with adjustable rockers, then , you'll have to get screw in studs.