valve train questions..what to get first
 

stock cam stock heads.

what should i get first

roller rockers?
heads?
cam?

i dont rev past 5500 rpm but im afraid to pull the pressed in studs out of the heads..but i want to upgrade the rockers at the same time because it removes friction and power loss also i want to go with the 1.7's so i can get a little more lift on my stock cam.
then i would like to upgrade cam and then heads... should i go in this order or should i get heads first then cam or just go cam?

im not sure what year heads i have but they are 302 with stock valves. stock cam.. also what is the stock lift and duration with this cam?

what to do first?? thanks.

Think of the engine as an "AIR" pump,. The first things to changed in order to flow more air would be exhaust, headers, intake manifold and carb. The next bottleneck would be the heads. A bigger cam, or high lift rockers would help a little with stock heads. But, you'd fail to see there potential because of the stock heads smallish valves and port sizes. Bolt on new say trick flow heads with big valves and ports. You immediatly improve flow and leave the door open for even bigger gains( ie; adding high lift rockers, bigger cam ) in the future when you have the money. A good set of heads does not come cheep. But it is money well invested. When my motor finally goes(knock wood) I'm taking the heads with me .

thats good reply and iv said that an engine is an air pump before too so i hear you on that one.. but thats where im back to my question.. i have carb intake and just finished exhaust and think i would sound sweet with a lopey cam. but would the press in studs come off the heads and pull out causing damage? if so then i need heads first...see were im going with this.. this is why i stated that i dont really rev too high.

Press in studs
 

I had press in studs in my 351W heads that are pocket ported and gasket matched. I used them for about 4 years before I got my TFTW heads. I ran them with a CC 268 HE cam and CC roller tip 1.6 rail rockers. Had no trouble with the studs. I still have those heads and might use them again some day on another engine.

Rev

A good cam will not cost you that much more. If your going to be pulling everything off for heads, then you might as well go ahead and get the cam. A good cam will cost you under $150.00. Just be sure to look at your durations so you don't get what you don't want.

66Stang, I see what you're saying. But if you go for the big cam even if it dosent pull out the studs, you'll just be chokeing it because the heads cant flow that high. I know a good set of heads will run around 1G. That aint cheap, but neither is going fast. Run what you''ve got and save those $$$

thanks for all the replys guys. i was just afraid to pull a stud out. i want to do cam first. i know the heads will be restriced and cut the power that the cam could make but i think i will get a set of free high comp. heads soon so i wanted to do cam now and then get them. that and i like the lopey sound of a mean cam. just finished my exhaust so i want to hear it with a cam. killer stuff. thanks a lot guys. last question..anyone know stock specs for a 289 or 302 cam? just wondering..